NESP MaC Project 3.16: Maugean Skate Population Genomics and Acoustic Survey Data

Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania, hosts the only remaining population of the endangered Maugean skate. This project developed new monitoring methods using genetic sequencing and acoustic imaging, generating reference genomes and sequencing 162 individuals. The work was conducted in 2023-2024 by the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub.

Use Cases

• Assessing population genetic health based on genome-wide SNP analyses showing low diversity
• Evaluating non-invasive monitoring tools based on the comparison of acoustic and optical methods
• Informing recovery strategies like captive breeding based on genetic risk assessments
• Planning future population surveys based on the identified suitability of ARIS sonar

Strengths

• Includes the first reference-quality whole and mitochondrial genomes for the Maugean skate
• Genetic data is derived from 162 sequenced individuals
• Methodology was specifically tested under the challenging, turbid conditions of Macquarie Harbour

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Tissue sampling for genetic analysis and field testing of acoustic (ARIS, synthetic aperture sonar) and optical (LiDAR, video) imaging technologies.

Time Range

2023-2024

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-16 23:52:44.568184; freshness should be verified

Geography

Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania, Australia