The ShiRP fisheries team completed a successful expedition in September 2024 pioneering new eDNA sampling technology
- Sep 20, 2024
- 1 min read
September 2024 was an exciting month of fieldwork!
ShiRP's Pikitch Lab has been using eDNA technology for five years, but every single water sample up until now has been collected by hand in Shinnecock Bay, put on ice, transported to Stony Brook University's main campus, and then filtered and extracted in a laboratory before being sent off for genetic analysis.
Working with Open Ocean Robotics and McLane Laboratories, we integrated new technologies to facilitate a remotely piloted USV to autonomously collect eDNA samples all around Shinnecock Bay, in areas we have never before sampled.
This technology is promising in many ways -- it's non-invasive, solar-powered and climate friendly, and can take samples during both day and night.
The expedition was endorsed by The Explorers Club and carried Flag #132 on the mission. The Institute for Ocean Conservation expains more on the expedition on its website.
eDNA will be a key way that ShiRP monitors biodiversity in the future, and we hope to expand use of autonomously collected data around the bay and beyond.
Expedition Media Links:
Newsday, September 13th
WSHU, September 13th
https://www.wshu.org/long-island-news/2024-09-13/researchers-launch-eco-friendly-boat- to-study-biodiversity-in-shinnecock-bay
Stony Brook Magazine, September 24, 2024
September 27, 2024 Stony Brook Statesman https://sbstatesman.com/128929/news/stony-brook-scientists-launch-solar-powered-edna- vessel-for-eco-friendly-marine-monitoring/
Open Ocean Robotics – Fall 2024 Website cast study on eDNA sampling in Shinnecock Bay https://www.openoceanrobotics.com/edna
Ocean News and Technology – October/November 2024 https://oceannews.com/featured-stories/advancing-edna-sampling-through-uncrewed-platforms/
