Maine-eDNA

Three indivisuals in diving suits sit together on the water.

Maine’s kelp forests and the impact of environmental change

By, Camryn Sudimick, Maine EPSCoR Writing Intern The Gulf of Maine (GoM) is warming rapidly, and ecosystems contained within, including Maine’s rocky reefs, are undergoing significant changes. The kelp forest habitats along Maine’s coast are transitioning to red algae turf reefs. These kelp forests stand from one to a few meters tall that fish and […]

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White Shark Migration and Taking Part in the Research Process with Patrick Tardie

By Camryn Sudimick, Writing Intern White sharks are one of the most iconic species in the sea. While they have gained a fearsome reputation, researchers like Patrick Tardie, a Maine-eDNA undergraduate intern, argue they should instead be recognized for their vital role as apex predators in marine ecosystems. While white shark populations faced a decline […]

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Woman takes measurements on boat

Congratulations to Maine-eDNA Summer Internship Cohort

Congratulations to Maine-eDNA’s summer internship cohort! The NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 Maine-eDNA project provided support to 32 undergraduate interns this summer. Working up and down the coast and into the interior of Maine, these interns made meaningful contributions to the project by helping advance efforts like Maine-eDNA’s Index Site Sampling project.  The interns used eDNA […]

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Understanding Squid and Food Chain Dynamics in the Gulf of Maine

By Stefania Irene Marthakis “Maine-eDNA was one of my main inspirations to continue to study Zoology at the University of Maine, Decorey Bolton Jr. said. “I’m especially interested in animal’s behavioral patterns, how different environmental factors are affecting their movement patterns, and their interactions with other animals.” DeCorey Bolton Jr. is an alumni and now […]

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Investigating Harmful Algae Blooms with Robin Sleith

By Evan Bartow, Writing Intern Located across the many aquatic enviroments of Maine, harmful algae blooms (HABs) are caused by algae that can grow uncontrollably, and cause the production of naturally produced toxins. These toxins negatively impact other organisms within the aquatic ecosystems. Robin Sleith, who started as a postdoctoral scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for […]

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Lucia stands next to poster

Exploring Fungal Communities and eDNA with Lucia Goldman

By Ilaria Bardini, Writing Intern Natural ecosystems, including Maine’s plants and forests, are increasingly being impacted by pollution and climate change. Mycorrhizal fungi, fungal communities that have often unseen symbiotic relationships with the roots of plants, are vital to forest communication and their consequent growth and success. The build-up of toxic chemicals and pollutants in […]

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Sharon stands to the right as she discusses index site sampling with two Maine-eDNA researchers.

Using eDNA to Understanding Alewives Impact on Freshwater Communities

By Ilaria Bardini, Writing Intern Alewife, an anadromous species of herring, spawn in freshwater systems along the coast of Maine. As an ecologically, economically, and culturally significant fish, their decline over the last two centuries is a crucial area of interest and study. With the development and use of environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques, researchers are […]

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Two individuals gather around Aaron Snow as he shows his 3D printed parts at research symposium.

Using 3D Printing to Expand Access to eDNA Research

By Evan Bartow, Writing Intern For some researchers, environmental DNA (eDNA) based research is limited and underutilized due to its, at least perceived, cost and ease of use. A major part of the NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 Maine-eDNA grant is focused on the development and creation of advanced eDNA collection technologies and strategies. As eDNA […]

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