Scientists are using DNA microarrays for analysing large samples of genes simultaneously.

Ecogenomics

Scientists are using advanced molecular techniques to assess the relationships between biodiversity and environmental health.

• 28 June 2007 | Updated 14 October 2011

• What is ecogenomics
• Our expertise
• Our research
• Ecogenomics projects

What is ecogenomics

Advances in genomics have enabled researchers to address complex problems at a system level. New technologies in genomics also provide the opportunity to address difficult questions in environmental biology.

Ecogenomics is the application of molecular techniques to ecological and environmental science. It defines biodiversity at the DNA level and uses this knowledge to quantify the functions and interactions of organisms at an ecosystem level and relate these to ecological and evolutionary processes.

Our expertise

Through advanced genomics, our scientists have the potential to generate and analyse extensive amounts of genetic information and relate this to ecological systems, enabling researchers to make more reliable and informed decisions regarding ecosystem viability.

Our scientists will utilise microarray technology to assess complex and dynamic ecosystems, replacing current methods that reply on simplistic biometric snap-shots.

DNA microarray techniques can be applied to a broad range of scenarios concerning environmental management across terrestrial and aquatic environments including:

• determining food web interactions in aquatic environments
• monitoring ecological effects of different pesticide spraying regimes or fertiliser inputs
• land management practices on sediment and soil biodiversity and functioning.

Our research

Research will focus on defining at a molecular level, the biological relevance of whole communities of organisms within ecosystems, as well as developing a new understanding of ecosystem function based on quantitative measures of functional diversity for orders of magnitude.

Ecogenomics will include research on:

• the production of DNA microarray chips containing a broad range of genes encompassing the primary biota and functional genes that are present in aquatic environments and are responsible for key ecosystem processes
• initiating the ideology, application and likely impacts of genomic technologies to environmental researchers, managers and decision-makers
• developing a rapid and cost-effective genetic approach for monitoring the structural and functional biological diversity of microbes and invertebrates
• comparing the diversity and relative abundance of DNA extracted from control and human-impacted locations
• the production of region-specific biodiversity assessments based on DNA microarrays and the production of protocols to utilise this approach in other areas
• the development of these findings into a standardised approach for identifying differences between impacted and control locations, as a basis for high-throughput, low cost environmental monitoring.

Ecogenomics projects

Ecogenomics projects include:

• Murray River Foodwebs - Molecular Genetic and Stable Isotopic Characterisation of Fish Food Dynamics: developing methodological approaches to combine high throughput molecular genetic methods to understand species relationships within aquatic food webs
• A Genetic Approach for Rapidly Assessing Sediment Diversity: developing rapid and cost effective approaches for assessing the health of estuarine sedimentary environments using genetic techniques
• A Rapid Genetic Approach for Assessing Sediment Biodiversity and Functioning: developing a generic technique to concurrently assess the structural and functional status of ecosystems using genetic measures of the organism.

Learn more about CSIRO research on Biodiversity & Ecology.