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On a gray November morning at Fox Point Beach near Hubbard, North Carolina, five people wade into the ocean as waves lap at their knees.
They are here to learn how to collect water samples that will be analyzed in a Dalhousie University lab to track marine species.
The community-focused Coastal Observatory needs samples from across the province, so they are recruiting volunteers like them to help with the project.
Krish Thapar traveled from Dartmouth to take part. He listened intently as PhD candidate Samantha Beal explained how to use sampling equipment and avoid cross-contamination.
“I thought this would be a great volunteer opportunity, so I asked her if we could meet to learn more about the project,” Thapar said, adding that he is also interested in local conservation efforts.
Beal leads a project that brings community members together to collect coastal water samples and send them to a laboratory. There she analyzes the DNA of the environment, or Ednato identify tracks left by marine species.
“Simply through my daily natural movements [marine species] extract DNA,” Beal said. “To collect it, we need to filter the water so the DNA can stick to the filter, and that’s how we isolate it.”
Beale's project aims to better understand what species live in Nova Scotia's waters and where they go.
Research has shown that as ocean temperatures rise, some species like a lobsteraffected.
In some cases, groups of marine animals may begin to move north in search of colder waters, which is something Beal wants to keep an eye on.
The community-focused coastal observatory trains volunteers to collect environmental DNA from the ocean. This can help researchers determine which species live in the water. CBC's Juliana Grillo reported this story.
Beal distributes sampling bags, filters, water sampling machines and all other tools to collect DNA that may be lurking in ocean water to groups of volunteers from different communities.
There are six groups in the province, from Yarmouth to Louisbourg, she said.
She uses the months leading up to the new year to teach each group. This will allow them to collect the samples themselves next time and then mail them to her.
The goal is to collect samples three times a year – in March, July and November. It also gives them insight into seasonal migration patterns.
“The hope is that by doing this kind of ongoing monitoring, we can … establish a baseline and then identify any trends in species sightings,” Beal said.
In addition to helping out because of his own interest in conservation, Thapar says volunteering with the group allows him to spend time outdoors with others.
“There’s nothing better than just hearing the waves crashing against us and smelling the ocean,” he said. “I like talking to new people.”
Beal said she is still looking for volunteers in some areas of the province, such as the Bay of Fundy. “The more the merrier,” she said.
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