NYC/NJ Fish eDNA Project Mapping fish with environmental DNA (eDNA) Monitoring fish distribution and abundance Detecting invasive, endangered species Potentially faster, cheaper, gentler than traditional methods Rockefeller University gggg Monmouth University Monmouth University and Rockefeller University Marine Research Initiative (MURU) RU Summer Science Research Program, RU Program for the Human Environment
Surrounded by Fish: NYC Marine Fish eDNA Survey Collection sites 2015
NYC awash in fish (eDNA) 13 fish species at 14 shoreline sites Menhaden, herring eDNA abundant, widespread Non-native species eDNA: European seabass (“branzino”)
eDNA tells about local environment Sites differ in fish/human, #species, most abundant Nearby sites similar
Tidal strait has nearshore fish eDNA
Salt marsh has salt marsh species eDNA
eDNA detects a non-native fish European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) at 1 Hudson River location Marketed as “branzino” Native to Europe, extensively farmed in Mediterranean Some fish farming locations in US and Canada Other non-native dietary species not found (incl salmon, tilapia, tuna) No known reports of wild individuals in US
People, Partners, Sponsors MURU Marine Research Initiative A collaboration between: Jeanne Garbarino LABORATORY OF GENETICALLY ENCODED SMALL MOLECULES Zachary Charop-Powers Howard Rosenbaum