26 March 2024

On the banks of the Moonaboola (Mary River) in Queensland, researchers held a special demonstration day this month. They showcased scientific techniques and the threatened species they’re surveying.

Researchers from Griffith University’s Australian Rivers Institute, the Burnett Mary Regional Group and the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee put on the event, together with Jinibara Traditional Owners. The surveys are all part of a NESP project on the Moonaboola / Mary River research.

Dr Luke Carpenter-Bundhoo (left; GU/NESP) and Dr Sydney Collett (Right; Burnett Mary Regional Group) inspecting an adult female Mary River turtle. Image: Kaitlyn Houghton (DESI).

Local land holders, the ABC and members of the QLD Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water learned more about the river and its animals from scientists and Traditional Owners.

Guests were shown how researchers do surveys to detect threatened species, species like the ancient Australian lungfish and the elusive Mary River turtle. Researchers also explained exactly what eDNA is, and how’re they’re using it to understand more about the Moonaboola ecosystem.

Dr Sydney Collett (BMRG), Caitlin Jones (Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee), Dr David Sternberg (BMRG), Prof Mark Kennard and Josh Whiley (GU) weighing a bagged Australian lungfish, while being recorded by Stephanie Smail (ABC Radio National; left to right). Credit: Keira McGrath.

The day was a phenomenal team effort. It also celebrated the completion of 57 sites sampled for the Moonaboola project, and the first comprehensive aquatic survey of the catchment in 30 years!

And, as if the Moonaboola was celebrating too, at the very last site the team surveyed the ‘Big Four’ – the Mary River cod, Australian lungfish, Mary River turtle and white-throated snapping turtle!

The information from our surveys will help us better understand the present distribution of threated and invasive species in catchment, and the potential impacts of major climatic events. With this knowledge we can help to maintain threatened ecosystems and protect threatened species from future threats.

Surveys were partly funded by NESP through the project ‘Planning for catchment resilience and threatened species recovery from extreme events in Queensland’s Moonaboola (Mary River)’.

This work would also not have been possible without the partnerships of the Burnett Mary Regional Group and the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee, who have had assistance provided through jointly funded Australian and Queensland Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Prof Mark Kennard (GU/NESP) inspecting an Australian lungfish on Obi Obi Creek. Image: Keira McGrath.