eDNA Data from the RV Investigator South-East Australian Marine Ecosystem Survey (SEA-MES) voyages (IN2023_V05 and IN2024_V03)

Updated: 2026-01-27

This dataset is focusing on using environmental DNA (eDNA) to measure offshore marine biodiversity in Southeast Australia. The eDNA samples were collected during two SEA-MES voyages aboard the RV Investigator: IN2023_V05 (July 2023) and IN2024_V03 (May 2024). Sampling sites spanned the continental shelf, from Tasmania to Batemans Bay, NSW, with water collected from both surface and bottom depths via Niskin bottles and a deep-tow camera system. A total of over 100 CTD deployments were conducted across these sites, providing comprehensive spatial coverage. The dataset includes processed eDNA metabarcoding results, containing sequence read counts and taxonomic data derived from DNA sequences, with a focus on fish but extending across the full tree of life, including bacteria, invertebrates, and vertebrates. Over 180 million sequences were generated, using a variety of markers such as mtDNA 16S (fish), mtDNA COI Leray (metazoans), and V4 18S (eukaryotes). This dataset is valuable for understanding marine biodiversity in southeast Australia and advancing offshore eDNA techniques.