Developing eDNA metrics for assessing ecosystem health in the Great South Bay
Faculty Department
BCES
Presentation Type
Powerpoint
Location
Reception Room
Start Date
25-2-2026 3:15 PM
End Date
25-2-2026 3:30 PM
Description (Abstract)
eDNA is an evolving tool used to assess biodiversity in aquatic habitats. It is less invasive and more comprehensive than traditional monitoring methods; however, because of its novelty, its implementation as an ecosystem health metric is still under development. In this project, we processed and analyzed three years of archived eDNA samples from select stations in the Great South Bay, representing a variety of habitats, including open water, oyster reefs, and the mouths of tributaries. Using a broad primer set that amplifies a gene for taxonomic identification of both vertebrates and invertebrates, we assessed biodiversity metrics, focusing on specific taxonomic groups and their variability across habitat types. We focused on particular taxa that indicate water quality, such as elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), Capitella worms, and the harmful algal species, Aureococcus anophagefferens. All research objectives, hypotheses, and activities were carried out by students, representing the research projects of 5 current and former Molloy undergraduates.
Keywords
environmental science, biodiversity, eDNA
Related Pillar(s)
Community, Service, Study
Developing eDNA metrics for assessing ecosystem health in the Great South Bay
Reception Room
eDNA is an evolving tool used to assess biodiversity in aquatic habitats. It is less invasive and more comprehensive than traditional monitoring methods; however, because of its novelty, its implementation as an ecosystem health metric is still under development. In this project, we processed and analyzed three years of archived eDNA samples from select stations in the Great South Bay, representing a variety of habitats, including open water, oyster reefs, and the mouths of tributaries. Using a broad primer set that amplifies a gene for taxonomic identification of both vertebrates and invertebrates, we assessed biodiversity metrics, focusing on specific taxonomic groups and their variability across habitat types. We focused on particular taxa that indicate water quality, such as elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), Capitella worms, and the harmful algal species, Aureococcus anophagefferens. All research objectives, hypotheses, and activities were carried out by students, representing the research projects of 5 current and former Molloy undergraduates.
Short Biography
Dr. Elizabeth Suter is an Associate Professor of Environmental Science in the BCES department. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Marine and Atmospheric Science from Stony Brook University and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College. Dr Suter. specializes in the ecology of aquatic systems, and her research focuses on the roles that microbes play in open ocean deoxygenation, biogeochemical cycling, and coastal resilience. Most recently, her work focuses on applying novel sequencing techniques to assess both microbiome and ecosystem diversity using environmental DNA (eDNA), and the impacts of oyster restoration on ecosystem resiliency. Dr. Suter teaches and has built many of the courses in the Earth and Environmental Science major and is a strong advocate for data science, both as a skill to teach to students and as a tool for developing nature-based solutions for climate adaptation.