Molecular Identification of Morphologically Similar Juvenile Cnidarians
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Kristen Monsen
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2024 9:45 AM
End Date
26-4-2024 10:44 AM
Description
In the coastal regions of New Jersey, diverse communities of Cnidarians (jellyfish) exist, encompassing both potentially harmful, invasive, and/or benign species. Juvenile Cnidarians are often difficult to identify species given their many morphological similarities. Given the threat invasive Cnidarians present to the region, identifying invasive species is of paramount importance. Utilizing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we amplified a portion of the mitochondrial 16S and COI genes to identify unknown juvenile Cnidarians collected along the New Jersey coast in 2022. Gene sequencing was then completed to identify the specific jellyfish species inhabiting the area, This approach enables a comprehensive understanding of jellyfish populations and their associated risks within this ecosystem. Of the nine unknown juvenile specimens collected, we identified three as Rathkea octopunctata and six as Sarsia tubulosa, both of which are native to the New Jersey coastline. Our past research has identified invasive juvenile Cnidarians including Chrysaora chesapeakei and Eucheilota maculata.
Molecular Identification of Morphologically Similar Juvenile Cnidarians
In the coastal regions of New Jersey, diverse communities of Cnidarians (jellyfish) exist, encompassing both potentially harmful, invasive, and/or benign species. Juvenile Cnidarians are often difficult to identify species given their many morphological similarities. Given the threat invasive Cnidarians present to the region, identifying invasive species is of paramount importance. Utilizing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we amplified a portion of the mitochondrial 16S and COI genes to identify unknown juvenile Cnidarians collected along the New Jersey coast in 2022. Gene sequencing was then completed to identify the specific jellyfish species inhabiting the area, This approach enables a comprehensive understanding of jellyfish populations and their associated risks within this ecosystem. Of the nine unknown juvenile specimens collected, we identified three as Rathkea octopunctata and six as Sarsia tubulosa, both of which are native to the New Jersey coastline. Our past research has identified invasive juvenile Cnidarians including Chrysaora chesapeakei and Eucheilota maculata.