Driving Discovery and Innovation: Jessie Edwards ’25, Conservation and Wildlife Management

Did you know that the health of our local streams and creeks can be revealed by the tiny bugs that live there? Conservation and Wildlife Management senior Jessie Edwards dived into this fascinating world with a cutting-edge research project. Jessie compared two methods to assess the health of the ecosystem at North Branch Park in Bucks County, Pa., by studying aquatic invertebrates – those small, often unseen creatures at the base of the food web. Jessie worked with Dr. Emily Basile, assistant professor of Biology, on his project. 

The traditional approach involved physically collecting these bugs from the water. Jessie braved the cold creek to gather samples, identify the critters, and count them – a method that has been used for years to gauge water quality based on the types and numbers of bugs present. Certain bugs are more sensitive to pollution, so their presence (or absence) tells a story about the stream's health. But Jessie also explored a newer, less invasive technique: eDNA, or environmental DNA. Imagine the tiny bits of DNA that all living things leave behind – like our hair or skin cells. Jessie collected water samples and filtered them to capture this DNA "footprint" of the aquatic life. By analyzing this eDNA, Jessie sought to identify the same bug species without having to collect and process them directly.

Using sophisticated molecular techniques in DelVal's labs, Jessie extracted and amplified this DNA and prepared it to be sent off for sequencing. The results revealed which invertebrate species were present in the water, based on their unique DNA barcodes. The exciting part? Jessie compared the results from the traditional bug collection with the eDNA analysis. This research could show whether eDNA is a reliable and efficient way to monitor the health of our aquatic ecosystems. It might even be able to detect smaller or harder-to-find species that traditional methods miss. Ultimately, Jessie's work had realworld implications. By refining how we assess water quality, we can better protect this vital resource for our communities and future generations. It's a testament to the innovative research happening right here at DelVal, where students like Jessie use science to make a tangible difference in the world around us. After graduation, Jessie is working at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as a clerical assistant in the Tioga State Forest district office.