Above: Mapleleaf mussel (Quadrula quadrula)
Below: St. Andrews Lock and Dam, Red River
Photo credit: Doug Watkinson, DFO Canada
Absence of genetic structure reflects post-glacial history and present-day host use in Mapleleaf (Quadrula quadrula) mussel from Manitoba, Canada
This study documents and analyzes the absence of genetic diversity and structure of the Mapleleaf mussel (Quadrula quadrula) in the Lake Winnipeg, Assiniboine River, and Red River drainages of Manitoba, Canada. Genotypes from six variable microsatellite loci showed that the Q. quadrula population in Manitoba was significantly differentiated from the population in the Great Lakes drainage (Ontario, Canada), supporting the existence of two Designatable Units in Canada. Conversely, there was no evidence of genetic structure within the sampled range of Q. quadrula in Manitoba. The lack of genetic structure in Q. quadrula across its distribution in Manitoba reflected its post-glacial history and use of a vagile host and necessitates that efforts should be made to ensure connectivity and maintain gene flow across the region. Given that the evidence suggests that Manitoba Q. quadrula belong to a single genetic population, movement of hatchery-propagated juvenile Q. quadrula, adult Q. quadrula, or glochidia-carrying host catfish sourced from any location in Manitoba could be used to augment declining populations or at-risk locations in Manitoba. You can read the full story here.
Central Michigan University
(August 2018 - September 2019)
eDNA metabarcoding reveals baseline fish inventory for NWFL Coastal Dune Lakes
My M.S. thesis project used environmental DNA and metabarcoding to create an inventory of fish species living in North West Florida's Coastal Dune Lakes. Coastal Dune Lakes are rare lake systems in that during high water levels, the lakes open to the Gulf of mexico and become temporary esturarine environments. More about these lakes can be read here.
University of West Florida
(August 2016 - May 2018)
eDNA as a tool to detect presumed extinct Alabama Sturgeon
I assisted with moelcuar lab work (DNA extraction and amplification) and manuscript preparation on a project in the Janosik Lab that used eDNA to detect the presumed extinct Alabama Sturgeon.
University of West Florida
(May 2017 – November 2017)
eDNA as a tool to save critically endangered Sawfish in Mexico
As a M.S. student, I worked on a side project with collaboratrs from Mexico. I was responsible for environmental DNA extraction and amplification used to detect critically endangered sawfish (Pristis pristis) in Mexico.
University of West Florida
(Dec. 2016 – May 2018)
Scallop Restoration in Sarasota Bay, FL
After graduating with a B.S. in Marine Biology, I served as an inern in the Benthic Ecology Department at Mote Marine. I was responsible for maintaining a bivalve nursery and assisting with ongoing research endeavors, including scallop restoration and ocean acidification studies.
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
(May 2016 – Aug. 2016)
eDNA detection of fishes
As an undergraduate researcher in the Janosik lab, I assisted in a number of projects using eDNA to detect fishes in freshwater and marine environments.
University of West Flordia
(Aug. 2014 – Dec. 2015)
Comparative analysis of systematic vs. random sampling of Donax variabilis
For this project, I was an undergraduate assistant. I was able to assist in field collections and preparations for analyses in the wet lab.
University of West Florida
(Oct. 2013 – Jun. 2014)