Postdoctoral Research Associate
Illinois Natural History Survey
Illinois River Biological Station
Education
2015 - 2020​
​
PhD, Freshwater and Marine Sciences
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Advisors:
Dr. Jake Vander Zanden, Center for Limnology
Dr. Patrick Krysan Genome Center of Wisconsin
2011 - 2015​
​
BS, Environmental Sciences
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana
Advisor:
Dr. David Lodge, College of Science
Research Topics
Environmental DNA for estimating
fish population abundance
Estimating the abundance of organisms is fundamental to the study and management of ecological systems. However, accurately and precisely estimating organism abundance is challenging, especially in aquatic systems where organisms are hidden underwater.
Estimating the abundance of fish is critical for the management of fisheries which relies on accurate assessment of population status to maximize yield without overharvesting populations. Monitoring population status is particularly challenging for inland fisheries in which populations are distributed among many individual waterbodies.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) may offer a cost-effective way to rapidly estimate populations across a large number of systems if eDNA quantity correlates with the abundance of its source organisms. We testedd the ability of quantities of eDNA recovered from surface water to estimate the abundance of walleye (Sander vitreus), a culturally and economically important sportfish, in lakes in northern Wisconsin (USA) and found eDNA correlated closely with conventional estimates of walleye abundance.
Simple linear regressions (black lines) of (a) eDNA concentration versus walleye (Sander vitreus) density (individuals/
ha) and (b) walleye biomass (kg/ha) as determined by traditional mark–recapture methods in Ceded Territory of Wisconsin lakes during 2017 and 2018. Both demonstrate significant, positive
relationships. Gray polygons represent 95% confidence intervals.
