May 12, 2020 — The following was released by The Rockefeller University:
In brief: Rockefeller University scientists investigating shifting Atlantic Ocean migration patterns bottled the genetic traces of species far north of their normal homes.
By simply fishing for DNA in seawater, the researchers found Brazilian cownose rays and Gulf kingfishes – never known north of the Gulf of Mexico, and Chesapeake Bay, VA respectively – off the New Jersey shore, a 2 hour drive south of New York City.
The two-year study demonstrates an accurate, inexpensive way to detect long-predicted marine life range changes.
Author Mark Stoeckle and Director Jesse Ausubel of The Rockefeller University Program for the Human Environment are available for interviews.
The paper, “Improved Environmental DNA Reference Library Detects Overlooked Marine Fishes in New Jersey, United States,” published the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, is available at https://bit.ly/2WD6OXE