Transcript Document

DNA Barcodes for Assessment
of the Biological Integrity of
Aquatic Ecosystems
Mark Bagley, United States Environmental Protection Agency
Charles Spooner, US EPA
Ronald Klauda Maryland Dept of Natural Resources
David Schindel, Consortium for the Barcode of Life
Lee Weigt, Smithsonian Institution
Robert Hanner, University of Guelph
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Bioassessment
Physical
Integrity
Chemical
Integrity
An evaluation of the
biological condition of a
Biological
waterbody using biological
Integrity
surveys and other direct
measurements of the resident living organisms
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US Wadeable Streams Assessment
•National assessment of the condition of wadeable streams
•10 different taxonomic ID laboratories
•749 stream macroinvertebrate samples (sites)
•All organisms identified to genus only
•10% random re-identification by independent taxonomist
•Data quality objective – 85% repeatability
Credible environmental
decision-making
depends on objectivity
and repeatability of
taxonomic results
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EPA Advanced Monitoring Initiative
Project Goals
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Develop a DNA barcode library for important aquatic
indicator species (EPT)
• Ephemeroptera (Mayflies)
• Plecoptera (Stoneflies)
• Trichoptera (Caddisflies)
Compare DNA barcodes to traditional
bioassessments for EPT taxa
• Cost, Speed, Objectivity, Accuracy, Precision
• How important is increased taxonomic precision?
Determine how to efficiently incorporate DNA
barcodes into a state bioassessment program
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Repeatability and barcode
development
Reference
Barcode
Database
Maryland
DNR
Guelph
(taxonomic
agreement)
Smithsonian
EPA
Lab
Morphology
Repeatability
Precision
Cost
(Adult
Voucher
specimens)
EPA
DNA
Repeatability
Accuracy
Precision
Cost
(disagreement
or MOTU)
Taxon Experts
Species
Description
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Tech Transfer is a Major Project Goal
• End users are participants in the project
 Maryland DNR, EPA-Water
• Tech transfer documents, hands-on workshops,
and protocols are key products
• Chose influential end-users that will “convert”
others
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