DNA Barcode of Mollusks and Annelids in the Great Lakes

  • A person sitting at a picnic table with some jars and a toolbox, writing in a small notebook.

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    In 2017, we began a project to collect DNA samples to create a genetic barcode of Great Lakes mollusks and annelids. Sasha Karatayev collected samples from the nearshore areas of Lake Huron in Alpena, Michigan, as well as many other places.

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  • A person wading in deep water near a beach, holding a net.

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    Knut Mehler used a kick net to collect gastropods from nearshore areas in Michigan.

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  • A person wading in the water and leaning over to pull some weeds out of a net with a long pole held in their other hand.

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    Knut Mehler used a kick net to collect gastropods from nearshore areas in Michigan.

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  • A person kneeling on the sand and looking in a plastic pan with some water and weeds in it. There is a tacklebox, a notebook, and an open jar by him

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    Sasha Karatayev collected samples from the nearshore areas of Lake Huron in Michigan.

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  • A person sitting in a small boat with sampling equipment, surrounded by short emergent vegetation.

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    The work continued in 2018 throughout the Great Lakes Watershed, including the Finger Lakes in New York. Lyuba Burlakova sampling Lake Oneida.

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  • A person sitting at the back of a boat to operate the motor.

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    Sasha Karatayev sampling Lake Oneida.

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  • A person in a lab holds up a plate full of tiny vials in her gloved hand.

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    Susan Daniel identifies specimens, takes detailed photographs, and collects tissue samples to send to our collaborators for DNA extraction and barcoding. Samples are also sent from collaborators, and identifications are confirmed by them as needed.

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  • A conical snail shell with faint stripes and some darker spots. There is a scale bar on the picture showing 1mm.

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    Flat-whorled pondsnail, one of the species collected for DNA barcoding. Photo credit: Susan Daniel

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  • Two people wearing tall boots stand in tall wetland grasses. One has a net on a long pole.

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    Knut Mehler and Leon Katona sampling the Genesee River in Rochester, NY, for the Barcoding project, September 2018.

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  • A person kneels by a plastic tote by a creek. The tote lid in front of him has rows of mussels resting on it.

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    Sasha Karatayev sampling Cassadaga Creek in NY for the Barcoding project, July 2018.

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  • A person wearing sunglasses stands in a creek holding a net in her hands.

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    Lyuba Burlakova sampling for the Barcoding project in New York State, July 2018.

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  • A person stands by a picnic table in the woods in fall. There are plastic pans and jugs on the table, and a plastic pan in his hands.

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    Knut Mehler sampling for the Barcoding project in Michigan, October 2018.

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  • A person works at a small desk in a hotel room with samples of aquatic organisms in trays.

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    Sasha Karatayev is live-picking benthos for barcoding in Alpena, MI, October 2018.

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