{"id":23775,"date":"2021-01-20T16:34:01","date_gmt":"2021-01-20T21:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gsmit.org\/?page_id=23775"},"modified":"2021-01-20T16:36:53","modified_gmt":"2021-01-20T21:36:53","slug":"completed-projects","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gsmit.org\/community-science\/completed-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Completed Projects and Publications"},"content":{"rendered":"
Using environmental DNA and community science to detect salamanders in Great Smoky Mountains National Park<\/strong><\/p>\n In 2015 Tremont partnered with Dr. Todd Pierson, then a PhD student at the University of Tennessee, to test and implement the emerging monitoring technique of using DNA to survey for species of salamanders present in our Streams.<\/p>\n Why use environmental DNA (eDNA) instead of simply identifying species as you find them? Dr. Pierson says, \u201cSome salamanders are often difficult to find (and identify) reliably. Using this method, we can identify which species are present in a stream by collecting their DNA that is floating in the water!\u201d DNA could provide more accurate species identification that could be provided by human sight alone.<\/p>\n Community Scientists were trained in the methods and took water samples for analysis from June 2015 to April 2016. Community Scientists also continued direct surveys in order to compare the results and ensure the same species diversity was being captured through each method. Check out Gar Secrist\u2019s (former Tremont Teacher Naturalist and Community Scientist) presentation at the 2017 NPS Science Colloquium.<\/a><\/p>\n