Integrating DNA metabarcoding of macroinvertebrates into biomonitoring of Australian freshwater ecosystems.

In this study, we present a roadmap of how DNA metabarcoding can be further developed and integrated into existing biomonitoring programs in Australia. We do this comparing traditional morphological identification to two different DNA metabarcoding protocols using a non-destructive and rapid destructive DNA extraction protocol on paired macroinvertebrate sweep samples collected from 47 sites in greater Melbourne, Australia. We use these samples to test the cost-effectiveness and accuracy of the different DNA metabarcoding protocols and compare them to traditional family-based morphological approaches. We also identified and strategically filled taxonomic gaps in DNA barcode reference libraries for Australian macroinvertebrates.