gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:75259 eng UTF8 dataset Northeast Fisheries Science Center (508)495-2000 166 Water Street Woods Hole MA 02543-1026 USA https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Website Website for this organization information 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday resourceProvider Hatch, Joshua M (508) 495-2084 28 Tarzwell Drive Narragansett RI 02882 joshua.hatch@noaa.gov , Michael pointOfContact 2026-02-05T17:30:10 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata Part 2 Extensions for imagery and gridded data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) eDNA Survey publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 75259 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/75259 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information Scientists at NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) are using environmental DNA (eDNA) to identify fish communities and monitor ecosystems by collecting a water sample and analyzing the DNA found in it, identifying the species that left it behind without capturing a single animal. As animals swim, they shed scales, tissue, and waste, leaving traces of DNA in the water. A water sample is first collected from the ocean and filtered to concentrate DNA in it. NOAA scientists then make millions of copies of a target DNA region through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to make enough genetic material for high throughput sequencing. The metabarcoding process described above for eDNA analysis allows scientists to look for many species in the same sample. The final step is like a matching game, in which the DNA sequences are compared with a reference library of known species to find a match. The eDNA method is particularly useful for detecting species that are not easily captured, including rare or migratory species. It can also help in areas that are difficult to sample because of challenging ocean conditions, sensitive habitats, or a rugged seafloor. An eDNA analysis provides a snapshot of the community of species at the time of sampling and over time. This can help us detect shifts in marine ecosystems. eDNA samples have been collected on NOAA Ecosystem Monitoring (EcoMon) surveys since 2019. These samples will help develop best eDNA practices using metabarcoding, an innovative way to determine what fish species live in what parts of the ocean without actually seeing any fish. eDNA NEFSC scientific survey NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) Powers, Christopher 212 Rogers Ave Milford CT 06460 christopher.powers@noaa.gov pointOfContact DOC/NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC > Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2017-04-24 publication 8.5 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Marine Development and Ecology Branch (MDEB) GIS Data Hub project InPort otherRestrictions Cite As: Northeast Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: eDNA Survey [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/75259. NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose. otherRestrictions Use Constraints: These data were produced by NOAA and are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. NOAA waives any potential copyright and related rights in these data worldwide through the Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication (CC0 1.0). unclassified NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 75259 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/nefsc/dmp/pdf/75259.pdf WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. information crossReference eng; US biota environment oceans -75.96791336 -65.1686941 35.14218644 44.48558102 ESRI REST Service https://services2.arcgis.com/C8EMgrsFcRFL6LrL/arcgis/rest/services/eDNA_Survey/FeatureServer WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link https://services2.arcgis.com/C8EMgrsFcRFL6LrL/arcgis/rest/services/eDNA_Survey/FeatureServer Data access URL download