The platypus is endemic to Eastern and Southern Australia and can be found in streams, rivers, mountain lakes, farm dams, and even urban waterways.
There is mounting evidence that platypus numbers are decreasing due to factors such as climate change, introduced predators, pollution and habitat destruction. The scientific community is calling for the platypus to be recognised as a nationally threatened species.
Platypus sighted in Melbourne region, image courtesy of ecologist Josh Griffiths
To research and monitor platypus populations and better understand the long-term impacts of the 2019-20 summer bushfires on platypus populations in East Gippsland, in 2020 the eDNA Platypus Project was established. The project is facilitated by East Gippsland Landcare Network (EGLN) and EnviroDNA, funded by WIRES and Landcare Australia.
eDNA Platypus Project is headed up by ecologist and platypus researcher, Josh Griffiths, and engages citizen scientists to collect water samples from key sites in the East Gippsland region. With over 100 sites surveyed in total, 55 of those samples were collected by volunteer citizen scientists. The water samples are analysed for genetic material such as hair, skin and waste from platypus inhabiting the sites. In order to have comparative data, samples have been taken this spring, and will be collected again in autumn from the same testing sites.
EcoGipps is thrilled be participating in the project, and has taken the initial spring water samples at three sites across different EcoGipps Blocks.
Collection site at Macalister River on Block 1
The samples are collected by a syringe and filter method where the river water is drawn into the syringe, and then expelled back out of the syringe through a fine filter. This process is repeated until around 500ml river water has been expelled through the filter, and therefore sufficient DNA has been collected onto the filter. This process needs to be done in a sterile manner with gloves worn to prevent any sample contamination. The filters containing the DNA samples are then stored frozen until collected for analysis by the EnviroDNA team.
Citizen scientist Heather collecting Spring water sample at Avon River site
EcoGipps citizen scientists took the spring water samples from three sites; Macalister River on Block 1, Ben Cruachan Creek on Block 4 and Avon River between Block 3 and 4. The exact coordinates of these sites have been recorded to allow continuity when the Autumn water samples are taken at the same sites.
As platypus are notoriously hard to spot, this method of DNA scanning water samples is an effective method to identify crucial data to inform about platypus populations and habitat.
EnviroDNA has recently analysed the water samples for sites which have data for pre and post 2019-2020 bushfires, finding a significant decrease in platypus detection since the fires. However, these results are preliminary and for a number of the sites this spring was the first time they had been surveyed, so it is important couple the results with the upcoming autumn sampling to give a more accurate picture of the effects on platypus in East Gippsland.
Spring samples collected at Ben Cruachan Creek on Block 4
Over 120 bird species have been spotted in and around EcoGipps, from a possible 272 species local to the area.
We are always on the lookout for both new and familiar birds. EcoGipps is particularly excited to make sightings of Swift Parrots, a prattle of these beautiful parrots seen in the feature image. Swift Parrots are endangered in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania and are listed as Critically Endangered nationally.
BirdLife Australia is leading the Woodland Birds for Biodiversity (WBfB) project, which aims to enhance the conservation of threatened and declining woodland birds, with their initial focus on the Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater. Projects such as this are crucial in the fight to save Australia’s threatened bird species. Browse through the full list of bird species sighted at EcoGipps to date (BELOW).
Rainbow Bee-eater
Family of Chestnut Teals
Spotted Pardalote
Gang-Gang Cockatoo
A-Z List of Bird Sightings at EcoGipps
All images appearing in this list were captured at EcoGipps by Dan Brown.
Birds A-C
Birds D-F
Birds G-J
Birds K-M
Birds N-P
Birds Q-S
Birds T-V
Birds W-Z
A Australian Grebe Australian King-Parrot Australian Magpie Australian Pelican Australian Raven Australian Shelduck Australian White Ibis Australian Wood Duck B Barn Owl Black-faced Cuckooshrike Brown Goshawk Brown Thorn-bill Brown-headed Honeyeater Buff-rumped Thornbill C Channel-billed Cuckoo Chestnut Teal Common Blackbird Common Bronzewing Common Myna Common Starling Coot Eurasian Crescent Honeyeater Crested Pigeon Crimson Rosella
D E Eastern Cattle Egret Eastern Rosella Eastern Spinebill Eastern Whipbird Eastern Yellow Robin Emu European Goldfinch F Fantail Cuckoo Flame Robin
G Galah Gang-gang Cockatoo Golden Whistler Great Cormorant Great Egret Grey Butcherbird Grey Currawong Grey Fantail Grey Shrike-thrush Grey Teal H Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo House Sparrow J Jacky Winter
K L Laughing Kookaburra Lewin’s Honeyeater Little Corella Little Lorikeet Little Raven Little Wattlebird M Magpie-lark Masked Lapwing Mistletoe Bird Musk Lorrikeet
N Nankeen Kestrel New Holland Honeyeater Noisy Miner O Olive Whistler Olive-backed Oriole P Pacific Black Duck Pallid Cuckoo Peregrine Falcon Pied Cormorant Pied Currawong
