In today's newscast:
Stream health from eDNA
All living things leave behind little bits of DNA from skin, hair and scat as they go about their business. Now, UC Santa Cruz scientists are using that to monitor stream health.
Researchers at the CALeDNA program are collecting those bits—called environmental DNA or "eDNA"—from 400 streams.
Chief scientist Jen Quick-Cleveland says the results will tell them about the ecosystems’ health.
"A blood test is how we think of it," she said, "for our waterways across the state."
The scientists work with nonprofits in different communities, like Watsonville Wetlands Watch.
At the Watsonville Slough this week, CALeDNA lab technician Julien Pometta described one sampling method of trapping DNA on a filter.
"We have a syringe that we fill with water from whatever waterway we're sampling, and we push water through the filter," he said. "Then any sort of microorganisms or DNA that is free-floating in that water gets bound to the filter."
Researchers sequence DNA from the filters in a UC Santa Cruz lab to help paint a picture of the organisms living in each waterway.
Thursday's field work was a new opportunity for interns from Watsonville Wetlands Watch.
Conservation programs manager Yesenia Jimenez says interns have tracked water quality over time, but this was their first opportunity to sample for eDNA.
"This was very exciting to offer to the interns," she said.
The scientists hope, over time, eDNA will replace the current, more laborious way the California Department of Fish and Wildlife monitors stream health.
Eagle habitat protected
A $10 million fundraiser to buy land near a Big Bear bald eagle nest—home to web cam stars Jackie and Shadow—has reached its goal.
Nearly 63 acres of land will now be preserved through environmental groups. One huge check got the fundraiser across the finish line.
Anna and Greg Brockman donated more than $5.5 million to prevent construction of a planned housing project that some argue would harm rare plants and wildlife in the area, including Jackie and Shadow.
Greg Brockman is the co-founder and president of OpenAI.
The other half of the money came through smaller donations from fans around the world.
The deal to purchase the land is expected to be done by next Friday.
Friends of Big Bear Valley coordinated the fundraiser, which is now about half a million dollars over its goal. The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust will be able to purchase the land and have funds to maintain it.
That reporting from our partner, LAist.
