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First Step in DNA-based Invertebrate Identification Completed
In March of 2015, staff from HFF, River Continuum Concepts, and OreoHelix Consulting collected samples of aquatic invertebrates at five locations on the Henry's Fork. River Continuum Concepts has just completed identification of those invertebrates and a comparison of these new samples against a master list of all invertebrate types that HFF has collected in the Henry's Fork over the past 20 years. HFF's original list contained 125 different types; the new list contains 202, primarily as a result of adding finer levels of taxonomic classification to several important groups such as midges. Twenty-nine of the original types required some adjustments to account for misspellings, incorrect identifications in earlier work, and recent taxonomic changes. For example, Ephemerella infrequens,, one of the mayflies commonly known as the Pale Morning Dun, is now considered a subspecies of E. dorothea. A database of DNA barcodes specific to the Henry's Fork will be now developed based on this updated list. This database will allow us to quickly and efficiently process invertebrate samples in the future. See Rob's blog http://henrysfork.org/hff-adds-high-tech-invertebrate-sampling-water-quality-network for more information on this exciting project.
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New Staff Members, Summer Interns Check in at HFF
The Henry's Fork Foundation has a new development coordinator, a conservation technician, and three new summer interns, and is expecting one more intern in the next couple of weeks.
Kristen Widdison of Rexburg has succeeded Paige Cahoon as development coordinator in charge of all phases of planning events. Paige is still on staff part time and will continue to work part time from home after she, husband Matt, and daughter Penelope May move to Challis later this summer where Matt will be working for Idaho Fish and Game. For more about Kristen, check out her online bio.
Thacia Schmidt is the new conservation technician. She is a wildlife major at BYUI and was last year's recipient of the Byers Memorial Scholarship. The three summer interns who are on the job are Maya Epelbaum from Washington and Lee University, Natalie Smith of Colgate University, and Abi Cano Perez of North Fremont High School. Christina Morrisett, summer intern from Stanford University, is expected to arrive the first of July later this month. Check them out on the HFF website.
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