DNA detection strategies from water samples in north Queensland have unearthed the existence of a “bum-breathing” species of turtle final seen within the area greater than 25 years in the past.
James Cook dinner College researchers analysed environmental DNA (eDNA) from the water within the Burdekin River, close to Ayr, confirming the presence of Irwin’s turtles throughout quite a few websites.
They're named after the late Steve Irwin and his father, Bob, with information of their existence within the Burdekin not discovered for 1 / 4 of a century.
“It’s reassuring to know they're nonetheless dwelling there,” JCU Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem analysis director, Prof Damien Burrows, mentioned.
The turtle was found within the Burdekin catchment by Bob and Steve Irwin within the early Nineties and makes use of its cloaca (bottom orifice) to breathe beneath water.
Burrows mentioned the rediscovery was important as a result of the dynamic of the river had modified for the reason that Burdekin Falls Dam was constructed.
“Till this rediscovery, we didn’t have any formal information to show that the Irwin’s turtle was nonetheless dwelling within the decrease Burdekin River,” he mentioned.
Researchers surveyed the Burdekin, Bowen and Damaged rivers over three durations in 2020 and 2021, protecting 37 websites throughout the three catchments.
“Beforehand, it’s been very troublesome to pattern for the Irwin’s turtle as a result of they solely reside in locations the place there are crocodiles, or in upland tributaries that are very exhausting to entry,” Burrows mentioned.
“In addition they don’t come into traps simply and the water they're dwelling within the Burdekin isn’t clear so you'll be able to’t put in underwater cameras to see them.
“However now with eDNA, all we needed to do was take a water pattern and analyse for his or her DNA.”
The eDNA course of allows DNA to be extracted from soil, sediment and water, so researchers don't have to catch turtles for a pattern.
Though the eDNA can not reveal the age of the turtles, analysis officer Dr Cecilia Villacorta-Rath mentioned the invention was vastly important.
“We don’t know something concerning the demographics of this inhabitants, however the reality we have now discovered their eDNA now, regardless of the dam being constructed within the Eighties, may level to grownup Irwin’s turtles having the ability to survive in these extra turbid water situations,” Villacorta-Rath mentioned.
“This rediscovery has now challenged the earlier speculation that the species couldn't survive in these situations.”
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