Quokka eDNA Sampler

Developed by the Australian National Science Agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the Quokka is a surface eDNA sampler that automates water filtration and sample preservation for environmental DNA (eDNA) at regular intervals during vessel transit. The Quokka is programmed in advance using sampling “missions”, with each mission consisting of 24 sampling events scheduled every three hours. Missions repeat throughout an expedition, enabling continuous, automated collection of surface water eDNA samples along the vessel’s track.

During each sampling event, seawater is automatically flushed through the system, filtered for one hour, and preserved. Once a mission ends, the preserved filters are stored at -80°C until the expedition concludes. These samples are collected opportunistically during transits, helping fill biodiversity data gaps across the vast, remote, and greatly undersampled regions where E/V Nautilus expeditions typically occur. 

The Globalising Marine Biodiversity Observations partnership (GloMBO) is a partnership between CSIRO and the Minderoo Foundation to develop automated eDNA sampling that can operate beyond traditional research voyages. The Ocean Exploration Trust is proud to partner with this initiative by helping to collect samples and field test sampling approaches in some of the most remote portions of the Pacific.