DNA Extractions and PCR Amplification to Identify Meiofauna in Sediment from a Disturbed Shoreline
Mentor/s
Alyssa Woronik (Sacred Heart University) Ashley Stoehr (Sacred Heart University)
Participation Type
Poster
Abstract
Meiofauna are a diverse group of benthic invertebrates that range between 0.04 mm and 1mm in size. They represent 24 of the 35 animal phyla and are ideal for biomonitoring. Their fast population turnover means that community composition can indicate anthropogenic influence and environmental health. The long-term goal of this project is to determine if visual identification of meiofauna at the level of phyla is sufficient to investigate community changes along a disturbed shoreline (Seaside Park; Bridgeport, CT); or if it is necessary to identify lower taxonomic levels via DNA metabarcoding. The latter would allow for the identification of taxa at genus or species levels based on a short variable region in the DNA. We previously optimized a protocol to extract DNA from the sediment samples using the Qiagen DNeasy PowerSoil Pro Kit. Currently, we have generated DNA extractions from sediment samples that range across time and space and conducted PCR on these extractions to amplify a variable region of the 18S rRNA gene. We will be sequencing these amplicons to identify taxa within the sediment samples.
College and Major available
Biology
Academic Level
Undergraduate student
Location
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Start Day/Time
4-25-2025 12:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-25-2025 2:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
DNA Extractions and PCR Amplification to Identify Meiofauna in Sediment from a Disturbed Shoreline
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Meiofauna are a diverse group of benthic invertebrates that range between 0.04 mm and 1mm in size. They represent 24 of the 35 animal phyla and are ideal for biomonitoring. Their fast population turnover means that community composition can indicate anthropogenic influence and environmental health. The long-term goal of this project is to determine if visual identification of meiofauna at the level of phyla is sufficient to investigate community changes along a disturbed shoreline (Seaside Park; Bridgeport, CT); or if it is necessary to identify lower taxonomic levels via DNA metabarcoding. The latter would allow for the identification of taxa at genus or species levels based on a short variable region in the DNA. We previously optimized a protocol to extract DNA from the sediment samples using the Qiagen DNeasy PowerSoil Pro Kit. Currently, we have generated DNA extractions from sediment samples that range across time and space and conducted PCR on these extractions to amplify a variable region of the 18S rRNA gene. We will be sequencing these amplicons to identify taxa within the sediment samples.
Students' Information
Kayla DeStephanis, Biology, Honors Program, 2026
Alexander Besnilian, Biology, Honors Program, 2025