A5032033324- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Fecal contamination and water quality
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Environmental Justice and Health Disparities
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Water Quality and Resources Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Water Quality and Pollution Assessment
- Environmental Monitoring and Data Management
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Underground infrastructure and sustainability
United States Geological Survey
2014-2023
South Atlantic Water Science Center
2016-2023
University of Georgia
2009-2017
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
2016
Summary Species detection using environmental DNA ( eDNA ) has tremendous potential for contributing to the understanding of ecology and conservation aquatic species. Detecting species methods, rather than directly sampling organisms, can reduce impacts on sensitive increase power field surveys rare elusive The sensitivity however, requires a heightened awareness attention quality assurance control protocols. Additionally, interpretation data demands careful consideration multiple factors....
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of amplicons is used in a wide variety contexts. In many cases, NGS amplicon remains overly expensive and inflexible, with library preparation strategies relying upon the fusion locus-specific primers to full-length adapter sequences single identifying sequence or ligating adapters onto PCR products. Adapterama I, we presented universal stubs produce thousands unique index combinations modifiable system for incorporating them into Illumina libraries. Here,...
Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging tool that allows low-impact sampling for aquatic species by isolating from water samples and screening sequences specific to of interest. However, researchers have not tested this method in naturally acidic wetlands provide breeding habitat a number imperiled species, including the frosted salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum), reticulated flatwoods salamanders bishopi), striped newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus), gopher frog (Lithobates capito)....
Escherichia coli levels in recreational waters are often used to predict when fecal-associated pathogen a human health risk. The reach of the Chattahoochee River that flows through National Recreation Area (CRNRA), located Atlanta-metropolitan area, is popular recreation area frequently exceeds U.S. Environmental Protection Agency beach action value (BAV) for E. coli. A BacteriALERT program has been implemented provide real-time estimates and notify public potentially harmful pathogens as...
Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) (e.g., fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, and enterococci) have been used for decades to monitor protect the public from waterborne pathogens contamination. However, FIB may not perform well at predicting presence of or human health outcomes recreational exposure fecal-contaminated surface waters. Numerous factors can influence relationship between outcomes, including source(s) contamination, type pathogen(s) present, differences in survival behavior wastewater...
Urogenital schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium is widely distributed across Africa and increasingly being targeted for control. Genome sequences population genetic parameters can give insight into the potential population- or species-level drug resistance. Microsatellite DNA loci are markers in wide use researchers, but there few primers available S. haematobium. We sequenced 1,058,114 random fragments from clonal cercariae collected a snail infected with single miracidium....
The isolation and identification of environmental DNA (eDNA) offers a non-invasive efficient method for the detection rare secretive aquatic wildlife, it is being widely integrated into inventory monitoring efforts. Patch-Nosed Salamander (Urspelerpes brucei) tiny, recently discovered species plethodontid salamander known only from headwater streams in small region Georgia South Carolina. Here, we present results quantitative PCR-based eDNA assay capable detecting Urspelerpes more than 75%...
First posted April 1, 2024 For additional information, contact: Director, South Atlantic Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 1770 Corporate Drive, Suite 500 Norcross, GA 30093 Contact Pubs Warehouse Prior to 2014, local utilities and State agencies monitored for cyanotoxins taste-and-odor (T&O) compounds reported occasional detections in three water-supply reservoirs Wake County, North Carolina. Comparable data T&O were lacking other the Triangle area of This report assesses whether...
Abstract Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of amplicons is used in a wide variety contexts. Most NGS amplicon remains overly expensive and inflexible, with library preparation strategies relying upon the fusion locus-specific primers to full-length adapter sequences single identifying sequence or ligating adapters onto PCR products. In Adapterama I , we presented universal stubs produce thousands unique index combinations modifiable system for incorporating them into Illumina libraries. Here,...
Abstract Insufficient water sample volumes can be a limiting factor for detecting species with environmental DNA (eDNA) from aquatic habitats. We compared detections of freshwater mussel (Unionidae) communities using large and dead‐end hollow fiber ultrafiltration (D‐HFUF or DEUF) traditional eDNA filtration methods that use relatively small volumes. Unionid were detected in approximately 50‐L D‐HFUF samples two mitochondrial metabarcoding markers (COI ND1) to detection results captured...
Abstract Population genetic diversity is widely accepted as important to the conservation and management of wildlife. However, habitat features may differentially affect evolutionary processes that facilitate population among sympatric species. We measured for two pond‐breeding amphibian species (Dwarf salamanders, Eurycea quadridigitata ; Southern Leopard frogs, Lithobates sphenocephalus ) understand how characteristics spatial scale across a landscape. Samples were collected from wetlands...
Abstract Recreational waters are primary attractions at many national and state parks where feral swine populations established, thus possible hotspots for visitor exposure to contaminants. Microbial source tracking (MST) was used determine spatial temporal patterns of fecal contamination in Congaree National Park (CONG) South Carolina, U.S.A., which has an established population is a popular destination water-based recreation. Water samples were collected between December 2017 June 2019...
Cambarus cryptodytes (Dougherty Plain Cave Crayfish) is an obligate inhabitant of groundwater habitats (i.e., a stygobiont) with troglomorphic adaptations in the Floridan aquifer system southwestern Georgia and adjacent Florida panhandle, particularly Dougherty Marianna Lowlands. Documented occurrences Crayfish are spatially distributed as 2 primary clusters separated by region where few caves springs have been documented; however, paucity humanly accessible karst features this intermediate...
First posted July 23, 2020 For additional information, contact: Director, South Atlantic Water Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey720 Gracern RoadStephenson Center, Suite 129Columbia, SC 29210Contact Pubs Warehouse The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) is a Park Service unit/park with 48 miles of urban waterway in the Atlanta metropolitan area. within CRNRA popular place for water-based recreation but known to periodically experience elevated levels fecal-coliform...
First posted July 9, 2021 For additional information, contact: Director, South Atlantic Water Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey1770 Corporate Drive, Suite 500Norcross, GA 30093Contact Pubs Warehouse During the time period 2001–2006, U.S. Survey reported mercury-concentration measurements that exceeded North Carolina water-quality criterion (NCWQC) of 0.012 microgram per liter for total recoverable mercury in streams and reservoirs across Triangle Area Carolina. Mercury data were sparse,...
During a single lab period, students simulate colonization and drift in artificial communities to understand how these processes affect distributions of biodiversity small versus large with varying degrees isolation. Plastic bins represent islands, are situated different Ziploc bags candy individuals the candies inside genetic composition individuals. Students by tossing, replicating, removing from their communities. record which removed added over time, graph data, discuss results.
First posted July 30, 2019 For additional information, contact: Director, South Atlantic Water Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey720 Gracern RoadStephenson Center, Suite 129Columbia, SC 29210 The Center Strategic Planning Team has developed a unified strategic science plan to guide the vision of (SAWSC) in response merging Georgia, North Carolina, and Carolina Centers. This proposes path forward keep SAWSC activities relevant many diverse needs stakeholders region (Georgia, Carolina)...
First posted April 7, 2021 For additional information, contact: Director, South Atlantic Water Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey1770 Corporate Drive, Suite 500Norcross, GA 30093Contact Pubs Warehouse This document was prepared in cooperation with Gwinnett County, Georgia, to supplement the journal article “Microbial and Viral Indicators of Pathogens Human Health Risks from Recreational Exposure Waters Impaired by Fecal Contamination” (published Journal Sustainable Built Environment). The...