DNA från spillning hjälper forskare skydda sällsynta Gilbert-kängururåtta

20 maj 2026

Rapporterad av AI

Australiska forskare använder tekniker för miljö-DNA på spillningsprover för att identifiera lämpliga livsmiljöer för den akut hotade Gilbert-kängururåttan. Arbetet syftar till att etablera nya populationer av pungdjuret, som uppgår till färre än 150 individer i det vilda. Metoden kan förbättra omplaceringsinsatser efter tidigare bakslag, däribland en omfattande skogsbrand.

Forskare från Edith Cowan University och Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions analyserade spillningsprover från Gilbert-kängururåttan och närliggande arter. De använde eDNA-metabarcoding för att fastställa vilka svampar djuren konsumerar. Denna icke-invasiva metod avslöjade överlappningar i födovalet med kvokkor, kvendor och råttor, vilket hjälper till att lokalisera områden med tillräckliga födoresurser för framtida omplaceringsplatser.

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