Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Climate change is an increasing threat to many ecosystems worldwide. Due to global warming, many species are under threat of extinction while others are forced into unusual patterns of migration. For example, the ‘Round Scad’ fish in the Philippines, which is a cheap source of protein in the diet of common citizens, is rapidly declining in both population and body size. In this project, we aim to develop a cheap, rapid, and sensitive method of monitoring the population dynamics of this fish and other marine species in the wild. Recently, a new method called environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has been developed as a cost-effective way to monitor species richness and the presence of invasive species in marine ecosystems simply by detecting DNA released by dead tissues shed from organisms in the environment. Combined with the recent development of Nanopore MinION, a portable and cheap 3rd generation DNA sequencing technology, we hope to build a portable system of eDNA surveillance that can be used in the field to monitor ‘Round Scad’ population dynamics, marine biodiversity, and invasive species in the Philippine Seas. As a ‘proof of principle’ study, we present our first attempt at examining the potential of the MinION technology to identify fish biodiversity in our local Conesus Lake. The technology holds promise of deployment in the Philippines for rapid, simple and cheaper means of monitoring marine biodiversity and informing sustainable management and conservation strategies of marine species facing global climate change stress.
Recommended Citation
Comstock, Morgan, "263-Developing a Portable System of Environmental DNA (eDNA) Surveillance to Monitor Fish Population Dynamics and Detect Invasive Species in Conesus Lake and The Philippine Seas" (2024). GREAT Day Posters. 77.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2024/posters-2024/77
263-Developing a Portable System of Environmental DNA (eDNA) Surveillance to Monitor Fish Population Dynamics and Detect Invasive Species in Conesus Lake and The Philippine Seas
Climate change is an increasing threat to many ecosystems worldwide. Due to global warming, many species are under threat of extinction while others are forced into unusual patterns of migration. For example, the ‘Round Scad’ fish in the Philippines, which is a cheap source of protein in the diet of common citizens, is rapidly declining in both population and body size. In this project, we aim to develop a cheap, rapid, and sensitive method of monitoring the population dynamics of this fish and other marine species in the wild. Recently, a new method called environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has been developed as a cost-effective way to monitor species richness and the presence of invasive species in marine ecosystems simply by detecting DNA released by dead tissues shed from organisms in the environment. Combined with the recent development of Nanopore MinION, a portable and cheap 3rd generation DNA sequencing technology, we hope to build a portable system of eDNA surveillance that can be used in the field to monitor ‘Round Scad’ population dynamics, marine biodiversity, and invasive species in the Philippine Seas. As a ‘proof of principle’ study, we present our first attempt at examining the potential of the MinION technology to identify fish biodiversity in our local Conesus Lake. The technology holds promise of deployment in the Philippines for rapid, simple and cheaper means of monitoring marine biodiversity and informing sustainable management and conservation strategies of marine species facing global climate change stress.