Science on Tap: Ellary Marano, US Fish and Wildlife Service

Ellary Marano

US Fish and Wildlife Service

CSI Lake Superior: Using Environmental DNA to Monitor Aquatic Invasive Species

January 20 @ 6:30 at the Alley

Historically, conducting surveys of fish communities has required physically capturing and counting animals which, while valuable, comes with limitations. In recent years, researchers across ecology have begun to use the fascinating new technology of environmental DNA to increase the sensitivity of their surveys. During the talk, we will discuss what environmental DNA is, its applications, and how the Ashland Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office has incorporated environmental DNA alongside traditional methods to more effectively detect non-native fishes in the early stages of invasion in Lake Superior.

Ellary is a fish biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service based in the Ashland Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office. Their primary job duties center on the early detection of invasive fishes. Ellary is originally from the metro-Detroit area but moved to Ashland in 2023 when they began their position with USFWS. When not at work, Ellary can be found volunteering at Stone Soup, onstage at the CTA, or home with their two cats.