A few months ago, a group of students from High Marq Environmental Charter School in Montello arrived at Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center, ready to join the fight against aquatic invasive species. They spent all day collecting samples from the Wisconsin River from which they extracted environmental DNA, or eDNA, to amplify and visualize. This data will then be used to monitor and track two damaging species of invasive carp in the Wisconsin River.
Environmental DNA is the DNA living organisms shed throughout their lifetime. This DNA can be isolated and compared with species-specific segments of DNA (primers) using PCR (polymerase chain reaction). If the primers match the sample, billions of copies of the species-specific DNA will be made through PCR, indicating the species may be present in the ecosystem.
Students tested their samples for the presence of a common species in the Wisconsin River, and two undesirable species of invasive carp: bighead and silver. While invasive carp are uncommon in the Wisconsin River currently, they have been found below the Prairie du Sac Dam. Early detection through monitoring—including the data collected by the students at High Marq—is key to preventing their spread and mitigating potential harmful impacts.
Morgan May is the Student advisor at High Marq Environmental Charter School. “Our kids have been able to use some awesome tools like centrifuges and micropipettes to determine whether there is eDNA present from the invasive carp. We chose to do this program because otherwise our students would not have access to these materials and resources,” notes May. “It is also an awesome way to learn some biology skills that most people don’t get until they are in college… It is also just a fun, hands-on engaging activity for your students to do.”
This initiative, which is funded by Wisconsin Sea Grant and a UW—Madison Dean’s Innovation Grant, developed and field tested eDNA sampling and laboratory protocols that can then be used by other science teachers, nonformal educators, and volunteers throughout the state.
The use of eDNA for species monitoring is a relatively novel technique, and one that is gaining popularity in the conservation field for its cost-effectiveness and accuracy. According to Amy Workman, Director of Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center, this project is the the first eDNA youth participatory science program in Wisconsin.
“High school students often do not see the connection between how laboratory science and field work support each other, and opportunities and resources for students to practice using these tools for meaningful environmental conservation work are lacking,” notes Workman. “The eDNA project provides this much needed hands-on experience to Wisconsin high school students. It really gets them excited about science—you can see it when you talk to them.”
Overall, the project hopes to work with four additional high schools and has already hosted students from Baraboo High School in April. They are planning on engaging nonschool groups, like 4H or other science and environmental clubs, in the program as well. They are also partnering with the Department of 4-H Positive Youth Development Program, UW—Madison Biotechnology Center, USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Freshwater@UW Summer Research Program, Water Action Volunteers program, and the Aquatic Invasive Species program in order to bring this educational opportunity to as many youth as possible.
While the program will only continue to grow through these partnerships, students like Keira Werner, a senior at High Marq, are already seeing the benefits.
“I’m planning on doing aquatic sciences as a career. I’m actually going to Stevens Point for it next year, and it’s something that I’ve always been interested in … and I’ve always like, really liked doing like outdoor work and stuff like that, so it was great to be on this field experience.”