Invasive Species DNA Testing

Larval stages of many species are difficult to identify by conventional taxonomic analysis. Metagenomic analysis of seawater samples can reveal the species level composition of its plankton, which is extremely valuable in the assessment of invasive species transfer, in particular from ships ballast water. Similar analysis can be used to examine to the presence of cysts of toxic species of dinoflagellates and diatoms in ballast tank sediment, which may pose a threat to human health and aquaculture if released in shipping ports.