Over a dozen people gathered at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School on August 12, and set off through the Southern Woodlands to the Oak Bluffs Water District building to hear Jesse Ausubel, a scientist with Rockefeller University, explain how environmental DNA (eDNA) can simplify the process of determining which fish are in a particular body of water. Ausubel, who has collected over sixty water samples in twenty locations on the Vineyard since 2018, shared anecdotes and used large eDNA Guided Walk displays filled with colorful graphs and graphics for his presentation. At a later date, Ausubel shared some fish and bird news with the SMF newsletter:
- Northern Mockingbird DNA was found in a vernal pool in Chappaquidick in April 2021.
- A White-winged Scoter was detected in water taken from the Inkwell in Oak Bluffs in January 2020.
- In May 2021, DNA from a Minke Whale was detected in water off the shore of Squibnocket.
Ausubel is interested in finding an organization or group on the Vineyard to set up an eDNA lab. This would help with monitoring changes in Vineyard waters and would be a valuable asset to the Island. If you are interested in helping with this initiative, please reach out to Adam Moore.