Biodiversity Assessment in Ozark Streams Using eDNA
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Duvernell, David D. (David Douglas), 1970-
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
Professor funded
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods of biodiversity sampling have become well documented, utilized and depended upon as a source of data, using DNA generated by epithelial cell deposition and then using PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism markers to distinguish between species. Despite the surge of research data generated via sampling eDNA, technical challenges still facing the usage of eDNA today include verifying that eDNA samples recovered accurately represent the biotic community and exploring the extent that technical errors can affect sampling results, acknowledging the power of PCR sampling and the challenge it poses to eliminating contamination. In this project, we aspire to validate this (eDNA) technique by: (1) collecting eDNA data by sampling three different stream sites and comparing the results to traditional biodiversity samples collected previously and extensively by the regional Missouri Department of Conservation office for our specific local stream habitats and (2) devising positive and negative controls that can be applied to monitor for contamination issues.
Biography
Jessica Newburry is currently a junior at S&T. She has been a part of three reasearch teams, including a Neuroscience research team, a water Ecology research team, and a Population Genetics team currently. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, painting, and working with animals, including her dog, Shadow. She also enjoys spending time with her fiancé, Chandler Mossman, a fellow Biological Sciences major. She aspires to achieve a PhD, hoping to secure a career in conservation in Alaska.
Presentation Type
OURE Fellows Proposal Oral Applicant
Document Type
Presentation
Location
Missouri Room
Presentation Date
16 Apr 2019, 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Biodiversity Assessment in Ozark Streams Using eDNA
Missouri Room
Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods of biodiversity sampling have become well documented, utilized and depended upon as a source of data, using DNA generated by epithelial cell deposition and then using PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism markers to distinguish between species. Despite the surge of research data generated via sampling eDNA, technical challenges still facing the usage of eDNA today include verifying that eDNA samples recovered accurately represent the biotic community and exploring the extent that technical errors can affect sampling results, acknowledging the power of PCR sampling and the challenge it poses to eliminating contamination. In this project, we aspire to validate this (eDNA) technique by: (1) collecting eDNA data by sampling three different stream sites and comparing the results to traditional biodiversity samples collected previously and extensively by the regional Missouri Department of Conservation office for our specific local stream habitats and (2) devising positive and negative controls that can be applied to monitor for contamination issues.
