News

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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Two people kneel in river collecting water sample.

Exploring Local Environments and the Research Process at University of Maine Farmington

By Evan Bartow, Writing Intern For undergraduate students, especially early in their academic career, field experience is often limited, but at University of Maine Farmington (UMF), faculty are working to incorporate more field and laboratory experience in their introductory biology classes to expand opportunities. Donelle Schwalm is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Biology at UMF […]

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Blue image of two graduate students conduct field work on block with text that reads Maine EPSCoR Newsletter

Maine EPSCoR Newsletter (Winter 2023)

The latest Maine EPSCoR print newsletter is out now. This newsletter covers some of the amazing work researchers across both Maine and the state’s EPSCoR grants. Maine EPSCoR Newsletter March 2023:   Featured Stories: Maine-eDNA Research Learning Experience Forest Bioproducts Research Institute Mind the Gap: Ecology, evolution, and the impact of humans on the natural […]

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Forecasting Our Climate Future with Barracuda’s Stephanie Miller

By Ilaria Bardini, Media Intern We are already seeing the repercussions of our changing climate through altered weather patterns, development of new diseases, increasing numbers of annual natural disasters, and warming oceans. The NSF EPSCoR RII Track-2 Biodiversity and Rural Adaptation to Climate Change Using Data Analysis project (Barracuda) is working to develop tools with […]

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The Emergence of Blue Crabs in Casco Bay with Brandon Henry

By Ilaria Bardini, Media Intern As the world’s climate changes, ecosystems and the animals that inhabit them are changing as well. This holds true for blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, which are beginning to populate areas along the coast of Maine. Native to warmer waters along the U.S. coastlines, the rising temperatures in the Gulf of […]

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Using eDNA to Monitor Maine’s Rivers with Beth Davis

By Caty DuDevoir, Media Intern Across the NSF EPSCoR Track-1 Maine-eDNA grant, researchers are partnering with local communities and organizations to maintain dialogue and expand conservation in Maine’s waters. Located close to the University of Maine Orono campus, the Penobscot River, New England’s second largest river system, provides Maine-eDNA researchers studying freshwater systems or species […]

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Two people stand on a dock holding sampling materials while wearing raincoats.

Maine-eDNA Undergraduate Student Employment Opportunity

Undergraduate Student Employees Environmental DNA (eDNA) Maine-eDNA Full-time, starting May 2023 Overview: The Maine-eDNA program is seeking undergraduate students to join our team, a state-wide, multi-institutional initiative establishing Maine as a national leader in environmental monitoring, ecological understanding, and sustainability of coastal ecosystems (https://umaine.edu/edna/). Students will have the opportunity to participate through internship experiences in a […]

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