Eelgrass Meadows and the Microscopic Life They Support
Eelgrass meadows are very important for the health of our ecosystems. These underwater grasslands sequester carbon, protect coastlines from erosion, and serve as a nursery, habitat, and foraging ground for many creatures, including microscopic ones. Studying microscopic life comes with it’s own challenges. To overcome them, scientists employ specialized tools such as DNA metabarcoding (Siobhan) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (Dr. Elaine Humphrey). DNA metabarcoding allows us to identify microbial species (eukaryote, bacteria, and diatoms) by sequencing their DNA. SEM allows us to visually identify genera and species of diatoms (Mark Webber) and see the structure of the microscopic community of eelgrass, which is important to better understand which micro-organisms interact directly and how they actually colonize the eelgrass leaf. This structural information is not obtainable with DNA-based techniques alone. Understanding these interactions is critical because the microbial community of eelgrass is very important in determining the health of the eelgrass, and hence, the health of the eelgrass meadows and the survival of all the other species who depend on eelgrass for survival.
Siobhan Schenk is a PhD student at UBC where she studies the microbial community of eelgrass and sugar kelp using DNA metabarcoding.
Elaine Humphrey is the lab manager for the Advanced Microscopy Facility at UVic with a PhD in Biological Oceanography.
Mark Webber is lab manager for the IMERSS lab on Galiano Island with over fifteen years of experience working with diatoms.