SLC Student Research Spotlight

by Ryan Palmer - Director of CURB

This semester two students are conducting a joint research project at CURB focused on using eDNA, or environmental DNA, to assess fish populations in the Hudson River.  

Maria Cecconello Lucas (‘25), and Caitlin McCabe (‘26) are working together but utilizing two different means of doing research at CURB: Maria through SLCembeddED and Caitie through an Independent Study with Dr. Michelle Hersh.    

Environmental DNA, as the name suggests, is simply DNA that has made its way into the environment. Fish, much like us, are constantly shedding DNA which ends up in the water around them. That water can be collected and have DNA extracted and analyzed using PCR to determine what species were present. 

A relatively new field of study, eDNA is used by researchers and natural resource managers to help track fish populations including endangered and invasive species. It is particularly useful for monitoring fish that are difficult to catch using traditional methods or species that are sensitive to handling. 

Maria and Caitie will be analyzing Hudson River water samples for fish eDNA over five sampling events at three sites: at CURB near the tidal marsh, and two sites about a quarter mile to the north and south that have hardened shorelines. 

We look forward to reporting their results at the end of the semester! 

For more info contact Ryan Palmer at rpalmer@sarahlawrence.edu