Using eDNA to help scientists monitor marine ecosystems

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Through eDNA, a sample of seawater can yield information about who is living in nearby waters. (graphic: Kelly Lance)
By sampling eDNA, scientists can gather information about what species are in nearby waters. (graphic: Kelly Lance)

Marine plants and animals leave behind tiny markers of their presence, often in the form of skin cells that have been shed, damaged tissues, or waste products – and within that lies their signature DNA. From a sample of seawater, scientists can read that eDNA — that is, environmental DNA — and paint a picture of species diversity in specific ocean ecosystems, determine whether or not invasive species have landed in local waters, and even sharpen their ability to monitor ecosystem changes as is often required by law. Led by School of Marine and Environmental Affairs assistant professor Ryan Kelly, a team of scientists published their findings on June 27 in Science on this emerging method and its potential for marine management, monitoring, and ecology.

Shellfish center – named after UW’s Ken Chew – to tackle shellfish declines

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Ken Chew
Ken Chew

Washington state’s newest shellfish hatchery – and the federal government’s only such hatchery in the region – has been named after long-time University of Washington faculty member Ken Chew, a professor emeritus of aquatic and fishery sciences. The Kenneth K. Chew Center for Shellfish Research and Restoration is housed at the Manchester Research Station operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration near Port Orchard. Its opening coincides with a new 10-year plan to rebuild populations of native Olympia oysters in Puget Sound.

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RSVP today for the Evans School’s student-organized showcase highlighting student research conducted for a range of regional, national, and international clients. See how our students are shaping public policy in Seattle and beyond.

When: Friday, May 16; Poster displays: 3–6:00 p.m.; Formal program: 5–6:00 p.m.
Where: Parrington Hall Forum and Commons, UW Seattle Campus
RSVP: Online or contact evressym@uw.edu

Learn more about the event

The formal program features the following student presentations

  • “Predicting Success in High School Advanced Placement Courses” by Chaya Jones (MPA ’14)

  • “Empowering Local Health through GIS” by Isaiah Berg (MPA ’15)

  • “Rainier Beach Food Innovation Zone: Kitchen Incubator Business Model for City of Seattle Community Development” by Annabelle Allen (MPA ’14), Junpei Guo (MPA ’14), Jessica Tupper (MPA ’14), and Josie Xu (MPA ’14)

Refreshments will be provided.

[research]: Field Technician, Freshwater Ecology and Conservation Laboratory

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Field Technicians in Freshwater Fish Ecology – University of Washington

We are looking for two field technicians to join the Freshwater Ecology and Conservation Laboratory (Dr. Julian Olden, University of Washington) to assist with a series of field projects in Washington and Oregon. Projects include the investigation of the reproductive ecology and distribution of invasive smallmouth bass in the John Day River, Oregon, and animal (fish, crayfish, snail) and plant community surveys in the Chehalis River and lakes of the Puget Sound Lowlands, Washington.

Description: Technicians will assist with extensive snorkel surveys (40+ miles of river) and the active trapping and netting of fishes in various field locations in Washington and Oregon. Other tasks will include collecting, measuring and tagging fish, collecting and measuring eggs, gathering habitat data, taking water samples and data entry. Field sites are remote (little to no cell service) and teams will be tent camping for extended periods. In general, applicants should be prepared for long working days and weeks, variable weather conditions, incredible scenery and a lot of fun.

Dates: Project dates of employment are from beginning June through mid-September, 2014.

Salary: $520/week. Field and camping equipment, food and transportation to field sites is provided.

Qualifications: Willingness and ability to work remotely in both pristine and urban aquatic systems and spend extended periods of time camping. Required attributes include: valid driver’s license, ability to lift 50lbs, ability to swim/snorkel for extended periods, and outdoor/camping experience. Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience in fish ecology. Patience with changing plans and ability to work well both independently and on a team are preferred.

To apply: send a cover letter (including dates of availability and experience), a current resume, and names and contact information for two references to esuther@uw.edu.

Deadline to apply: May 1, 2014

For more information contact:

Erika Sutherland

M.S. student, University of Washington

esuther@uw.edu
http://www.fish.washington.edu/research/oldenlab/

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Documenting Subsistence in Alaska: A Few Things Learned…

Jim Magdanz
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Subsistence Division (retired)
UAF – Resilience and Adaptation Program, Graduate School, University of Alaska Fairbanks (Ph.D. student)
UW – Biocultural Anthropology (visiting student)

Friday March 14
3:30-5pm
Denny Hall 205

Jim Magdanz will present some results from 30-years of subsistence research in Alaska.  Since 1980, state and federal laws have provided a priority for subsistence hunting and fishing over other consumptive uses such as commercial fishing. The state’s Division of Subsistence, directed primarily by anthropologists, became the primary source of information about Alaska’s subsistence economies. Jim was one of the Division’s earliest field researchers. He  spent his 30-year career living and working in Nome, Kotzebue, and surrounding smaller communities. He will discuss the legal framework for Alaska’s subsistence priority, community population and harvest trends, their implications for sustainability, and social network analysis as a method to untangle the complex cooperative production systems in Native communities. Jim resigned from the Division of Subsistence in 2012 to pursue a Ph.D. in natural resources, and is currently a visiting graduate student in biocultural anthropology at UW. 

About the speaker: 
Jim is a Ph.D. student in natural resources and sustainability at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and a visiting graduate student in biocultural anthropology at the University of Washington Seattle, with an emphasis on network analysis.

Jim came to Alaska as a photojournalist, fascinated by a group of 5-to-10-year-old Iñupiaq children he met during their visit to an Iowa dairy farm. Compared with children he knew, the Iñupiat were self-confident, calm, mature, and cooperative, not competitive. They shed no tears, threw no tantrums, and played with great joy. “What kind of place raises kids like this?” he wondered. So he went to Alaska, and spent the next 30 years of his life living in and studying small Iñupiaq communities in Arctic Alaska.

In 1981, he joined the Division of Subsistence, a small social science research group embedded in the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. In his first project, a “simple” subsistence harvest estimation problem developed into a continuing interest in network analysis as a method to understand rural economies. Analyses showed that Iñupiat produced and distributed wild foods within multi-household, extended family structures very similar to those of their ancestors, despite profound social and economic changes over the last century. As his investments in network research grew, he realized he needed to improve his network analysis skills, so he resigned to return to graduate school full time.

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Job Title: Field Technicians/Botanists (2 positions)

Location: Morgantown, WV

Time Period: Mid-May to the end of August 2014

Duties:  The selected persons will assist with three studies.  The first study is a large greenhouse, common garden, and growth chamber competition study involving Ailanthus altissima and two native species.  The second study involves vegetative sampling of two sites in northern PA.  The purpose of the latter study is to test the effects of leaving residual trees after a harvest on understory vegetation.  Finally, the selected persons may take part in establishing new study plots within the Potomac Highland Cooperative Weed Management Area in WV.

While botanical and taxonomic skills are not required, a strong interest in understory vegetation and ability to learn to identify these plants is necessary.  Good orienteering skills are desired.  There will also be a need to tear down, establish, and re-establish some plots which could require carrying relatively heavy equipment in and out of sites on variable terrain. Those selected may also help with data entry and summaries as well as general herbarium tasks.

Application Procedure: This will be a biological sciences position. The vacancy announcement numbers are 14-TEMP112456-015074JLC-DT and 14-TEMP112456-015062JLC-DT. Announcements will be posted at www.usajobs.gov on February 19th and will remain open for 1-2 weeks. Contact Dr. Cynthia Huebner at chuebner@fs.fed.uw with questions.

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FHL student application due dates:

Jan. 25 for Spring Quarter
Feb. 1 for Summer Courses
May 15 (early admission) or July 1 for Autumn Quarter

Applicants do not need to be current students at University of Washington. Applications will be accepted past the due date if space is available.

Here’s a link to the FHL website:
http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/studentInfo2014.html

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Project Overview: We are comparing two floors, a freshman floor
against a floor of upperclassmen. We are looking to see if there is a
difference in the waste patterns of students who are new against
students who have been at UW a while. We will be performing trash
sorts so that we can see the detailed waste patterns of each floor.

The waste sorts will be conducted on the following Thursdays – January
16th, 23rd, 30th & February 6th, 13th, 20th. The time frame for the
sorts will be from 12:15pm-4:30pm. It not necessary for each
individual to participate for the full four plus hours, but they are
more than welcomed to if they wish! It is preferred that individuals
participate weekly though, if for some reason an individual cannot
participate weekly we can try to work something out.This is a fun
research project and great experience for any of you that are
interested in pursuing research of any kind! All participants will be provided a suit for sorting, gloves, masks, etc. Everyone will receive information about how to sort waste and the observations that we are asking you to monitor. 

If interested, send an email inquiry to ruem@uw.edu