What Can DNA Tell Us About Aquatic Invasive Species?

Aquatic invasive species are a conservation concern threatening ecosystem function and biodiversity, and the Duluth-Superior Harbor is a hotspot for introductions. Species are introduced via ballast water discharge, which can be monitored to prevent invasive species establishment. Additionally, once a species is introduced to the harbor, it can spread to different habitats in Lake Superior across inhospitable environments, leveraging “windows of invasiveness.” The research I will present in this seminar addresses these mechanisms of invasive species introduction, establishment, and spread and how different methodologies (traditional and DNA-based) can not only assess these pathways, but also open new lines of inquiry in aquatic community ecology.