“Applications of DNA Metabarcoding to Dietary Analyses and Environmental DNA Surveys”
Next generation sequencing technology has enhanced the field of molecular ecology in many ways. Here we apply a DNA metabarcoding approach to investigate the insect diets of nestling migratory songbirds and competing trout species at the Powdermill Nature Reserve. This same technique shows great promise to identify entire communities of aquatic organisms by eDNA extracted from water samples taken on large river systems.
Dr. Brady Porter is an associate professor of biological sciences at Duquesne University.