Estuarine Expeditions and New Horizons to My Research Experience

 

Salutations! I am Jaden Eaton Hunt, a NOAA EPP/MSI CCME-II Graduate Scholar at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. As a graduate scholar, I completed my NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunity (NERTO) internship. The NERTO occurred at the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Hollings Marine Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina. My research focused on the Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve, more specifically the oyster mariculture of the surrounding area. The research objective was to characterize the interaction between microbiota, oysters, and the ecological services they provide.

Nutrient and water quality data were provided by the Centralized Data Management Office of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (CDMO-NERRS) database. These data were used to assess environmental quality linked to the relationship hypothesized between oysters and microorganisms. We performed metagenomic analysis on water and sediment samples retrieved from our site of interest, Shellfish Growing Area 13. Metagenomic analysis identifies the structure and function of nucleotide sequences- the building blocks of genes, typically collected and analyzed from an environmental sample. We retrieved environmental DNA (eDNA) from these samples to determine the diversity and abundance of microbiota in areas near oyster aquaculture.

My NERTO experience allowed me to gain the knowledge and skills to conduct next-gen sequencing techniques to identify genes and their respective hosts from an environmental sample. I learned more about the necessary steps involved in the quality control processes that precede the use of this technology. Upon extraction of genetic materials from our samples, we routinely amplified it using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to increase our yield of genetic material. It was exciting to be in a facility equipped with the infrastructure and equipment to sequence DNA. These steps were necessary to precede sample processing with the Illumina MiSeq Next Generation Machine to retrieve metagenomic data. The last step involved pooling or combining all of the samples was very interesting and soon followed by the intentional denaturation of our DNA library. The resulting data can be analyzed to provide a greater understanding of the genetic information that was present in our samples.

I also had the opportunity to collaboratively work with fellow scientists and stakeholders who valued the pursuit of this information. As the Hollings Marine Laboratory hosts personnel from other organizations, I networked and participated in professional development at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. My NOAA mentors, Dr. Jeff Guyon & Laura Webster, fostered connections that presented opportunities for me to such as trawling trips aboard research vessels. Overall, the NERTO greatly enhanced my professional development in NOAA aligned research.

 

                                              

NOAA EPP/MSI CCME II Graduate Scholar Jaden Hunt collecting a water sample on a sampling trip