Maine’s coastal ecosystems, from lakes to rivers, estuaries and in-shore waters, are impacted by numerous stressors, including warming, fisheries declines, invading species, harmful algal blooms, and severe disturbance events. Maine-eDNA will advance both ecological understanding of coastal macrosystems and the inference capacities of environmental DNA (eDNA) science needed to translate knowledge into action. 

Coastal Ecosystem Sustainability

Emerging environmental data science transforms how we collect, share and integrate biological data. Maine-eDNA uses this technology to push forward our understanding and use of coastal ecosystems.

Maine-eDNA goals

  • Advance both ecological and eDNA knowledge through transdisciplinary team science on the population, community, and ecosystem processes underpinning societal challenges in sustainable fisheries and emerging harmful species.
  • Through program-wide data sharing, Maine-eDNA will also leverage the –omics revolution and Big Data capacity of eDNA to advance the next generation of ecological inferences and engaged team science for coastal systems.
  • Integrated training of a diverse STEM workforce.
  • Align with the State’s S&T Plan to promote a sustainable future for Maine’s coast and statewide R&D growth.