Automated air sampling for remote surveillance and high throughput processing of environmental samples for eDNA analyses - Phase 2

The previous project (C0950: Automated air sampling for remote surveillance and high throughput processing of environmental samples for eDNA analyses) tested the use of passive samplers at ports of entry in Australia to detect insect species. Automated samplers were placed at Approved Arrangement Facilities at ports of entry in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, with air samples being collected daily from July to September 2023. Results for this project showed differences in insect diversity associated to each location and the capacity to assess the presence of insect species using passive surveillance, as well as important consideration on the placement of samplers at ports of entry.
To better evaluate the technology and assess insect diversity at ports, extension of this project is required to support additional sampling and testing until at three Australian ports until June 2024.