Date of Submission

Spring 2024

Academic Program

Biology

Project Advisor 1

Felicia Keesing

Abstract/Artist's Statement

The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is an anadromous, jawless fish that is present in much of the waters of the North American northeast, as well as the waterways of Western Europe. It is often dubbed the “vampire fish,” due to its parasitic nature during its oceanic juvenile stage, after which it returns to streams to spawn in the spring and summer. Its fascinating life cycle and parasitic nature have made it a subject of study in the Northeast, particularly due to its success as an invader. As anthropogenic activities continue to threaten aquatic ecosystems and life, efficient monitoring and conservation measures are needed to protect and restore habitats. Sea lampreys’ rapidly growing populations have prompted lampricide treatments, barriers, and traps, which are used to maintain the populations at a manageable level. Molecular-based environmental DNA assays are useful, noninvasive tools to track population growth and decline. In this study, I supplement previous research with useful and efficient methods that can aid in local conservation and control. Using standard eDNA field methods and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis, I provide a baseline assessment of how sea lamprey DNA is amplified in a qPCR experiment to guide future projects and investigate the emerging success of qPCR-based eDNA assays. As we gain a better understanding of sea lamprey populations in local areas, we may be able to untangle their native role better and conserve our already fragile aquatic ecosystems.

Open Access Agreement

On-Campus only

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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