Using environmental DNA
Did you know oil and gas platforms can become homes for diverse marine life?
A recent study published in Science of the Total Environment used Pawsey supercomputing power to analyse eDNA (environmental DNA) data collected from platforms in the Gulf of Thailand. This research, led by Jason Alexander, Euan Harvey and Michael Bunce from Curtin University in collaboration with Chevron, New Zealand Department of Conservation, Aquatic Resources Research Institute and PTTEP Energy Development Company Limited, aimed to understand the biodiversity on these platforms and inform decommissioning decisions. ️
By analysing the eDNA, researchers were able to:
• 236 unique species
• Understand how platform depth and location affect biodiversity ️
• Inform future decommissioning strategies to minimize environmental impact
This innovative project demonstrates the power of supercomputing in analysing vast amounts of raw eDNA data, and then using this information to make sound environmental decisions.
Read the full study: https://bit.ly/3IfT4Ky
Project Leader.
