« All Events Dive into cutting-edge science and meet fellow volunteers at our monthly community science event in Malibu Discover the fascinating world of eDNA water testing which helps track biodiversity and monitor our Marine Protected Areas SIGN UP Although our Malibu eDNA sample sites are accessible there are many unknown factors that could pose risks to your health and safety there is limited data on how water quality and sand conditions may have been impacted making it difficult to determine whether these beaches are safe our eDNA team has implemented the following precautions: As community scientists, we trust you to make informed decisions based on the evolving data and understanding of these conditions. Please do not put yourself in any situation where you feel unsafe. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out. And for updates as new data become available, check out our Ash to Action page **You must sign our Heal the Bay eDNA Waiver before attending our event Volunteers under 17 must have their parent(s) (or guardian(s) **A previous Heal the Bay Volunteer Orientation MUST be attended and completed before you can attend the eDNA event. The orientation occurs bimonthly. Learn about our next orientation here Please contact the MPA Watch Team at mpawatch@healthebay.org with any questions Sign Me Up Copyright ©2025 Heal the Bay. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Financial Information & Annual ReportsHeal the Bay is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Heal the Bay's Tax ID number is 95-4031055. A poem can lift the spirits and nourish the soul. This week, let’s all learn one together! The Poetry Challenge See Full Poem & Readings Play Game Share full article167167 By A.O. Scott and Aliza Aufrichtig Welcome to the end of the Poetry Challenge — the last stanza of our five-day adventure in verse. (If you missed the beginning or middle, you can catch up here) We hope you are feeling reasonably merry and not unduly tired at an elementary school not far from where Edna St Students there were invited to write down a poem and carry it around in their pockets If they ran into somebody who was in urgent need of a poem You never know when that’s going to happen We’ve made space in our busy days and our buzzing minds to carry around a bundle of couplets Some of us may have inflicted “Recuerdo” on other people But the question nonetheless arises: Now that you have this poem suggested by our young friend and implied in Millay’s last lines a souvenir offered by the poet to whomever might have been with her on that ferry ride and impulsive act of giving that wraps up the night can stand as a metaphor for poetry itself respond with something that goes far beyond simple charity a poem acquires meaning only insofar as it is shared since everyone who acquires it will understand it — will use it — in their own way Yours to treasure: to recite under your breath Human memory is a curious thing — variable Some mental storage spaces are neatly sorted and cross-indexed Others are more like kitchen drawers overflowing with odds and ends: candle stubs takeout menus from restaurants that shut down during Covid Some of “Recuerdo” may start to go blurry — which one of us ate the pear — but that slippage is anticipated by the poem itself It’s not a comprehensive accounting of everything that happened a skein of especially vivid associations and impressions Your brain may process the poem in a similar way the words “a bucketful of gold” might pop into your head The rhymes and alliterations you labored over this week have become part of your verbal muscle memory And that repeating first couplet — which comprises six of the poem’s 18 lines and occupied the first day of this challenge — will surely jingle in your pocket for a long time to come poet Watch her full readingWhether you recite the whole thing every day or pick up scraps of it every now and then That might be as much poetry as you require Her “Collected Poems” fill more than 700 pages Or you might prefer her slimmer individual collections A “Recuerdo” algorithm could just as well point you toward poems about boats or New York toward lyrics about regretting the dawn or seizing the day It lives through intuitive leaps and improbable inferences uncanny connections between common experience and your own imagination Every poem is its own recommendation engine and every reader will find a perfectly idiosyncratic way of following it First, though, let us know how you did. Did you learn it? Would you read it for us? We hope you’ll share your thoughts and suggestions with us below And we hope that further poetic voyages are in store “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers,” by Adrienne Rich is a blazing portrait of an artist and her work Scott admires its craft — and its wildness Scott marvels at the power and paradox of a sonnet by Gwendolyn Brooks George Oppen’s “From a Photograph” turns a wintry snapshot into a moving meditation on parenthood and the passage of time is one of the best things that our critic A.O Scott walks you through a poem that speaks to his mood right now It’s called “Party Politics,” but it’s not about those parties Frank O’Hara’s “Having a Coke With You” makes a charming first impression and right away you want to get to know it better Share full article167167Edited by Gregory Cowles Design and development by Umi Syam and Eden Weingart Additional video production by McKinnon de Kuyper Metrics details Surveys of fish diversity in complex heterogeneous environments are highly challenging to perform using traditional survey methods Although environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has been effectively used to evaluate fish diversity studies exploring the spatial and temporal variability of fish communities in mosaic habitats and their connection to water quality after ecological project implementation are still scarce we evaluated the changes in water quality and fish assembles using the traditional method and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding after Ecological water replenishment (EWR) and the links between fish communities and water quality were established in the Baiyangdian (BYD) ecosystem in the North China Plain CODMn and TP showed a conspicuous improvement pattern and the number of fish species increased notably after EWR 6 more introduced fish species were recorded when compared with the historical data before the implementation of the EWR project the species richness showed a highly significant difference among the four habitats in the summer 2020 and spring 2021 (spring: P = 0.000; summer: P = 0.002) and obvious discrimination of fish communities across two seasons was observed (P = 0.001) with eDNA metabarcoding The water quality variables driving the changes of fish communities during the same period varied significantly across different habitats while not all showed noticeable discrepancy in driving cross-seasonal fish community changes our study highlights that the continuous EWR improves the water quality and fish richness but potential ecological issues associated with introduced species should be carefully considered after EWR Our results also confirm that eDNA is a reliable tool for assessing fish diversity and distinguishing spatiotemporal variability of fish communities in mosaic habitat ecosystems previous research has predominantly focused on the influence of the EWR on water quality or fish assemblages limited attention was given to the integrated influence of water quality and aquatic organisms in which the key factors driving changes in the biotic community remained unidentified evaluating the changes of water quality and fish assembles after EWR and finding out the key factors affecting the fish communities are of paramount importance for the conservation of fish biodiversity while numerous natural ecosystems combine multiple habitat types and distributed in interlace there is an urgent need to address the fish assemblage characteristics using eDNA metabarcoding in mosaic habitat ecosystems As the recovery of fish community is a long-term process the changes in fish diversity in BYD ecosystem following the continued EWR (since 2018) warrant further investigation prior studies have primarily focused on the overall fish community of BYD ecosystem without clarifying the specific characteristics and differences of fish communities across its interlaced habitats this study evaluated the changes in environment and fish community structures with the traditional method and eDNA metabarcoding after EWR across the complex heterogeneous habitats The spatiotemporal distributions of fish communities were linked with water quality factors to finding out the key factors affecting the fish communities The aims of this study are as follows (i) evaluate the changes in water quality and fish assembles after continuous EWR (ii) clarify the connection between water quality parameters and fish assemblage dynamics and identify the primary water quality factors driving spatiotemporal patterns of fish (iii) assess the ability of eDNA metabarcoding for discriminating the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of fish communities within mosaic habitat systems The geographical location of the BYD ecosystem (A); a real-world image of four different habitats in the BYD ecosystem (B); distribution map of sampling sites (C) Five replicate samples were gathered from each sampling location for eDNA metabarcoding The accession number of samples ranged from SAMN21400475 to SAMN21401107 non-target species that are typically not classified as fish (such as bacteria and viruses) were removed The species detected by both traditional method and eDNA metabarcoding are considered target species Target species include fish identified in previous studies or known to exist in adjacent waters as well as species that were not previously recorded but are capable of surviving in the habitat Thirteen sampling sites (approximately 20% sites) were selected to conduct parallel sample analysis CODMn and TN for the five sections from 2018 to 2021 in real time were monitored by fixed water quality automatic monitoring system (LFWAMS-2010 A level of P < 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance upon rejecting the null hypothesis Species richness of fish detected by eDNA metabarcoding and traditional method in the spring (A) summer (B) and the two seasons combined (C) Percentage of phylum richness identified by eDNA metabarcoding (D) The species richness (A) of four habitats and global scale and relative abundance (B) of shared phyla in spring and summer. The cumulative species richness (C) and relative abundance (D) of four habitats in two seasons. L, T, R, S and G represent the relative abundance of fish at the lake berth, trench, riverway, swamp and global scales. Relative abundance (%) of fish per habitat at the species level (A, B) and order level (C, D) with eDNA metabarcoding. Habitats codes were consistent with those in Fig. 3 Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination of the entire dataset for four habitats in spring (A) the entire dataset for four habitats in summer (B) and the global scale in two seasons (C) RDA plots of the fish communities and water quality variables in spring (D) temporal trends in water quality variables after EWR were analyzed from 2018 to 2021 in the BYD ecosystem the fish community status was obtained with eDNA metabarcoding and traditional method spatiotemporal dynamics of fish communities were evaluated using eDNA metabarcoding and the relationship between fish assemblages and water quality variables was analyzed within mosaic habitats from BYD ecosystem Our findings indicated that all water quality variables exhibited a noticeable improvement pattern and the fish richness was richer than historical data in the BYD ecosystem the fish communities differed significantly across multiple habitats and seasons and the spatiotemporal variations in fish communities were closely linked to water quality variables in the BYD ecosystem nobilis posed a serious threat to native planktivorous fish in the Mississippi River basin our findings indicate that the water quality improved and the species richness increased but the potential ecological problems of the introduced species should be of concern after EWR in the BYD ecosystem our study further shows that the water quality factors driving the changes of fish communities in complex habitats of BYD ecosystem during the same period varied significantly across different habitats and nutrients were the main driving factors for the distribution of fish communities our results demonstrate that the water quality variables driving the changes of fish communities during the same period varied significantly across different habitats and that the relative abundance of fish species detected exclusively by eDNA metabarcoding was generally low in the Rhône River basin our findings further indicated that eDNA metabarcoding is a promising tool for monitoring fish diversity by effectively detecting low-abundance species and promoting more realistic census of the fish community further showed that eDNA metabarcoding was capable of effectively differentiating fish assemblages at stream and river locations in French Guiana this study suggested the fish communities differed significantly across multiple habitats and seasons in BYD ecosystem and eDNA metabarcoding is useful for detecting spatiotemporal heterogeneity of fish assemblage in ecosystems with distribution of different habitats in interlace The changes in the content of water quality variables and species richness of fish were evaluated and analyzed after EWR in the BYD ecosystem the spatiotemporal dynamics of fish assemblages and interactive networks between communities and water quality variables were analyzed using eDNA metabarcoding Our results highlighted that the water quality improved and the species richness increased but the potential ecological problems of the introduced species should be of concern after EWR in the BYD ecosystem this study further shows that the water quality factors driving the changes of fish communities in complex habitats during the same period focus on the variables with significant differences across different habitats while which not all for the cross-season fish community for the differences in water quality requirements for fish across seasons our finding suggested eDNA metabarcoding can be utilized to assess temporal-spatial dynamics of the fish assemblages in mosaic habitat ecosystems and discriminate the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of fish communities to effectively restore and conserve native fish resources long-term monitoring of fish communities and water quality factors following continuous EWR is strongly recommended Raw sequence reads are deposited in the NCBI Sequence Read Archive database BioProject ID: PRJNA565582 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sra/PRJNA734376) Assessment of fish communities using environmental DNA: Effect of Spatial sampling design in Lentic systems of different sizes Human impacts on global freshwater fish biodiversity Fish conservation in freshwater and marine realms: Status Fish biodiversity conservation and restoration urgently needs ‘scientific’ and ‘ecological’ action Research on variation of water quality before and after ecological water supplementation in the Beijing section of the Yongding river Water chemical characteristics and water quality evaluation of the river under the ecological water replenishment: A case study in the Yongding river basin in North China Effects of water replenishment on lake water quality and trophic status: An 11-year study in cold and arid regions An ecologically dispatch strategy using environmental flows for a cascade multi-sluice system: A case study of the Yongjiang river basin Changes in fish community structure in the old channel of Tianezhou in the Yangtze river from 2017 to 2021 genetic analysis and enlightenment for ex situ conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoise Hydraulic assessment of environmental flow regimes to facilitate fish passage through natural riffles: Shoalhaven river below Tallowa dam eDNA metabarcoding revealed differential structures of aquatic communities in a dynamic freshwater ecosystem shaped by habitat heterogeneity Present situation of fish stocks in Baiyangdian lake Comparison of environmental DNA metabarcoding and conventional fish survey methods in a river system eDNA metabarcoding as a promising conservation tool for monitoring fish diversity in a coastal wetland of the Pearl river estuary compared to bottom trawling Environmental DNA metabarcoding uncovers environmental correlates of fish communities in spatially heterogeneous freshwater habitats Environmental DNA metabarcoding for biodiversity monitoring of a highly diverse tropical fish community in a coral reef lagoon: Estimation of species richness and detection of habitat segregation Environmental DNA survey captures patterns of fish and invertebrate diversity across a tropical seascape Analysis on the potential of EWR for Baiyangdian Lake by reservoirs in the mountainous area of Daqing River & Seasonal variation of aquatic macrophytes and its relationship with environmental factors in Baiyangdian lake Present condition analysis of Hebei Baiyangdian lake fish stocks after diversion from yellow river to the lake 7–2014; Technical Guidelines for Biodiversity Monitoring—Inland Water Fish Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China (Beijing Seasonal and habitat influences on fish communities within the lower Yasuni river basin of the Ecuadorian Amazon Quantification of mesocosm fish and amphibian species diversity via environmental DNA metabarcoding FLASH: Fast length adjustment of short reads to improve genome assemblies Modeling the ecological status response of rivers to multiple stressors using machine learning: A comparison of environmental DNA metabarcoding and morphological data UPARSE: Highly accurate OTU sequences from microbial amplicon reads Spatial variation in macrobenthic assemblages and their relationship with environmental factors in the upstream and midstream regions of the Heihe river basin Water quality assessment and variation trends analysis of the min river sea-entry section Estimating aquatic plant diversity and distribution in rivers from Jingjinji region using environmental DNA metabarcoding and a traditional survey method Inter-season and interannual variations in fish and macrocrustacean community structure on an Eastern english channel sandy beach: Influence of environmental factors Comparison of environmental DNA metabarcoding and a traditional survey method for assessing fish diversity and distribution along salinity gradient in an urban brackish reservoir Assessment of benthic invertebrate diversity and river ecological status along an urbanized gradient using environmental DNA metabarcoding and a traditional survey method Simultaneous assessment of the Macrobiome and Microbiome in a bulk sample of tropical arthropods through DNA meta systematics Picante: R tools for integrating phylogenies and ecology On a test of whether one of two random variables is stochastically larger than the other Fish community structure and its relationship with environmental factors in Baiyangdian lake How do the variations of water and sediment fluxes into the estuary influence the ecosystem Species diversity: From global decreases to local increases Quantifying the effects of introduced Bighead carp (Cyprinidae; Aristichthys nobilis) stocking on dominant fish species in the Ulungur lake Mesohabitat associations in the Mississippi river basin: A long-term study on the catch rates and physical habitat associations of juvenile silver carp and two native planktivores Isotope niche dimension and trophic overlap between bigheaded carps and native filter-feeding fish in the lower Missouri river Fish assemblages respond to altered flow regimes via ecological filtering of life history strategies Effects of resource availability and hydrological regime on autochthonous and allochthonous carbon in the food web of a large cross-border river (China) Northern rivers ecosystem initiative: Nutrients and dissolved oxygen–issues and impacts Carassius cuvieri,·Red Carassius Auratus) (Shanghai Science & Technical Fish community structure in relation to acidity in three Nova Scotia rivers Fish assemblage in different types of irrigation ditches in Huixian wetland Seasonal dynamics of riverine fish communities using eDNA Uncovering the complete biodiversity structure in Spatial networks: The example of riverine systems Spatial and temporal distribution of fish and zooplankton in a shallow lake Composition of fish communities in German lakes as related to lake morphology Navigation impacts on freshwater fish assemblages: The ecological relevance of swimming performance Habitat-specific fishing revealed distinct indicator species in German lowland lake fish communities Unlocking biodiversity and conservation studies in high-diversity environments using environmental DNA (eDNA): A test with Guianese freshwater fishes Download references This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Project (2019YFC1803402) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (21976202) and Xinyuan Shi for assisting in sample collection National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Wastewater Detoxication and Resource Recovery Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt State Key Laboratory on Environmental Aquatic Chemistry Research Center for Eco- Environmental Sciences visualization and writing - original draft Wenqiang Zhang: investigation and bioinformatics data analysis Saihong Yan: investigation and bioinformatics data analysis writing - review & editing and project supervision The authors declare no competing interests This study was conducted in strict accordance with the laws governing animal experimentation in China The protocols were approved by the the Ethics Committee for Animal Experiments of Jimei University and Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences All efforts were made to minimize suffering Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99970-1 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Anthropocene newsletter — what matters in anthropocene research Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Edna was a member of Grace Bible Church in Berne She was a lifelong homemaker and retired from Troyer’s Market following 18 years of service She was extremely hardworking and loved hosting people she cherished the time spent with her family and friends Indiana; and Carol Schwartz of Shipshewana Indiana; 23 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren she was preceded in death by four brothers A funeral service for Edna will be held at 10:00 a.m Burial will follow at Westlawn Cemetery in Geneva The family will receive friends from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m Preferred memorials can be given to Galilean Home Ministries Arrangements are by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors there are no recent results for popular images there are no recent results for popular videos there are no recent results for popular commented articles Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother Phyllis Balfour passed away on Saturday at home surrounded by her loving son and family members to Samuel Albert Sudbury and Bertha Hedwig (Kunkel) Sudbury She married the love of her life Donald Balfour on February 15 Together they raised four boys: Donald Balfour She is survived by her son Darrin and her four daughters-in-law Judy nine great-grandchildren and twelve great-great-grandchildren Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband Donald and her three sons Donald and sisters Marie (Sudbury) Jenson and Irene (Sudbury) Callahan Phyllis was a committed homemaker and relished making her home patio and garden a welcoming gathering spot for family and friends She enjoyed dressing up in all her beautiful colorful dresses and going out to dinner with family and friends She loved looking back on the camping memories she made with her husband She enjoyed many years of season tickets to Hale Center Theater (playhouses) on a regular basis Phyllis supported Donald in his business venture of Balfour Plumbing where she was a bookkeeper for over 50 years which has now turned to a 3 generation company She left a legacy of the importance of family want to thank the amazing hospice team at Active Home Health Hospice & Personal Care for all their amazing work in keeping Phyllis happy and healthy till the age of 99 We also want to give our deepest appreciation to a few visitors who came to see Phyllis on a weekly basis A great thanks to Chris for his final blessing Phyllis will be laid to rest next to her husband Don at Utah Veterans Memorial Park on June 27 A celebration of life is planned for early June quietly passed Tuesday April 29 in Lawrenceburg IN 1927 in Lexington to Charlie and Mary Cordelia Fightmaster Carr she was retired from IBM and a lifelong member of Old Union Christian Church where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday School She was a member of the Rosie Reds for many years and a die-hard UK basketball fan painting and most of all her family and friends grandchildren Jessica (Kevin) Milburn of Greenville KY Anna (Joey) Finley of Bowling Green KY and Zachary Britton of Lawrenceburg IN Funeral services will be 12:30 Monday May 5 Burial to follow in Evergreen Memory Gardens Visitation will be 10:30 – 12:30 prior to service In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to Old Union Christian Church Choir 6856 Russell Cave Rd Edna Earle McCormick Cheek passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday South Carolina to the late Wilburn Earl and Bessie Moore McCormick She graduated from McColl-Fletcher Memorial High School in 1958 Edna worked as a teacher’s aide for the Richmond County school system and later for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system She enjoyed spending time at her and Marshall’s second home on Oak Island Edna also enjoyed attending University of South Carolina football games with her family for many years and continued to follow the Gamecocks when she was no longer able to attend in person she was a talented seamstress; having made her evening gown when she was crowned Miss McColl High as well as making a wedding gown for her sister The family has many of her treasured creations to remember her by Edna was preceded in death by her parents; and by Marshall and granddaughter Mallory of Wilmington; daughter Amy grandson Thomas and granddaughter Emma of Kernersville; sister Edith Lewis of North Myrtle Beach S.C.; sister Beth Stone and niece Jessie Stone of Columbia SC; nephew Kiah Stone and family of Charleston the family asks for donations to Trellis Supportive Care at 101 Hospice Ln The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10:00-10:45 AM at Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel followed by a memorial service at 11:00 AM in the funeral home Kernersville Chapel - Hayworth-Miller Funeral Homes & Crematory views and stories from the front lines of conservation Editor’s note: From “blue carbon” to “ecosystem services,” environmental jargon is everywhere. Conservation International looks to make sense of it in an occasional explainer series we’re calling “What on Earth?" a wildlife monitoring tool that is changing the way we study the natural world I keep seeing this thing called "eDNA" in science articles animals are constantly leaving tiny traces of themselves in their environment — in the water These microscopic breadcrumbs contain bits of genetic material: DNA Scientists call this “environmental DNA,” or eDNA for short. By collecting samples from a pond, a river or possibly even a cloud of dust researchers can analyze the DNA fragments left behind to figure out what species have been there — even if they never saw them A stream in the Alto Mayo Protected Forest where scientists took samples to test for eDNA which helps them rapidly detect species that are difficult to observe directly scientists don’t need to spot an animal to know that it’s there A scientist can scoop up a bit of pond water and figure out which critters have been hanging out there “eDNA is great for finding species that are rare secretive or live in places people can’t easily reach,” said Ali Swanson who leads nature technology at Conservation International “The technique works especially well in water where DNA easily mixes and moves around — a single sample can give us a surprisingly rich snapshot of the broader watershed including areas that would be tough to survey in person.” What kinds of animals can you find with eDNA a notoriously difficult species to spot in the wild eDNA breaks down pretty quickly in the environment — usually within days — so it’s great for detecting recent or current presence no Jurassic Park — but it does sound like it can really help protect wildlife.  eDNA can provide solid scientific evidence that can help attract funding for conservation or inspire new protections for threatened ecosystems That discovery is now helping to shape a new ecological corridor that will connect Alto Mayo to other protected areas across the region — giving wildlife more room to roam So does this mean eDNA can replace other methods It’s great at telling you what species are present — but it’s still hard to say how many individuals there are acoustic sensors and good old-fashioned fieldwork still play an important role “Acoustic monitoring is great for finding birds or insects camera traps are often ideal for larger mammals which excels at uncovering shy or rare critters is part of a mosaic of tools that together reveal a more complete picture of an ecosystem.” this "blob-headed" fish was discovered on a recent research expedition in the Alto Mayo Protected Forest When can I investigate my own back yard using eDNA most eDNA tools are still lab-based and require some serious gear and know-how But scientists are working on making the process faster you’re already part of a movement that’s crowdsourcing science Will McCarry is a staff writer at Conservation International. Want to read more stories like this? Sign up for email updates. Also, please consider supporting our critical work Edna was a member of Southeast Church of the Nazarene and attended Kent Church of the Nazarene She was very active in the Nazarene Mission Society and went on Mission trips to several countries She helped organize and build the Stow Church of the Nazarene and taught Bible Study to hearing impaired students Edna enjoyed reading and cake decorating and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her she was preceded in death by her husband Lynn Fulper in 1981; brothers Bernard and Earl Scott and her sister Lena Douthitt 2025 at 12:00PM at Bissler and Sons Funeral Home Entombment will follow at Grandview Memorial Park Mausoleum Visitation will be prior to the service from 11:00AM-12:00PM on Friday at the funeral home please visit the Tribute Wall at www.bisslerandsons.com Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center Home » About Us » Contact We are a diverse group of researchers and research support specialists passionate about the work we do in prevention to improve the lives of children and families across the life span We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money The family of Edna Pearl Watt created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories You can reach us 24/7/365 at (302) 731-5459 Copyright © 2025 Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home and Crematory ExpandJoliet City Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman Edna Keith Elementary School Principal Laticha Walton Joliet Public Schools District 86 Deputy Superintendent Dr Joliet Public Schools District 86 Assistant Superintendent Dr City of Joliet Tree Advisory Board Member Betsy Satcher and Tree Advisory Board Chairperson Rita Renwick pose by the new Summer Elixir Elm tree at Edna Keith Elementary School on April 25 (Photo Provided by Joliet Public Schools District 86) Joliet — Edna Keth Elementary School hosted this year’s annual Joliet Arbor Day celebration by planting a new tree in front of the school Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy attended the event, along with City Council members Jan Hallums Quillman and Pat Mudron and members of the city’s Tree Advisory Board D’Arcy read an official Arbor Day proclamation and Edna Keith kindergarten students recited a poem before the school’s winners of the city’s annual student Arbor Day poster contest were announced Fifth grader Eian McMillan took first place in the poster contest followed by third grader Ja’Mya McMurtry in second place and second grader Nestor Tinoco Rodriguez in third place Fourth grader Annabelle Cordova and fifth grader Jackson Hollister also were recognized as honorable mentions The students were recognized at the Joliet City Council meeting earlier in April. Edna Keith Elementary School Arbor Day poster contest winners Eian McMillan, Ja’Mya McMurtry, Nestor Tinoco Rodriguez and Annabelle Cordova pose for a photo April 10, 2025. (Photo Provided by Joliet ) Students from the school, located at 400 4th Ave., then were able to assist the city officials, school Principal Laticha Walton, and Joliet Public Schools District 86 Deputy Superintendent Tanisha Cannon and Assistant Superintendent Judie Nash in planting a young summer elixir elm tree in front of the building. The city donated the tree as well as a new book for the school’s library, along with Midwest crabapple tree saplings for each of the 72 kindergarten students to take home and plant. “We were pleased to be selected to host the city’s Arbor Day event,” Walton said. “The students were thrilled to be part of the celebration.” The city of Joliet was recognized as a “Tree City USA” community for the 34th consecutive year by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network Share full article184184 By A.O. Scott and Aliza Aufrichtig Yesterday we put our heads down to look closely at Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “Recuerdo” — at the words and syllables and even individual letters that make it a poem. (If you’re just joining us, this is the third day of our Poetry Challenge. There’s plenty of time to catch up, but you may want to start on Day 1.) Those words are about something; they come from somewhere; they belong to someone we find ourselves in New York City in one of its legendary eras in the company of one of its great characters “Recuerdo” is a quintessential New York poem not only because it happens to be about a popular form of public transportation between two of the city’s island boroughs This all-night boat ride is a great urban adventure And perhaps only Millay could have turned it into literature Millay was a fixture of the city’s literary and political bohemia counting many of its best-known artists and intellectuals among her friends and lovers eminently quotable snippets of rhymed gossip — pulse with the dynamism and attitude of the modern city taking in sights and sounds that are still ubiquitous more than a century later novelist Watch her full readingNobody has time for the daily newspaper actor Watch his full readingExhaustion nips at the heels of delight; the ferries and subways never stop running in 1892 and grew up mostly in nearby Camden in what a biographer called “the smallest house in the poorest part” of that seaside mill town whose mother couldn’t afford to send her to college attracted the attention of a wealthy patron who raised the money to send her to Vassar Millay became notorious on campus for her love affairs with men and women her brilliance and her disregard for the rules she published her first book of poems and moved to Greenwich Village streaking like a comet through Manhattan’s creative scene “A Few Figs From Thistles” (1920) became a touchstone of its era The four lines of “First Fig” catch the heedless headlong spirit of New York in the Jazz Age: It can be hard for a 21st-century reader to grasp just how famous these poems made her winning prizes and garnering appreciative reviews in little magazines She was a young phenom who grew into a wildly popular artist and a durable celebrity At some point around the end of World War I she may have spent a night riding the Staten Island Ferry possibly in the company of the Nicaraguan poet Salomón de la Selva But whether or not “Recuerdo” is based on a real-life event it breathes the air of reality — the sounds smells and sights of a city with the unique power to tire you out and fill you with joy poet Watch her full readingThe poem is in good company beckoning poets of the past and future to join it on deck Millay’s criss-crossing of the harbor invokes Walt Whitman whose “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,” published in 1856 On the ferry-boats the hundreds and hundreds that cross And you that shall cross from shore to shore years hence are more to me Walt Whitman, “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” Whitman is talking to Millay’s future nocturnal passengers, and to the rhymers and dreamers who would populate the metropolis in centuries to come. To Hart Crane, who hymned “the harp and altar” of the Brooklyn Bridge. To Audre Lorde, who wrote about Audre Lorde, “A Trip on the Staten Island Ferry” There’s a great New York poem for every light on Broadway. Another one is Sara Teasdale’s “Broadway.” This night is ours, of all the golden nights, “This night is ours” may be the perfect distillation of New York as a poetic state of mind — an anticipation of “Recuerdo.” The city that never sleeps is an experience to be shared. In today’s game, we’ve translated that experience into pictures. See if you can put it back into words! “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers,” by Adrienne Rich, is a blazing portrait of an artist and her work. Our critic A.O. Scott admires its craft — and its wildness. Our critic A.O. Scott marvels at the power and paradox of a sonnet by Gwendolyn Brooks. George Oppen’s “From a Photograph” turns a wintry snapshot into a moving meditation on parenthood and the passage of time. Our critic A.O. Scott shows you what he loves about it. “Romantic Poet,” by Diane Seuss, is one of the best things that our critic A.O. Scott read (and reread) this year. Our critic A.O. Scott walks you through a poem that speaks to his mood right now. It’s called “Party Politics,” but it’s not about those parties, or those politics. Frank O’Hara’s “Having a Coke With You” makes a charming first impression, and right away you want to get to know it better. Share full article184184Edited by Gregory Cowles, Alicia DeSantis, Nick Donofrio and Joumana Khatib. Additional editing by Emily Eakin, Tina Jordan, Laura Thompson and Emma Lumeij. Design and development by Umi Syam and Eden Weingart. Additional design by Victoria Pandeirada. Video production by Caroline Kim. Additional video production by McKinnon de Kuyper. Photo editing by Erica Ackerberg. Illustration art direction by Tala Safie. Illustrations by Hannah Robinson. Share full article639639 By A.O. Scott and Aliza Aufrichtig Someone once defined poetry as “memorable speech.” By that standard each of us has committed at least some poetry to memory song lyrics and movie catchphrases all find their way into our heads More formal memorization used to be a common classroom ritual Schoolchildren would stand and recite approved works for their teachers and peers That kind of learning has mostly gone out of fashion which may be a sign of progress or a symptom of decline school shouldn’t be the only place for poetry And learning a poem by heart doesn’t have to be drudgery It can be a way of holding onto something beautiful a morsel of verbal pleasure you can take out whenever you want A poem recited under your breath or in your head can soothe your nerves drive away the noise of everyday life or grant a moment of simple happiness less commodified corner of your consciousness It’s a flower in the windowbox of your mind You could store a whole anthology in your brain But let’s start with one: “Recuerdo,” by Edna St “Recuerdo,” first published in 1919 in Poetry magazine is the recollection of a night out on the town — or more precisely on the water presumably the stretch of New York Harbor served by the Staten Island Ferry We asked some friends of the Book Review — poets actors and other literature lovers — to recite it for us Ina Garten and Ethan Hawke will introduce you to the poem poet laureate Watch her full readingWhy did we pick “Recuerdo” We combed through our shelves like Goldilocks looking for a poem that was just right: not too difficult but not too simple; not obscure but not a chestnut; not a downer but not frivolous either and we thought something that rhymed would be more fun — and easier — to memorize than a cascade of free verse who was born in Maine in 1892 and was a fixture of the Greenwich Village bohemian scene in the 1920s John Lofman/Published with permission of The Edna St She was a decidedly modern author who often wrote in traditional forms and who has stayed popular through 100 years of fluctuating fashion When you get to the second stanza of “Recuerdo,” read here by Ina Garten cook and author Watch her full readingIt’s a city poem but one that incorporates some arresting nature imagery (the sun It delivers a confidential message — addressed to a “you” who shares the memory of those moments by the fire and in the moonlight — while striking a convivial The poem concludes with an impulsive act of generosity that carries a hint of melancholy The night is over; another day is here with its obligations and routines; we’re about to trade the open air of the ferry for the crowded underground platforms of the subway though of course there’s more to it than that The poem expresses the desire to hold on to a fleeting experience to fix it in words and images before it’s washed away on the tide of time The speaker summons bits and pieces of a memorable night organizing them into verses that bring those hours back to life and — impossibly but also unmistakably — we’re right there with her So here is the challenge: Memorize this poem you’ll find a game designed to help you learn “Recuerdo.” Today your goal is to master that wonderful refrain you’ll have one third of the poem.) As the Challenge continues through the week we’ll look closely at how the poem is made at what it’s about and at the extraordinary woman who wrote it There will be new games and videos every day Share full article639639Edited by Gregory Cowles Edna Faye Newman (Riffey) of Knoxville TN passed on to her Heavenly home on March 17 2025 due to complications of Heart and Kidney failure She took every opportunity she could to talk about the Lord She was a member of Roseberry Baptist Church She loved singing in the choir and was a member for many years She was a 1960 graduate of Central High School playing golf and especially mowing her own yard She enjoyed throwing parties on holidays for her family Mom always talked about what a wonderful family and extended family she was blessed with She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years Jerry D Newman; her parents Dallas and Christina Riffey Sr.; her parents in laws Clarence and Willie Mae Newman Most of her large family was waiting on her arrival and Jack Riffey(Ginny); Sisters Flora Etta Leadbetter,(John) Frances Stalsworth.(Tommy) Betty Lou Irwin(Kenneth); and Brother-in-law Lisa Thomas (Anthony); her granddaughter Ashley Thomas and boyfriend Jay Goins; and son Jessie Riffey and Glenda Newman; Brothers-in-law Also leaving behind numerous nieces and nephews She had special friends in Lisa Chambers-Dodson and Kenny Dodson They were always there when she needed them The family will receive family and friends on Thursday 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a service to follow at 7:00 PM at Mynatt Funeral Home Fountain City Chapel The family asks that in light of her memory to please wear flashy jewelry just like Edna  would Mynatt Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Edna Newman and condolences may be expressed at www.mynattfh.com passed away with her family by her side on Monday a daughter to the late Adam Washington and Carrie (McKinney) Black she also earned a bachelor’s degree in theology from Adullam Bible College in Jackson family and education was important and essential to a happy productive life Edna would say to her children “give your life to Christ Early in life Edna worked various jobs in the community to make sure all her children were well taken care of and she selflessly brought children in need into her home and worked as a foster mother for over 15 years She never saw a problem to big that prayer and her faith in God could not overcome Her powerful prayers reached heaven that pulled her son Mark through a life threating incident at the age of 9 Her children as well as the community relied on her anointed prayer life to help them through difficult times a loving mother and married to the late A.C She was a devout Christian and church member serving as a prominent church mother and missionary of the House of Restoration and Grace Christian Center both in Worcester MA as well as New Life Christian Center in Jackson Edna received the 2015 Impact award as Mother of the year from New Life Christian Center under the leadership of Apostle Barry Chaney Edna was not only a prominent church mother but she was also a mother to every community she touched.  Edna also had the privilege of being lovingly embraced by the families of her dear friends District Missionary Jacqueline Coppedge of Worcester Whenever Missionary Coppedge would visit Edna Elder Frank and Missy Mary Jardine of Worcester MA who she would make it her business to have dinners ready for them to take home after Sunday’s church service Edna’s doors and heart were always open which afforded her the privilege of entering their hearts and home providing her with extended families that deeply cherished her.  sewing and hat making as all her daughters and daughter in-laws and granddaughters are wearing to celebrate her memory and some of her monumental designs Her passion was delivering the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone who would listen Edna was wise in her delivery of winning souls for the Kingdom of God she would always have a kind word of encouragement One of Edna’s favorite scriptures was Psalms 118:17-18 KJV (I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord) such as “I’m A Soldier in the Army of the Lord” She would always say I love to hear my Apostle Chaney sing “I love You Lord”.  and Clarence Estell (Charmaine) of Oklahoma City Janice Rose (Pastor Alexander) of Worcester Edna was graced with twenty eight (28) grandchildren fifty one (51) great grandchildren and one (1) great-great grandchild; three (3) foster sons Tommy Collins and Kevin Jones and their families Carl Vester McKinney and Rosco McKinney; a sister Dorothy McKinney; a host of nieces and nephews the entire McKinney family Shirley Extended children: Jimmy Carruthers of Osceola Relatives and friends are invited to a period of calling hours on Tuesday from 10-11 am immediately followed by her funeral service at 11:00 am in Grace Christian Center Worcester is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements Pastor Alexander Rose (House of Restoration) and Entire Church Family Pastor Emma Black (Grace Christian Center) and Entire Church Family Chaney and Co Pastor Angelia Chaney (New Life Christian Center) Entire Church Family Bishop Everett and Minister Kateena Gates family (One In Christ) and Entire Church Family of Clermont and First Lady Jacqueline Webbs (Mt Sinai COGIC) and entire church family Bishop Bernard and First Lady Sandra Reese (Framingham COGIC) and entire church family Elder Benjamin and Lucy Marshall of Framingham Mother Dora Blue and the late Jimmy Blue of Natick Edna Mae GriffinBirth date: May 1 Share a story where Edna's kindness touched your heart Describe a day with Edna you’ll never forget Edna C Cervantes, a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away on Friday March 21, 2025, at the age of 70 years old. Edna was born on March 24, 1954, to her late parents Frank and Gloria Cerda, and lived her entire life in San Antonio,... View Obituary & Service Information Cervantes created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories © 2025 Mission Park Funeral Chapels & Cemeteries Made with love by funeralOne passed away peacefully at home on December 22 She was the youngest and only girl in a household of three older brothers Her father frequently told her that she was “his favorite daughter.” Teddy grew up in the Avenues area of Salt Lake City and later moved to a home bordering the Bonneville Golf Course She attended East High School and the University of Utah where she affiliated with the Chi Omega Sorority along with some of her closest and lifelong friends Teddy graduated from the University of Utah with two bachelor's degrees She loved spending the summers at her family cabin in upper Weber Canyon the entire ranch became a playground and fostered close lifelong relationships Her cousins became as close as brothers and sisters As a mother she passed onto her children her love of the Weber and surrounding mountains She also enjoyed boating and spending time at the beach that often included a stay with her brother Chick Teddy loved gardening and would call it her “daily exercise” as she spent hours on her hands and knees tending to her yard into her nineties Teddy was sealed for time and all eternity to James Grant Stringham in the Salt Lake Temple on August 10 Their marriage continued for sixty-three years until Grant’s death in 2017 Teddy and Grant initially lived in Baltimore Maryland while Grant attended medical school at the University of Maryland She taught elementary school in Baltimore to help support their family She continued teaching school when they moved to Illinois They returned to Salt Lake City and established their permanent home in the Parley’s Third Ward where they lived for the next sixty-two years Mom was an accomplished musician and pianist Having received formal training in piano and organ she often accompanied vocal performers and found time to teach piano to each of her children and others Teddy had a deep love and testimony of the Savior which motivated her lifelong commitment to service of others She was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints She served in many capacities of leadership including Ward and Stake Relief Society President She also served as ward pianist and organist until well into her eighties She was involved in her community and was always one to provide service to others Some of her favorite community positions included serving as President of the Medical Auxiliary and as delegate to the Utah Republican State Convention She worked with the students of Edison Elementary in Salt Lake City for the next twenty years she began tutoring and supportive programs to help students with educational assistance and basic necessities Teddy especially loved working at Edison because of the impact she could make in her students’ lives Our remarkable mother had an indominable and enduring spirit but tempered her strong will with love and kindness Her constant love and dedication to her family was keenly felt and will be sorely missed Her family was the single most important thing in her life She constantly strived to maintain close relationships with each of them She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren Teddy was preceded in death by her husband Grant and her great-grandson Christopher Groscost The family would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to Amanda Laloni and other care givers for their loving service that allowed Teddy to remain in her home during the final years of her life 2025 at 12:00 pm (noon) at the Parleys Third Ward 2615 Stringham Avenue (2295 South) Salt Lake City Friends may call Saturday morning at 11:00 am prior to the funeral Interment will be in Salt Lake City Cemetery You may watch a recording of the service online through Zoom by clicking the “Watch Service” button above Always made me feel so special in your heart I’ve got birthday voicemail saved from you which I’ve listened to when I’m feeling down My parents Connie and Jerry thought so highly of her Living in the same neighborhood for 46 years was so wonderful Teddy was my mother's friend since kindergarten and I saw her in a couple of the college photos A Celebration of Life and Memorial Service is to be held at Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown on February 22 at 3 pm Interment will be in the Kensal Cemetery at a later date to Edward and Rosine (Wahl) Rosenau in Jamestown She graduated from Jamestown High School in 1947 after which she attended Valley City Teachers College and received her Teaching certificate She worked as a teacher in a one room schoolhouse until she married Leonard Norheim on June 10 Leonard and Edna lived on the family farmstead and raised four children northwest of Kensal Paul Lutheran Church of Kensal serving on the Auxiliary and as a Sunday school teacher One of her fondest memories is that she was a member of the Eldridge basketball team She also enjoyed her employment at Pipestem Creek where she crafted natural bird feeder arrangements Edna’s hobbies included watching MN Twins baseball as well as attending local basketball games with friends She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Leonard; daughter Sandra Donat; brothers Harlan and Ray; and two nephews and one niece one of six children born to the late Arthur and Dora Shaw Dixon Edna was the owner and operator of Hill House Sportswear in Cana She is survived by her beloved husband of 59 years Mildred Dixon Bartlett; several nieces and nephews and Lara Dixon Payne; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and a sweet exchange daughter Catherine Dixon Richardson; and three brothers at 4:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy The family will receive friends Monday from 3:00 until 4:00 PM at the funeral home memorial contributions may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation NY 10306; or Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care all deaths handled by Crain Funeral Home & Cremation Service must have a minimum of the name uploaded to our website Made with love by funeralOne Edna Geraldine Silvey-Ross (nee Wilcox) of O’Fallon passed away peacefully into the arms of her savior on January 9 Edna was the devoted wife of both the late Edgar Silvey and Lester Ross Edna is the cherished daughter of the late Joe B and Ida Grace Wilcox and preceded in death by her siblings Robert Chantel (Brian) Summers; great-grandchildren Skyler and Thomas Summers and great-great-grandchildren and she cherished every moment spent with them.  Edna entered the workforce after being widowed in her younger years and served as both mother and father in a time when that wasn't common Edna served as a telephone operator at Southwestern Bell for over 30 years before transitioning to a position at JC Penney after her retirement.  tending to her plants and flowers and spending time outdoors in the fresh air regardless of the weather She loved the water even though she never learned to swim Her warm spirit and love for her family will forever be remembered and devotion to her family and friends will live on in the hearts of all who knew her A celebration of her life will be held from 4-7:00 pm on Tuesday A funeral mass will be held at 10:30am on Wednesday at Assumption Catholic Church in O'Fallon She will be laid to rest immediately following the mass at Calvary Cemetery in St On Saturday, March 1, 2025, Edna &#8220;Chocolate&#8221; Thomas Morgan transitioned to her heavenly home at the age of 90. She was a beloved mother, family member, educator, friend, and servant of the Lord. She was blessed with a long, fulfilled... View Obituary & Service Information Edna Thomas Morgan created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Available by phone 24/7 (423) 622-8152 Copyright © 2025 Taylor Funeral Home of Chattanooga, Inc.. All Rights Reserved. Share full article165165 By A.O. Scott and Aliza Aufrichtig If you’re joining us in memorizing Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “Recuerdo” this week, you probably already have the first two lines stuck in your head. (If you’re just discovering the Poetry Challenge, please check out yesterday’s introduction filmmaker Watch his full readingOnce you’ve got these since this repeating couplet functions as a mini-chorus at the start of each stanza That refrain tells the story in a nutshell But this poem is more than just a report on one night on the ferry It recreates the voyage through a flurry of sensory details Those features — the imagery and the sound; what your mind’s eye sees and your physical ears hear — are what make “Recuerdo” a poem and paying attention to how they work can help us learn it the poem captures how it felt to be on that boat You can see the sky turning color as the morning air breezes up poet Watch her full readingYou can taste the fruits of the voyage novelist Watch her full readingStrain your ears just a little and you can make out the sounds of boats in the harbor novelist Watch his full readingThese impressions — and the vividness of Millay’s language — can help anchor the poem in your mind But the secret to fixing it in your memory is to learn its structure to listen to the musical patterns of its language and many of its features originated as aids to memory in an oral It’s easier to find the word you’re looking for if you know it sounds like the other words around it alliteration and rhythm are not only pleasing to the ear; they’re sticky Each line of “Recuerdo” is a poetic wave that breaks on the shore of a rhyme poet Watch his full readingRhyme is just one of the ways poets use repeating sounds to make their work memorable and the English language has a fondness for it that goes back to its earliest literature clusters of consonants in the middle of the lines knot them together and help you hold on to them playwright and novelist Watch his full readingThe poem’s individual words and syllables bob like a string of harbor buoys Every line is propelled by the cadence of stressed and unstressed syllables novelist Watch her full readingThis pattern of rhythm and sound — four-beat lines yoked in rhyming pairs — is a familiar one in English You may have encountered it before you could read Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot Joni Mitchell, “Both Sides Now” Andrew Marvell, “To His Coy Mistress” there’s a lot of variation within the basic pattern — longer or shorter lines but it’s also intuitive and physical — it lives in the bobbing of your head or tapping of your foot as you read and while most English poems (including “Recuerdo”) have varying feet Millay often places her strong beats after two unstressed syllables: da-da-DUM novelist Watch her full readingIn others they spatter like raindrops: TV host and noted book lover Watch her full readingWords are more than sounds and syllables The words in “Recuerdo” form a bouquet of arresting images and sensations an experience that will be different for each reader we have pulled apart some of the components of the poem you can’t really separate sound from sense and work together to create something that resists summary What does a bucketful of gold look like to you What face do you see when the shawl-covered head turns to acknowledge your greeting See how many of its words you already have Share full article165165Edited by Gregory Cowles Metrics details Environmental DNA (eDNA) is revolutionizing how we investigate biodiversity in aquatic and terrestrial environments It is increasingly used for detecting rare and invasive species assessing biodiversity loss and monitoring fish communities as it is considered a cost-effective and noninvasive approach but samples collected from these settings may exhibit PCR inhibition and a low fish read recovery Here we present an approach for detecting fish in turbid The workflow includes bead-based extraction high fidelity and specificity DNA polymerase (Platinum SuperFi II) and multiplexing the universal MiFish primers By applying this hybrid method to a variety of complex estuarine samples with known inhibition we have more than doubled the number of recovered fish species while removing most of the off-target amplification we have developed an eDNA workflow with two main protocols optimized for detecting fish in turbid estuarine samples We evaluated each step in these protocols to identify a workflow that is adaptable to robotic platforms and optimizes the number of fish species and the number of generated fish Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) Our final selected workflow included an automated KingFisher DNA extraction system which utilizes magnetic beads for high-throughput DNA isolation This protocol incorporates the Zymo OneStep™ PCR Inhibitor Removal Kit to reduce inhibitors commonly present in environmental samples recognized for its high fidelity and specificity in amplifying low-concentration DNA which progressively lowers the annealing temperature during the initial cycles to enhance specificity and amplification efficiency This approach is particularly effective when Multiplexing Mifish primers which are designed to detect a broad range of fish species The protocols in this workflow were tested on 48 samples collected from four estuaries in the United States’ National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) a nationwide network of protected estuarine areas dedicated to research and stewardship to inform coastal management This geographical diversity in site selection was intended to ensure a broad spectrum of environmental conditions Despite reductions in sediment supply due to damming and sediment retention upstream turbidity remains a defining feature of the estuary The NERRS System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) collects long-term water quality data at all NERR sites including this one (see Table S2 in the Supplementary Information) Elevated turbidity at this site presents challenges for eDNA sampling including filter clogging and PCR inhibition caused by organic and inorganic particulates the estuary sampling sites encompasses a substantial portion of the salinity gradient ranging from salt marsh conditions at China Camp to brackish marsh at Rush Ranch This estuary also experiences large salinity gradients due to variable freshwater inflows from the Mission and Aransas rivers low river flows and high evaporation can lead to hypersaline conditions in shallow bays while freshwater pulses from rainfall events can significantly lower salinity levels for extended periods This variability influences nutrient dynamics and biological productivity resulting in fluctuations of organic matter concentrations humid subtropical climate with significant seasonal temperature variations The estuary receives substantial freshwater input from the Apalachicola River creating dynamic salinity gradients influenced by seasonal river flows and tidal exchanges with the Gulf of Mexico This variability leads to fluctuations in nutrient levels and high biological productivity supporting a rich biodiversity that includes important commercial fisheries and rare species The varying freshwater inflows result in changes in turbidity and organic matter concentrations The reserve features temperate conditions with well-defined seasons and experiences significant seasonal temperature variations The Mullica River-Great Bay Estuary within the reserve is characterized by low-gradient southeast-flowing streams that originate from groundwater inflows These streams have high concentrations of humic acids and organic matter from decaying vegetation leading to brown-colored waters rich in dissolved organic carbon Seasonal salinity gradients occur due to variable freshwater inputs we can test our eDNA workflow across a range of challenging environmental conditions This approach ensures that the protocols we developed are robust and adaptable for detecting fish eDNA in various turbid estuarine environments we tested two DNA extraction methods to evaluate their effectiveness for fish eDNA detection in estuarine environments: the KingFisher automated bead-based extraction and the Qiagen-based extraction optimized for high-throughput applications uses paramagnetic beads to automate and streamline DNA isolation while the Qiagen-based extraction relies on a silica column a trusted method widely used in eDNA studies We compared these two approaches to determine which method delivers the highest DNA yield and quality particularly when working with challenging turbid samples to improve the overall efficiency and reliability of eDNA-based fish species detection As interest in molecular monitoring increases the use of robotic systems in eDNA extraction and handling is becoming more common especially for processing larger numbers of samples Robotic systems offer advantages such as increased efficiency and consistency though they also have potential disadvantages including the risk of cross-contamination and higher initial costs Our goal was to validate an automated bead-based extraction method with comparable performance to commonly used column-based methods like QIAGEN kit-based extractions Samples were extracted with the automated Kingfisher protocol using magnetic beads and DNA concentrations ranged between 1.84 ng/μl and 25.8 ng/μl (Fig we observed variability among the sites with Mission-Aransas displaying the highest yields (Fig Variability within each site reflects conditions at each of the four sampling locations (Table S1 We did not observe any cross-contamination effects and we found no significant differences between DNA concentrations from samples obtained with the bead-based Kingfisher extraction and the QIAGEN protocol (p-value = 0.7; Fig This suggests that our automated DNA extraction using magnetic beads is equally effective under various conditions PCR inhibition removal using Zymo OneStep Panel 1a: Samples from the San Francisco NERRS site show no detectable PCR amplification due to inhibition when using the KAPA protocol without inhibition removal (KAPA.CTRL) Panel 1b: The introduction of the Zymo OneStep™ PCR Inhibitor Removal Kit (KAPA.ZYMO) results in visible amplification but also generates off-target DNA fragments as indicated by additional bands above the expected range Panel 1c: Using the Zymo kit in combination with the Platinum SuperFi II polymerase and a touchdown PCR program and the resulting DNA fragments fall within the expected range of 200–300 bp M: DNA ladder (marker) indicates the fragment size Inhibition is prevalent across many estuarine samples processed in our lab often muting or completely preventing PCR amplification Laboratory managers might opt to apply inhibition removal selectively based on initial PCR results or incorporate it routinely into the workflow to consistently improve outcomes The Zymo OneStep™ PCR Inhibitor Removal Kit costs approximately $2.07 per sample and using Platinum SuperFi II PCR Master Mix adds around $2.78 per sample bringing the total increase to $4.85 per sample excluding labor costs These steps significantly improve the specificity and success of amplification that an overly specific polymerase will result in non-detection of some target species was generated using data from three separate E-gels as indicated by the boundaries visible in the figure The absence of a single full-length gel image is due to the original experimental setup involving separate gel runs The impact of inhibition removal on ASV numbers was minimal (mean of 13 ASVs for KAPA.CTRL and 14 with KAPA.ZYMO); however, the comprehensive integration of Zymo with the Platinum protocol markedly increased the mean number of ASVs per sample to 46 (Fig. 2b) Enhanced fish detection across individual Sites Box plots comparing the distribution of fish species between the three tested protocols at four different estuaries (lower panel map) each location has different environmental conditions and expected species the use of platinum with Zymo cleanup resulted in a higher detection rate of fish species at every site Statistical significance (p < 0.05) between treatments was assessed using Tukey HSD tests Platinum.ZYMO was significantly different from both KAPA.CTRL and KAPA.ZYMO KAPA.ZYMO and Platinum.ZYMO were significantly different from KAPA.CTRL all three treatments showed significant differences from one another The Mish-E primer was added in response to feedback from resource managers that elasmobranchs (rays and sharks) were not being detected in areas where they were known to be present Although we did detect skate (family Rajidae) with the MiFish-U alone the combined primers detected four additional elasmobranchii belonging to three different families: Dasyatidae (Dasyatidae spp. Comparison Between Fish Reads and Raw reads A linear regression analysis shows an increase in sequencing depth correlates with an increased detection of fish ASVs but not species The gray shaded area represents the 95% Confidence Interval Diversity of Fish ASVs Across San Francisco Bay Maximum Likelihood (ML) trees depicting the diversity of unique fish ASVs detected across three different treatments: KAPA.CTRL (control without inhibitor removal) and Platinum.ZYMO (with Platinum SuperFi II polymerase and Zymo inhibitor removal) which are color-coded based on their taxonomic fish group The trees are built using the ASVs detected from San Francisco Bay samples with each treatment showcasing different ASV richness and distribution an outer ring displays bar plots of log10-transformed read counts where each bar represents the abundance of a specific ASV Bar colors correspond to the fish groups of the ASVs visually illustrating the variation in read abundance and taxonomic representation between treatments The Platinum.ZYMO protocol shows the highest diversity and read abundance of fish ASVs reflecting the enhanced sensitivity and accuracy of this protocol in detecting fish eDNA in complex environments like San Francisco Bay or PCR artifacts such as errors or stochastic variations in sample processing Applying a cutoff threshold of 1% of fish reads to remove rare ASVs resulted in 26 ASVs for KAPA.ZYMO assigned to 19 species and 25 ASVs for Platinum.ZYMO assigned to 20 species represented only 40 reads for KAPA.ZYMO but 3,010 reads for Platinum.ZYMO By setting a minimum cutoff of 50 reads per ASV for Platinum.ZYMO we successfully recovered all 25 fish species and the majority of ASVs (223) This demonstrates the method’s robustness in detecting species while managing potential artifacts which is an algorithm for resolving true biological sequences from noisy data enhance the reliability of detected ASVs by removing errors and chimeras thereby reflecting true biological variation Recent updates to platforms like MitoFish and MiFish Pipeline have expanded reference datasets improving species identification for many taxa These limitations underscore the need for careful interpretation of rare ASVs to avoid distorting community composition analyses Bioinformatic processing using denoising methods and establishing appropriate cutoff thresholds remain critical steps in validating the authenticity of rare ASVs highlight the value of ASVs in providing higher taxonomic resolution and accuracy especially when appropriate filtering steps are applied These studies indicate that while OTUs can artificially inflate diversity by including spurious low-abundance sequences ASVs offer a more accurate and reliable depiction of community composition provided that denoising and abundance filtering are rigorously applied bacterial sequences) distorting species detection along with filtering and denoising approaches can mitigate these effects by focusing on high-quality thereby improving species-level identification and quantifying eDNA abundance with higher precision while OTUs have traditionally been used in fish eDNA metabarcoding the growing body of evidence supports a shift toward ASV-based approaches ASVs not only provide more accurate species-level identifications but also offer greater insights into genetic diversity which are essential for monitoring biodiversity in dynamic ecosystems like estuaries we enhance the reliability and resolution of species detection ultimately contributing to more effective conservation and management strategies supporting data robustness and reducing the likelihood of spurious results due to PCR variability (Fig Enhanced fish detection in stream waters Box plots comparing the distribution of fish ASVs and species between the control (KAPA.CTRL) and the new protocol (Platinum.ZYMO) on stream water samples Significant p-values are indicated by asterisks with *** for p < 0.001 significantly enhances target fish DNA amplification while minimizing off-target reads This reduction in non-target amplification is particularly important for estuarine systems where high levels of bacterial and organic matter often complicate eDNA analysis In addition to Platinum SuperFi II polymerase and a dual strategy of DNA dilution combined with an inhibitor removal kit (Zymo OneStep™) which gradually reduces the annealing temperature improved the specificity of amplification and reduced non-specific amplifications allowing for more efficient targeting of low-concentration fish DNA in the presence of inhibitors the combination of DNA dilution with the Zymo inhibitor removal kit was instrumental in mitigating the effects of PCR inhibitors that are prevalent in highly turbid environments This combined approach not only prevented PCR inhibition but also optimized amplification efficiency reducing interference from environmental contaminants and improving the quality of detected fish DNA The use of both inhibitor removal and touchdown PCR in our workflow increased species detection by over 25% compared to traditional methods This improvement underscores the effectiveness of integrating advanced techniques—such as inhibitor removal and optimized PCR strategies—into eDNA workflows for challenging environments Our findings highlight the importance of refining each step of the eDNA process to enhance the sensitivity and reliability of fish species detection particularly in complex and inhibitor-rich environments like estuaries To validate our workflow, we tested the automated DNA extraction and the three PCR protocols in Table 1 on samples collected from four estuaries Forty-eight samples were collected during the same period (May 2023) from four different locations within each estuary (12 from each site) to ensure that seasonal or time-related variables do not confound across-site comparisons We then reviewed the results to evaluate the steps that provide the greatest benefit in terms of number of fish species and fish ASVs we use the term species to refer to both cases where ASVs were matched to the species level and instances where ASVs could not be matched to the species level but were assigned to a higher taxonomic rank All taxonomic assignments are based on a lowest common ancestor approach where sequences are matched to the most specific taxonomic level possible using the available reference database The samples used in this study were collected from a range of NERRS sites (see above) as part of a pilot project incorporating eDNA into a long-term multi-site monitoring network then transported to a nearby lab for filtering Each sample was filtered through 1.5um porosity glass fiber filters and filters were replaced if clogging occurred The filters were stored in pre-prepared tubes containing 4 ml Longmire’s buffer (Longmire et al Up to 3 filters from the sample were included in one tube All lab work was conducted in dedicated Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2) molecular laboratory facilities at the University of New Hampshire All steps from sample extraction through sequencing were performed in separate We adhered strictly to standard laboratory cleaning practices for BSL2 including the separation of Pre- and Post-PCR laboratory spaces PCR Mix preparation was done in one designated area while DNA template addition was performed in a physically separate space to minimize the risk of contamination All experiments were conducted under laminar flow hoods and Biosafety cabinets for sample preparation 10% bleach and dH2O and were exposed to UV light before and after experimentation Qiagen-based extraction: Filters were placed in a lyse and spin basket with 400 ml of buffer ATL and 20 μl of proteinase K and incubated at 56 ◦C for one hour The remainder of the filter extraction was performed on a QIAcube Connect system (QIAGEN® Germany) following the QIAamp DNA Mini protocol (Qiagen Cat This kit is designed for extraction of DNA from tissue and is readily adapted to the QIAcube automated system Although the reagents are proprietary the manufacturer notes that the method removes inhibition and contaminants Samples from both methods were eluted to 100 μl DNA concentration was determined using the Qubit dsDNA HS Assay kit (Thermo Fisher consisting of H2O and plain buffer without filter 50 μl of the sample was diluted 1:5 and stored in a -20C freezer for use in this project The remaining sample was archived in a -80C freezer for potential future use ZYMO OneStep-96 PCR Inhibitor Removal Kit (CAT: D6035) was used to remove inhibition from all samples following the manufacturer’s instructions 150 µl of Prep Solution were added to each Silicon-A™-HRC Plate well and then centrifuged at 3,500 × g for 5 min 50 µl of DNA was added to the prepared plate The filtered DNA was used for subsequent PCR reactions Initially we tested a variety of published PCR protocols as well as several polymerases and inhibitors on samples from these sites. We then selected the most promising alternatives for more detailed testing. The different PCR workflows we evaluated are summarized in Table 1 below All the PCR comparisons were performed on samples extracted using the automated Kingfisher extraction method and enhance PCR efficiency and reliability in the presence of inhibitors The overall goal of this work is to improve eDNA-based fish species detection from problematic turbid samples collected in estuarine environments PCR Verification Amplification of target regions was verified on 2% E-Gel electrophoresis (Thermo Fisher Absent or muted bands in samples with verified DNA concentrations indicate that the samples are likely to contain inhibiting agents E-Gel images are also used as an initial screen for successful amplification of positive controls and absence of contamination in negative controls The value of PCR replicates on fish species detection was tested with the optimized protocol incorporating Platinum and Zymo clean up Samples from each of the four sites were tested These replicates were then sequenced as separate samples Our initial protocol used KAPA HiFi HotStart (KAPA) and a touchdown (TD) thermal profile modified from Pitz et al The cycling conditions were the same as described for Platinum above except that the annealing temperature of the second cycling phase was set to 55 °C The PCR reaction was established in a total volume of 12 μl incorporating 6 μl of KAPA Master Mix (2X) 0.7 μl of the forward and 0.7 μl of the reverse MiFish-U primers Both types are important in estuarine systems and multiplexing these primers expands the list of potential target species The primer and adapter sequences used in this study are listed below Primer & adapter sequences used in this study MiFish-U-F: 5′- TCGTCGGCAGCGTCAGATGTGTATAAGAGACAGGTCGGTAAAACTCGTGCCAGC-3′ MiFish-E–F: 5′- TCGTCGGCAGCGTCAGATGTGTATAAGAGACAGGTTGGTAAATCTCGTGCCAGC-3′ MiFish-U-R: 5′- GTCTCGTGGGCTCGGAGATGTGTATAAGAGACAG CATAGTGGGGTATCTAATCCCAGTTTG-3′ MiFish-E-R: 5′- GTCTCGTGGGCTCGGAGATGTGTATAAGAGACAG-CATAGTGGGGTATCTAATCCTAGTTTG-3′ PCR products were submitted to the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies (HCGS) for library preparation and sequencing the amplicon products from the 1st PCR were prepared by incorporating dual-index barcodes and Illumina sequencing adapters (P5 and P7) into the DNA fragments The PCR amplification conditions were set as follows: initial denaturation at 94 °C for 3 min followed by 15 cycles of denaturation at 94 °C for 20 s A final extension phase was conducted at 72 °C for 7 min to ensure complete amplification of target sequences The amplified libraries were purified using BluePippin to selectively remove short fragments and primer dimers We ran feature classification at default parameters except we set the number of accepted reference sequences (percent-identity) to 90% (default is 80%) and the number of accepted sequences to ‘all’ instead of the top 10 (maxaccepts) The BLAST search results were retained for confirming classifications for each ASV “fish reads” refer to the total number of sequencing reads assigned to fish species after the raw data are processed and filtered Fish reads provide a measure of how much DNA from fish species is present in the sample fish ASVs represent unique genetic sequences identified in the sample These ASVs allow us to differentiate between individual species and The trees were generated under the General Time Reversible (GTR) model with a gamma distribution to accommodate rate variation across sites This modeling choice is particularly effective for sequences exhibiting high variability as is common with environmental DNA samples from diverse fish populations A one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed separately for Fish species and Fish ASVs using the `aov` function in R to determine if the observed differences using our optimized protocol were statistically significant from the other treatments The null hypothesis for each ANOVA was that the means of Fish species and Fish ASVs for all treatment groups were equal.The primary objective of the statistical analysis was to evaluate the effects of different treatments on both Fish species and Fish ASVs The treatments included were KAPA.CTRL (control) The p-values for the treatment comparisons were extracted from the ANOVA results indicating significant differences among the treatment groups a post-hoc Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test was conducted using the ‘TukeyHSD’ function in R to identify which specific treatment groups differed from each other All statistical analyses were conducted using R software (version 4.3.2) with the ‘aov’ function for ANOVA and the ‘TukeyHSD’ function for post-hoc comparisons To further validate our optimized protocol on data collected from stream waters in New England 1000 ml of water per sample were filtered using a 0.45 µm Whatman cellulose nitrate filters and were processed in the same way for DNA extraction and PCR as our four NERRS sites For these samples we used a T-test to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between the control treatment "KAPA.CTRL" and the optimized protocol "Platinum.ZYMO" we conducted a linear regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between sequencing depth (total raw reads) and the detection of fish ASVs and species This analysis was performed using the lm function in R (version 4.3.2) with fish ASVs and species regressed against the total number of raw reads To estimate the precision of the regression line a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was calculated using the predict() function in R and the confidence interval was visualized with the ggplot2 package This approach allowed us to assess whether increased sequencing depth is associated with improved detection of fish ASVs or species The raw datasets used and analyzed in this study are available on the NCBI Sequence Read Archive (SRA) under the project number PRJNA1136877. Supplementary data (Version v3), including ASVs and comprehensive lists of detected fish species, can be accessed on Zenodo at https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12753119 Blackman, R. et al. Environmental DNA: The next chapter. Mol. Ecol. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17355 (2024) Nagarajan, R. P. et al. Environmental DNA methods for ecological monitoring and biodiversity assessment in estuaries. Estuar. Coast. 45, 2254–2273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-022-01080-y (2022) A comprehensive and comparative evaluation of primers for metabarcoding eDNA from fish a set of universal PCR primers for metabarcoding environmental DNA from fishes: Detection of more than 230 subtropical marine species Optimization of environmental DNA extraction and amplification methods for metabarcoding of deep-sea fish Zhu, T., Sato, Y., Sado, T., Miya, M. & Iwasaki, W. MitoFish, MitoAnnotator, and MiFish Pipeline: Updates in 10 years. Mol. Biol. Evol. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msad035 (2023) Pitz, K., Truelove, N., Nye, C., Michisaki, R. P. & Chavez, F. Environmental DNA (eDNA) 12S Metabarcoding Illumina MiSeq NGS PCR Protocol (Touchdown) V.2. https://doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.bcppivmn (2020) Current laboratory protocols for detecting fish species with environmental DNA optimize sensitivity and reproducibility Evaluating environmental DNA detection of a rare fish in turbid water using field and experimental approaches One size does not fit all: Tuning eDNA protocols for high- and low-turbidity water sampling Hunter, M. E., Ferrante, J. A., Meigs-Friend, G. & Ulmer, A. Improving eDNA yield and inhibitor reduction through increased water volumes and multi-filter isolation techniques. Sci. Rep. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-40977-w (2019) Schrader, C., Schielke, A., Ellerbroek, L. & Johne, R. PCR inhibitors - occurrence, properties and removal. J. Appl. Microbiol. 113, 1014. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2012.05384.x (2012) A Profile of the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (2011) THE ECOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY OF THE MISSION-ARANSAS ESTUARY AN ESTUARINE AND WATERSHED PROFILE (2012) A River Meets the Bay The Apalachicola Estuarine System (2008) CHARACTERIZATION OF THE JACQUES COUSTEAU NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE (2004) Rensch, T., Villar, D., Horvath, J., Odom, D. T. & Flicek, P. Mitochondrial heteroplasmy in vertebrates using ChIP-sequencing data. Genome. Biol. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-016-0996-y (2016) How does marker choice affect your diet analysis: comparing genetic markers and digestion levels for diet metabarcoding of tropical-reef piscivores Towards reproducible metabarcoding data: Lessons from an international cross-laboratory experiment Otus and asvs produce comparable taxonomic and diversity from shrimp microbiota 16s profiles using tailored abundance filters ASVs in 16S rRNA amplicon data analysis has stronger effects on diversity measures than rarefaction and OTU identity threshold Stoeckle, M. Y., Ausubel, J. H. & Coogan, M. 12S gene metabarcoding with DNA standard quantifies marine bony fish environmental DNA, identifies threshold for reproducible detection, and overcomes distortion due to amplification of non-fish DNA. Environ. DNA https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.376 (2024) Miya, M., Gotoh, R. O. & Sado, T. MiFish metabarcoding: A high-throughput approach for simultaneous detection of multiple fish species from environmental DNA and other samples. Fish. Sci. 86, 939–970. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-020-01461-x (2020) (Preprint at) Beyond fish edna metabarcoding: Field replicates disproportionately improve the detection of stream associated vertebrate species Revisiting the effect of PCR replication and sequencing depth on biodiversity metrics in environmental DNA metabarcoding How many replicates to accurately estimate fish biodiversity using environmental DNA on coral reefs? Miya, M. Environmental DNA metabarcoding: A novel method for biodiversity monitoring of marine fish communities. Annu. Rev. Mar. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-041421 (2021) EcoPrimers: Inference of new DNA barcode markers from whole genome sequence analysis Fish community assessment with eDNA metabarcoding: Effects of sampling design and bioinformatic filtering Guthrie, A. M., Nevill, P., Cooper, C. E., Bateman, P. W. & van der Heyde, M. On a roll: a direct comparison of extraction methods for the recovery of eDNA from roller swabbing of surfaces. BMC Res. Notes https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-023-06669-5 (2023) Optimizing an eDNA protocol for estuarine environments: Balancing sensitivity El Baidouri F. et al. Automated eDNA Extraction from Estuarine Samples Using Magnetic Beads. (2024) https://doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.5jyl82jn9l2w/v1 Effects of life stage on eDNA detection of the invasive European green crab (Carcinus maenas) in estuarine systems El Baidouri, F., Gilbert, H. L., Watts, A., El, F. & Unh, B. 12S PCR Metabarcoding Protocol for Fish Detection in Estuarine Samples. https://doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.3byl49wqogo5/v1 An ultra-fast all-in-one FASTQ preprocessor Bolyen, E. et al. Reproducible, interactive, scalable and extensible microbiome data science using QIIME 2. Nat. Biotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-019-0209-9 (2019) (Preprint at) Cutadapt removes adapter sequences from high-throughput sequencing reads DADA2: High-resolution sample inference from Illumina amplicon data MAFFT multiple sequence alignment software version 7: Improvements in performance and usability RAxML version 8: A tool for phylogenetic analysis and post-analysis of large phylogenies Download references Bioinformatic analyses were supported by New Hampshire- INBRE through an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the NIH Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering designed the methodology and led the writing of the manuscript; F.E.B conducted the experiments and optimization steps and W.K.T conducted the initial DNA extraction optimization All authors contributed critically to the drafts and gave their final approval for publication Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85176-y Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology finally made her escape at 7:25am on February 3 as the sun was rising up over the Mississippi near Canton 1926 to Victor and Imogene Dieterich Howell She graduated from Wyaconda High School in the spring of 1944 After her beloved Leland returned home from the front lines of Europe 1945 and were blessed with over 74 years together!  Edna gratefully spent nearly all of her life in Clark County Other than during the war after high school and working in Ft she worked well into her 80’s in Clark County at Moore Forms Survivors include sons Max (Judith) of Waxahachie Felix and Rex; and many nieces and nephews.  She was also preceded in death by her close friends Eula On those rare occasions when Edna would travel She was renowned for her pie crusts and the world’s greatest cinnamon rolls was a talented gardener and a loyal friend loved trail riding horses and being on the farm in Chambersburg The Schuster’s are especially thankful for the love and affection showered on mom and dad over the years by Jerry and the crew at Wiss & Wiss We are also thankful for the care and support mom received these last few years as a resident at the Lewis County Nursing Home.  Graveside services for Edna Schuster will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday A visitation with family present will be held on Saturday from 12:00 pm to 12:45 pm at the Wilson & Triplett Funeral Home in Kahoka  Memorials contributions in memory of Edna Schuster are suggested to the Clark County Senior Center You are invited to share your memories of Edna and leave a condolence at www.wilsontriplett.com Metrics details Invasive snakes are among the most challenging invaders worldwide due to their exceptionally low detection rate and grave ecological impacts Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a promising tool to improve invasive snake detection and enhancing management programs yet its application to terrestrial snakes remains underexplored This study provides the first advances in the use of eDNA techniques to detect the terrestrial invasive California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) californiae-specific primers and tested their effectiveness in detecting the species in different environmental samples including swab samples from underneath artificial cover objects (ACOs) made of different materials we conducted a controlled experiment to assess the accumulation and degradation rate of L californiae eDNA over a 14-day period (7 with snakes in the terraria and 7 after having removed them) while no detections appeared in randomly collected soil or controls eDNA was undetectable in terraria prior snake introductions but remained detectable throughout the study with no evidence of snake eDNA degradation after snake removal These findings provide key insights for the implementation of an eDNA-based protocol for the detection of L offering a valuable tool for monitoring this invasive species this study could be used for refining eDNA methodologies to detect other elusive terrestrial snake species elsewhere the high probability of the species being introduced in continental Europe has led to its inclusion in the List of Invasive Alien Species of European Concern (Regulation (EU) 2022/1203) which makes it also a conservation priority at the European level the primary objectives of this study were to (1) design and validate specific primers for L (2) evaluate various sampling methods for collecting and detecting L californiae eDNA accumulation and degradation to inform detection protocols The sampling and laboratory protocols developed could be useful and informative for the implementation of eDNA techniques in the detection of other terrestrial snakes elsewhere as well as two individuals of each endemic reptile species (own samples available in our facilities at the CSIC (Tenerife californiae using the commercial kit E.Z.N.A.® Tissue DNA (Omega Bio-tek Inc. whereas we used ZR Genomic DNA Tissue MicroPrep Kit (Zymo Research USA) to extract DNA from the endemic reptiles We assessed DNA quantity and quality using a NanoDrop®ND-1000 spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific species-specific sequence that distinguished L We then tested primer specificity by amplifying previously extracted DNA from L californiae and the endemic reptiles using the same PCR conditions as previously described with an annealing temperature of 57 °C and the subsequent visualization of PCR products via 1.7% agarose gel electrophoresis stained with Real-Safe (Real Biotech Corporation we amplified extracted DNA using quantitative PCR (qPCR) with 10–20 ng of DNA and 7.5 µL of iTaq Universal SYBR Green Supermix (Bio-Rad We performed reactions on an iCycler BIO-RAD real-time thermal cycler at the Genomic Service of the University of La Laguna In order to optimize amplification conditions we first tested a gradient of temperatures and cycle numbers using L californiae DNA as the positive control and a sample without DNA as the negative control The final qPCR conditions comprised an initial denaturation at 95 °C for 10 min followed by 40 amplification cycles (15 s at 95 °C We assessed primer specificity by comparing qPCR melting curves californiae-specific primers produced distinct melting curves while non-specific amplification resulted in spurious curves for endemic reptiles Map of the study area showing the location of our sampling sites and artificial cover objects (ACOs) We visited ACOs to collect swab samples following the patterns described in the top inset we used new disposable latex gloves to collect each sample stored all swab samples in individual paper envelopes We incorporated silica gel beads into the swab and boot bags with the objective of mitigating potential mold growth we consolidated the small individual plastic bags into larger hermetic bags for each sample type and site No contact with the target species had occurred prior to or during the sampling day since all sampling and personal material (in addition to the researchers) travelled to Gran Canaria from the uninvaded island of Tenerife for each sampling session To reduce subjectivity in the interpretation of melt curves and only samples with clearly similar melting curves and Ct values to those of L californiae were considered as positive (we repeated those that were ambiguous) To minimize contamination during laboratory procedures we handled DNA isolates and prepared qPCR reactions using filtered pipet tips and under the laminar flow hood in the pre-PCR laboratory We performed all tasks in a dedicated working area within the pre-PCR laboratory which was thoroughly cleaned with 10% diluted bleach after processing each sample We used new disposable gloves to manipulate each sample and to access to the freezer and all instruments were sterilized with 10% diluted bleach rinsed with distilled water and dried with disposable paper towels We carried out amplifications in a post-PCR laboratory within the CSIC facilities that did not share equipment or material with the pre-PCR laboratory We transferred samples between pre- and post-PCR laboratories in a single direction (pre-PCR to post-PCR) and we spaced the pre-PCR and post-PRC work at least 24 h apart All substrate sample collection were carried out with care to prevent direct contact with visible urine or feces Potential sample contamination was minimized by using new disposable latex gloves for each sample and storing them in a − 20 °C freezer located outside the facilities where terraria were situated and where no samples of L We transported all samples to the CSIC laboratory facilities for subsequent analysis We extracted the DNA in the CSIC laboratories using a self-designed protocol with the following steps: firstly we transferred the contents of each sample tube into a new 2 mL tube we rubbed a sterile cotton swab moistened with ultrapure water (Ultra Pure Water System USA) over the walls of the empty tube; thirdly we cut the tip of the swab and dropped it into a 1.5 mL tube This protocol reduced the time of sample processing without compromising the sensitivity of the technique (tested against other two alternative sample processing methods; see results of those other methods in Supplementary Information II) We extracted DNA from the swab tips using the commercial extraction kit E.Z.N.A.® Tissue DNA (Omega All procedures were approved by the Government of the Canary Islands under permit no Specificity of the self-designed primers for the cytochrome oxidase I subunit Panel A shows the amplification products (≈ 161 bp) obtained from the extracted DNA of Lampropeltis californiae Chalcides sexlineatus and Tarentola boettgeri and visualized through 1.7% agarose gel electrophoresis with Real-Safe (Real Biotech Corporation Taiwan) (the third-last and last lanes represent the negative controls (-C) and the second-last lane included the 25–700 bp DNA marker (LADD-DN1-500; OXGEN™) Panel B shows the melting temperature curves obtained through qPCR when amplifying the extracted DNA from tails of the four species Sampling site 2 accounted for 75.00% of all detections with sampling sites 1 and 3 producing 8.33% and 16.67% of all snake detections 25.00% of which had one positive qPCR replicate 12.50% had two positive replicates and 62.50% had all three positive replicates 62.50% of all detections occurred in corrugated steel plates The spatial distribution of snake detections during the second period exhibited a similarity to that of the first period with 50.00% of all detections occurring in sampling site 2 We did not detect positive samples in January whereas February and March exhibited the highest percentage of positive detections (20.00% and 13.33% respectively) (detection rate ≤ 10.00% for the remaining months) We did not find significant differences in eDNA detection rate between periods for swab samples (\(\chi_{1}^{2}=\) 0.01 we observed a significant variation in the detection rate among sites (\(\chi_{2}^{2}=\) 13.07 P = 0.001) and types of materials (\(\chi_{4}^{2}=\) 25.39 Site 2 had a substantially higher detection rate compared to the other sites (standardized residual of 3.46 while site 3 demonstrated a significantly lower rate (standardized residual of -2.65 Corrugated steel plates showed a higher detection rate compared to the remaining materials (standardized residual of 3.98 and used to analyze eDNA degradation over time after Lampropeltis californiae individuals were removed from terraria This persistent failure underscores an urgent need to explore and adopt novel methodologies to enhance management efficacy The purpose of this research was to initiate the study of the use of eDNA techniques in the detection of L an objective that aims to guide the control given the elusive behaviour of the species we designed and tested primers for the COI subunit Given the relative paucity of development in eDNA sampling protocols for terrestrial environments in comparison to the aquatic counterparts our comparative analysis on the probability of detecting L californiae eDNA from swab samples from ACOs made of five different materials suggested that swab samples under ACOs represent the most effective sampling protocol currently available (particularly effective with corrugated steel plates and corrugated bitumen sheets) we demonstrated that the detection rate remains consistent irrespective of the intensification of the sampling regime or the number of ACOs the detection rate might be enhanced if the sampling is conducted during the months of February and March and during the seven days after an individual L californiae was in direct contact with the substrate In order to implement the use of eDNA techniques in the routine management of L further work is needed to optimise detection protocols (including refining primer specificity or eDNA amplification protocols) sampling techniques (including further research on the type of samples to be collected in the field and their location to increase detection rate) as well as to deepen the knowledge on the species eDNA accumulation and degradation in natural environments The future development of these techniques to infer L californiae density could be of great use for conservation practitioners The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available at Figshare and have the following DOI number: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.28202660.v1 IUCN guidelines for the prevention of biodiversity loss caused by alien invasive species (IUCN IUCN. guidelines for invasive species planning and management on islands. https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.ch.2018.15.en (2018) Impacts of biological invasions: What’s what and the way forward https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2012.07.013 (2013) Limits and potentialities of eradication as a tool for addressing biological invasions https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-36920-2_22 (Springer Clout, M. N. & Williams, P. A. Invasive species management: A handbook of principles and techniques. Techniques in ecology and conservation series (Oxford University Press, 2009). https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199216321.001.0001 Optimizing confirmation of invasive species eradication with rapid eradication assessment https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12753 (2017) In Thematic assessment report on invasive alien species and their control of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (eds Roy Burmese pythons in Florida: A synthesis of biology https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12753 (2023) A case study of a failed project from the South Pacific https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160110 (2016) Successful spread of a biocontrol agent reveals a biosecurity failure: Elucidating long distance invasion pathways for Gonatocerus ashmeadi in French Polynesia https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-008-9204-7 (2009) Potential economic impact of introduction and spread of the red imported fire ant https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2007.03.007 (2007) Environmental DNA metabarcoding: Transforming how we survey animal and plant communities Critical considerations for the application of environmental DNA methods to detect aquatic species https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12595 (2016) Robust detection of rare species using environmental DNA: The importance of primer specificity https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0059520 (2013) DNA (meta)barcoding of biological invasions: A powerful tool to elucidate invasion processes and help managing aliens https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-015-0854-y (2015) Environmental DNA—An emerging tool in conservation for monitoring past and present biodiversity https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2014.11.019 (2015) Environmental DNA—For biodiversity research and monitoring (Oxford University Press Applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect subterranean and aquatic invasive species: A critical review on the challenges and limitations of eDNA metabarcoding https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2023.100370 (2023) Combining surface and soil environmental DNA with artificial cover objects to improve terrestrial reptile survey detection Alien reptiles and amphibians: A scientific compendium and analysis (Springer Biosecurity of exotic reptiles and amphibians in New Zealand: Building upon Tony Whitaker’s legacy https://doi.org/10.1080/03036758.2015.1108344 (2016) The escalating global problem of accidental human-mediated transport of alien species: A case study using alien herpetofauna interceptions in New Zealand https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109860 (2023) biogeography and the global flows of alien amphibians and reptiles Impacts from invasive reptiles and amphibians https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-112414-054450 (2015) Modelling detection probabilities to evaluate management and control tools for an invasive species https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01753.x (2010) Low detectability of alien reptiles can lead to biosecurity management failure: A case study from Christmas Island (Australia) https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.45.31009 (2019) Terrestrial snake environmental DNA accumulation and degradation dynamics and its environmental application https://doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-16-00088 (2018) Exploration of environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect Kirtland’s snake (Clonophis kirtlandii) https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10061057 (2020) Environmental DNA is effective in detecting the federally threatened Louisiana pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni) Improving ecological surveys for the detection of cryptic fossorial snakes using eDNA on and under artificial cover objects https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108187 (2021) The management and control of the California kingsnake in Gran Canaria (Canary Islands): Project LIFE + Lampropeltis After-LIFE communication and conservation plan Spatial ecology to strengthen invasive snake management on islands https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32483-x (2023) The perils of an invasive snake: The California kingsnake in the Canary Islands (Universidad de La Laguna Piquet, J. C. & López-Darias, M. Invasive snake causes massive reduction of all endemic herpetofauna on Gran Canaria. Proc. R. Soc. B 288, 20211939. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.1939 (2021) Could climate change benefit invasive snakes Modelling the potential distribution of the California kingsnake in the Canary Islands https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112917 (2021) Hammerson, G. A. Lampropeltis californiae. IUCN red list of threatened species. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T67662524A67662576.en (2016) Bowles, P. Tarentola boettgeri. IUCN red list of threatened species. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T61574A137857741.en (2024) Bowles, P. Chalcides sexlineatus. IUCN red list of threatened species. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T61487A137848983.en (2024) Bowles, P. Gallotia stehlini. IUCN red list of threatened species. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T61506A137850850.en (2024) DNA primers for amplification of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I from diverse metazoan invertebrates First large-scale DNA barcoding assessment of reptiles in the biodiversity hotspot of Madagascar https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0034506 (2012) DNA barcode reference library for the West Sahara-Sahel reptiles MEGA X: Molecular evolutionary genetics analysis across computing platforms https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msy096 (2018) Applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) in ecology and conservation: Opportunities https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-020-01980-0 (2020) Primer-BLAST: A tool to design target-specific primers for polymerase chain reaction https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2105-13-134 (2012) AEMET. Standard climate values. (AEMET, 2024). https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos Open Source Geospatial Foundation Project (2024) The elephant in the lab (and field): Contamination in aquatic environmental DNA studies https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2020.609973 (2020) The detection of aquatic animal species using environmental DNA—A review of eDNA as a survey tool in ecology https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12306 (2014) The detection of aquatic macroorganisms using environmental DNA analysis—A review of methods for collection Environmental DNA as an efficient tool for detecting invasive crayfishes in freshwater ponds https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3288-y (2018) A comparison of droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) quantitative PCR and metabarcoding for species-specific detection in environmental DNA https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13055 (2019) Sampling environmental DNA from trees and soil to detect cryptic arboreal mammals https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-27512-8 (2023) Improved detection of an alien invasive species through environmental DNA barcoding: The example of the American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2012.02171.x (2012) Detecting an elusive invasive species: A diagnostic PCR to detect Burmese python in Florida waters and an assessment of persistence of environmental DNA https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.12180 (2014) Ebbert, D. chisq.posthoc.test: A post hoc analysis for Pearson’s Chi-squared test for count data. R Package Version 0.1.3. https://github.com/ebbertd/chisq.posthoc.test (2025) Multiple regression approach to analyzing contingency tables: Post hoc and planned comparison procedures https://doi.org/10.1080/00220973.1995.9943797 (1995) R: A language and environment for statistical computing Serrano-Cumplido, A. et al. Application of the PCR number of cycle threshold value (Ct) in COVID-19. Semergen 47, 337–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semerg.2021.05.003 (2021) Tom, M. R. & Mina, M. J. To interpret the SARS-CoV-2 test, consider the cycle threshold value. Clin. Infect. Dis. 71, 2252–2254. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa619 (2020) A framework for developing and validating taxon-specific primers for specimen identification from environmental DNA https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.12618 (2017) DNA barcode divergence among species and genera of birds and fishes https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02541.x (2009) The barcode of life data system (http://www.barcodinglife.org) https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-8286.2007.01678.x (2007) The need for robust qPCR-based eDNA detection assays in environmental monitoring and species inventories La culebrilla ciega de las macetas (Ramphotyphlops braminus) una nueva especie introducida en el archipiélago Canario Pawlowski, J., Apothéloz-Perret-Gentil, L., Mächler, E. & Altermatt, F. Environmental DNA applications for biomonitoring and bioassessment in aquatic ecosystems. Guidelines. Federal Office for the Environment, Bern. Environmental Studies. no. 2010: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-187800 (2020) A review of applications of environmental DNA for reptile conservation and management Liberman, Y.-R., Ben-Ami, F. & Meiri, S. Artificial cover objects as a tool for the survey and conservation of herpetofauna. Biodivers. Conserv. 33, 1575–1590. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02840-x (2024) Testing multiple substrates for terrestrial biodiversity monitoring using environmental DNA metabarcoding https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13148 (2020) Meta-barcoding of ‘dirt’ DNA from soil reflects vertebrate biodiversity https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05261.x (2012) Moving eDNA surveys onto land: Strategies for active eDNA aggregation to detect invasive forest insects https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13151 (2020) Invertebrates for vertebrate biodiversity monitoring: Comparisons using three insect taxa as iDNA samplers https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13525 (2022) Association Reptilian Amphibian Veterinarians Rock pools as a source of environmental DNA for the detection of the threatened Pilbara olive python (Liasis olivaceus barroni) https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1187545 (2023) and future perspectives of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding: A systematic review in methods https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00547 (2019) Environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring of noble crayfish Astacus Astacus in lentic environments offers reliable presence-absence surveillance—but fails to predict population density https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2020.612253 (2020) Halstead, B. J. et al. An evaluation of the efficacy of using environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas). USGS Official report. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171123 (2017) Efficiency of eDNA and iDNA in assessing vertebrate diversity and its abundance https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13543 (2022) Control de la especie invasora Lampropeltis getula californiae en la isla de Gran Canaria (Cabildo de Gran Canaria (Área de Medio Ambiente Tracking an invasion front with environmental DNA Early detection and spatial monitoring of an emerging biological invasion by population genetics and environmental DNA metabarcoding Rapid responses against invasive species on islands: Lessons from the introduced barbary ground squirrel atlantoxerus Getulus in the Canary Islands https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605318000200 (2019) Can temperature be used as a tool for limiting brown treesnake invasion via transportation pathways Managing vertebrate invasive species: Proceedings of an international symposium Inferring the absence of an incipient population during a rapid response for an invasive species https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204302 (2018) DIISE. Database of island invasive species eradications. http://diise.islandconservation.org/ (2021) The global contribution of invasive vertebrate eradication as a key island restoration tool https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14982-5 (2022) Download references Gallo (GESPLAN S.A.) for their support to our research González for providing laboratory materials and equipment from the Biochemistry Cell Biology and Genetic Department (University of La Laguna) Klassert (Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research) provided critical insights into this study Borges and the staff of Agrobiology Area of the IPNA-CSIC Martín (IUETSPC) for lending us some of the equipment used in this study We sincerely appreciate the contributions of two anonymous reviewers and Dr which led to a significant improvement of our original manuscript Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature This work has been supported by the agreement between the Government of the Canary Islands and CSIC to carry out the project “Habitat use and impacts of the California kingsnake upon native communities of Gran Canaria (Lamproimpact)” Borja Maestresalas & Marta López-Darias Marta López-Darias carried out the study conception and design and Mercedes López-González substantially contributed to these tasks All authors participated in material preparation and data collection while Mercedes López-González performed genetic analysis Mercedes López-González and Marta López-Darias wrote the first draft of the manuscript All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript and read and approved the final manuscript Marta López-Darias was in charge of research supervision project administration and funding acquisition Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96387-8 Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science Internet Explorer lacks support for the features of this website please use a modern browser such as Chrome A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States Novel approach to study fish DNA collected from water samples enables researchers to estimate biomass of multiple Alaska fish species simultaneously Around the world, standard ways to measure fish abundance and biomass to manage commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries rely heavily on deriving estimates from fish caught in research surveys and commercial fishing nets and other collected biological data. In a new study, NOAA Fisheries scientists in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks show that it is possible to estimate fish biomass for more than one species at the same time They found they can estimate the abundance of ecologically and commercially-important Alaska fish species—Arctic cod and Pacific cod—which are difficult to distinguish among in eDNA samples eDNA is genetic material shed by organisms into the surrounding environment its DNA is shed and accumulates in the water around it This genetic material can be recovered from environmental samples.  we learned that we could accurately quantify species compositions and estimate biomass for different species of cod and pollock at the same time using eDNA,” said Kimberly Ledger lead author and research biologist with Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Auke Bay Laboratories “It is possible to apply these methods to other species to improve the quantitative utility of eDNA.”  A central goal of managing species is understanding where they live (their distribution) and how many of them exist (their biomass or abundance) Accurately estimating this information is difficult It relies on making inferences about an entire community based on observations of a subset of individuals NOAA Fisheries gets this information from fish collected in nets during research surveys and from data collected by fishery observers on commercial fishing boats and in processing plants.  With eDNA scientists are able to detect and quantify fish DNA from the environment to help estimate species abundance and biomass from just a sample of water This revolutionary new method that relies on eDNA is highly versatile capable of detecting and identifying a wide range of species and minimally disruptive to sensitive species.  Scientists caution that it doesn’t replace standard trawl surveys or actual sampling by fisheries observers We we still need to collect biological data including size which is important for stock assessments.  eDNA researchers are actively working to identify ways to use this information to support management decisions with the help of stock assessment authors and quantitative ecologists A genetic marker is a gene or a short segment of DNA that has a distinctive location on a specific chromosome that can be used to identify a species or an organism.  scientists identified a new genetic marker to detect and differentiate eDNA from six closely-related cod species in the North Pacific and the Arctic.  Scientists demonstrated that they could  This genetic research also shows promise for estimating the absolute abundance of these fish from eDNA samples.  Fishery biologist and co-author Mary Beth Rew Hicks kept live Pacific cod and Arctic cod in various combinations and abundances in holding tanks at the Center’s Newport Laboratory She collected water samples from the tanks with known biomass (based on the numbers and weights of each species of fish) This experimental design enabled comparison of eDNA-derived species compositions with true compositions within a group of closely-related species with overlapping habitats and distributions.    “We’ve moved the dial in the use of eDNA beyond just being able to provide a measure of presence and absence of species to providing meaningful data to estimate abundance and better reflect underlying community composition in real-world environments,” said Ledger.  fish are moving around to find ideal conditions for their survival—food and the right temperatures to spawn These dynamic shifts are posing new challenges for resource management and the scientists who conduct long-term research surveys in traditional areas where these fish have been found.  “This new tool will help us efficiently track these shifts in distribution to complement our standard methods of assessing fish stocks,” added Wes Larson co-author and manager for the Genetics Program at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center.  The family of Edna Marie Johnson created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Receive emails when new obituariesare published to our website Owned and operated by the Atchley family since 1920 we proudly serve the families of our community with care and professionalism.For generations the Atchley family and the staff have strived to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of the families we have had the honor to serve We are a family-owned funeral home with the 3rd and 4th generations working together to continue our tradition of serving our community Atchley Funeral Home also has the only crematory in the county ensuring that your loved one never leaves our care We hope you find our site helpful and informative and we also welcome your calls and visits if you would like further assistance.Atchley Funeral Home - a strong traditional heritage combined with contemporary ideas and modern facilities to enable us to provide the most caring service available Atchley Funeral Home - Seymour Memory Gardens Atchley's Smoky Mountain Chapel & Memory Gardens Your browser may not work with certain site. Upgrade now. 2025 at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge  She enjoyed being with her family and friends  Edna was sweet and loving to everyone Jr and Todd Shipley; 12 grandkids and 7 great grandkids The family will receive friends from 11:00am - 1:00pm 2025 at Mynatt Funeral Home Powell Chapel and then proceed to Norris Memorial Gardens for a 2:00pm graveside service Mynatt Funeral Home Powell Chapel is honored to be serving the family of Edna Ann Varner Mynatt Funeral Home Powell Chapel * 2000 Powell Drive * Powell TN 37849 * (865) 362-5382 * www.mynattfh.com Edna Katheryn Duncan Cupples passed peacefully on December 29 at the age of 101 in the comforting grace of her family’s love Katheryn was a force to behold when it came to her faith She endured over a century of our collective history She was a devote Catholic and a loving and loyal wife playful and adventurous in life and in spirit The pain of her absence is felt by generations Beloved wife of 64 years to the late Macile Marion Cupples mother of Marion Annette Cupples Ross and the late Charles Wiley Cupples Katherine Webb and Benjamin (and Katie) Ross also members of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church New Orleans and Brown & Root are invited to attend the Funeral Mass in the chapel of Mothe Funeral Home Visitation will be held on Thursday from 12pm until 2pm Interment at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery  Family and friends may view and sign the online guest book at www.mothefunerals.com Edna Adams – Public Relations Specialist in the Office of Communications – was named a Rising Star in PR Daily’s Top Women in Communications awards program “I’m so honored to receive this recognition for the work I’ve done but I’m even more honored to do the work for Macon-Bibb County,” says Adams “The people I work with really make this all so fun and rewarding.” “Edna has been at the leading edge of changing local government communications From her writing to her event planning to her media strategy “What sets Edna apart from her colleagues is her ability to balance all that is required of her…while pushing the envelope on creativity in communications so that the event the message all stand out in the crowded onslaught of information are bombarded with every day,” says Chief Communications Officer Chris Floore from original features to public notices to community partner information from press conferences to groundbreakings to celebrations to major announcements There are some weeks where she will coordinate 3-4 major events that require significant planning her events include setting buildings on fire to help the Fire Department make announcements; opening the new pickleball facility on January 1 with a pickleball drop countdown; volunteers packing boxes of food at the Food Bank Grand Opening; reopening an airport runway with planes flying overhead; and more putting a touch to them to make them more interesting for the media and the public She has been a key organizer for the community’s Hispanic Heritage Festival growing it from a few vendors in a small park to having several hundred people and musical performances in one of our largest parks “The results speak for themselves,” adds Mayor Miller showing they saw the coverage and remembered it The creativity in our event planning means we are getting through the noise and reaching our audience.” The Office of Communications includes Edna Adams Their charge is to find the best ways to let people know what the government and its partners are doing to improve the community through strategic communications These recognitions follow nearly 30 individual the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) and the Georgia chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America Customer Service Sign up for email updates from Macon-Bibb County to get information on announcements Strategerist host Andrew Kaufmann and Devon Yarbrough sat down with Milauna Jackson who portrays Captain Abby Campbell in the 2024 Netflix film “The Six Triple Eight” and Retired Army Col a passionate advocate whose work led to two crucial recognitions for the 6888 Milauna discusses what it was like working on the Netflix film while Col Cummings shares the behind-the-scenes bipartisan advocacy for the battalion who played a critical role in World War II Edna was known for her stubborn yet sweet disposition embodying a spirit of faithfulness that resonated with all who knew her Edna found joy in being a dedicated member of Cornerstone Baptist Temple in Dayton where she cultivated lasting friendships and engaged in the community She had a passion for bowling and enjoyed playing cards and games where her competitive yet fun-loving nature shone through Edna's proudest accomplishments were rooted in her roles as a faithful wife and devoted mother She taught her daughters the meaning of being a Proverbs 31 wife Her 68-year marriage to her beloved husband was a testament to their enduring love and partnership they raised four children: Richard (Laura) Hamlett Her love extended to her eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren Robert (Rosemary) Gilbert; and numerous nieces and nephews who will fondly remember her as a steadfast presence in their lives Each of these individuals held a special place in her heart and their memories will live on through those she leaves behind but her spirit and the love she shared will endure in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing her The family will receive friends on Thursday 2025 from 1-3pm at the Cornerstone Baptist Temple with Pastor Jerry Siler officiating.  Edna will be laid to rest at Dayton National Cemetery on Wednesday  It is with great sadness and broken hearts that we announce Edna Mae Wyatt Millisock “In the blink of an eye she went home to be with her Lord and Savior in her eternal heavenly home.” Edna was born in the fall season of October 21 which was located in Waynesville at that time Edna had made her home in Canton all of her life and she was so proud of her family heritage and of her hometown being involved in things that were happening in Canton and anything fun that was happening around her She treasured sharing special memories of her years growing up with her children and these will be memories of hers that they each will hold onto forever Edna was a beacon of love for her family and for anyone blessed to know her she chose to enter the health care profession she was employed as a Certified Nursing Assistant for many dedicated years at Health Care facilities in our community Edna was like a ray of sunshine to the patients she cared for and always laughter to brighten their days Her life has been a testament to her unwavering faith and devotion to her Lord and Saviour Edna was a faithful member of Old Time Ministries and with her boundless love for her family she became an inspiration to each of them to dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ and we know today that she is surrounded in her heavenly home by the most breathtaking flowers one could ever imagine She also enjoyed going shopping and “ treasure seeking,” and in her quiet times at home she could often be found watching her favorite wrestling programs on television Hearing her lift her sweet voice in praise will never be forgotten by her family and great-grandmother whose life has touched so very many let us never forget that a mother’s love lingers like a quiet whisper in our hearts Edna was preceded in death by the love of her life Milford Millisock who passed away in 2005; also her sons Barron Wyatt and Marty White and a granddaughter Jack (Billy) White and Robert Wyatt; her cherished granddaughter Brett and grandson Aidan who resided at the home with Edna and  where her beloved Laura has devoted her life during Edna’s illness to care for her with great compassion and love;  also 18 very loved grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren who were also adored and cherished by Edna; a sister A Service of Remembrance to celebrate the life of Edna will be held at 4:00 pm Tuesday 2025 in the chapel of Crawford / Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home from 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm prior to the service Inurnment will be held at a later date at Clarks Chapel Cemetery where Edna will be laid to rest beside her loved ones Crawford / Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service is deeply honored to be caring for the Millisock family Edna Louise Dowdy, 82, formerly of Chattanooga, passed away Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at her residence in Murfreesboro, Tennessee after a battle with many health complications. A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a resident of LaFayette,... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Edna Louise Dowdy created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Copyright © 2025 Taylor Funeral Home of Chattanooga a daughter of the late Henry and Geneva Kirby Sherbert Edna was married to the late Carl Eggleton.  Edna was a member of First Baptist Church-Spartanburg and was retired from the public school systems.  Mike Wood (Kathy) and Steve Wood (Libby); 6 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren A cryptside service will be held 11:00 a.m at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Heritage Chapel Mausoleum Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Heritage Chapel Mausoleum The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V.