Document Type
Proposal
Publication Date
Spring 4-7-2025
Department
Biological & Environmental Sciences
Faculty Advisor
Jameson Hinkle
Abstract
Freshwater mussels are a keystone species providing crucial ecosystem services and river composition resiliency. Anecdotal evidence suggests the presence of freshwater mussels within the Appomattox river, the specifics of population sizes and suitable habitat remains an open question. Environmental DNA (eDNA) usage in conservation ecology has exploded in use within the past two decades, being far less invasive and cost-demanding than traditional methods. An eDNA metabarcoding pipeline of the 16s mitochondrial ribosomal subunit was built in R v. 4.4.2, using dada2 v. 3.2.1 package to trim MinION single read ASV outputs for freshwater mussel species identification in the interest of identifying suitable habitat. Novel primers for use in eDNA metabarcoding to 15 freshwater mussel species were designed with NIH Primer BLAST and Primer3 to prepare for field sampling in April 2025. End-point PCR was used to determine presence data for freshwater mussels.
Recommended Citation
Duellman, Nicholas, "Discovery of suitable habitat for Freshwater Mussel species in the Appomattox River through the use of environmental DNA." (2025). Longwood Senior Thesis Proposal. 23.
https://digitalcommons.longwood.edu/senior_thesis_proposals/23
Included in
Environmental Monitoring Commons, Genetics Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Water Resource Management Commons
