The long-footed potoroo (Potorous longipes) is listed as endangered in Victoria and NSW. NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment (NSW DPIE) is conducting a monitoring project to determine presence of populations in southeastern NSW. Previous surveys indicate that long-footed potoroos were last recorded through hair samples. Camera trapping techniques have since been applied but the species has proven difficult to detect and are likely in extremely low abundance.

eDNA aims to increase chances of detection by surveying for the presence of long-footed potoroos in predator scats. Predator scats (e.g., fox, dog, cat, quolls) are being collected from geographic regions of interest and analysed for traces of long-footed potoroo using eDNA metabarcoding. Over the next year, EnviroDNA will analyse 1000 predator scats and process samples using a vertebrate metabarcoding assay. For samples where potoroos are detected, further confirmation will be sought using a target species qPCR assay specific to long-footed potoroo.

Prey animals will be identified through bioinformatic assignment to EnviroDNA’s vertebrate reference database. All prey will be identified to species level where reference sequences are available. We will analyse the patterns of species detected for each predator species, depending on available sample sizes. Data will help inform a rewilding strategy for releasing long-footed potoroos into a predator proof fenced safe-haven area of Southeast Forests National Park in NSW.