A team of scientists used an emerging genetic tool that analyzes DNA in water samples to detect whales and dolphins in New York waters.
A team of scientists used an emerging genetic tool that analyzes DNA in water samples to detect whales and dolphins in New York waters.
Called environmental DNA or eDNA, the technique searches for trace amounts of genetic material left behind by wildlife.
The scientists, from California State University, CUNY, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Columbia University, published their results in the journal Frontiers.
The scientists say that eDNA can be used to complement other methods to locate whales and dolphins such as visual observations and acoustic monitoring, and their eDNA detections are some of the most promising to date for detecting whales and dolphins from seawater in the open ocean.
Said the study’s lead author Dr. Elizabeth Alter of California State University: “Determining how cetaceans and other threatened marine animals use coastal habitats is critical to their effective conservation. By generating eDNA data in parallel with survey data, it will be possible to gain a clearer understanding of how this tool can be used in management and conservation contexts to monitor species of conservation concern over large marine ecosystems.”
Read more at: Wildlife Conservation Society
Humpback whales now swim within sight of New York City (Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher)
