Agnes Le Port

Agnes’s research mainly focuses on the use of cutting-edge and traditional molecular approaches for the conservation and protection of Australia’s unique aquatic and marine ecosystems. She also uses genomic tools to address the challenging issues and opportunities surrounding food security by informing selective breeding programs for the aquaculture Industry in Australia.

Agnes' current projects include:

• using environmental DNA (eDNA) to address a broad range of biosecurity and ecological conservation applications. In particular, Agnes has developed innovative eDNA methods for detecting aquatic and marine pest species (e.g. tilapia) and species of conservation concern (sawfish, hammerhead sharks) across Australia (SOSF) and in Guam (US Navy). She recently published a chapter on the use of eDNA techniques for the study of shark biology;

• working with farms and Industry to generate novel genomic resources to improve efficiencies in aquaculture production in Black tiger prawns (P. monodon) (ARC ITRH Advanced Prawn Breeding Hub);

• explore and evaluate the potential efficacy of coral restoration methods used globally on Australia's Great Barrier Reef (NESP TWQ Hub)

A complete list of publications is available here.