Presentation: “Investigative Cool Tools: Chromosomes and Hydrophones” by Dr. Jennifer Wollenberg & Dr. Kerri Seger – Integral Consulting

                               Biological monitoring is a common requirement in many environmental site management contexts, such as contaminated site assessment, regulatory permitting, ecological restoration, and offshore construction. Traditional biological monitoring methods involve time- and labor-intensive field surveys and species identification by trained biologists.  Innovative analytical tools allow for non-invasive biological monitoring: environmental DNA and underwater acoustics.

These sampling methods can provide robust biological community data to supplement traditional survey methods and to provide an additional line of evidence to assess biodiversity, monitor ecological health and recovery, and efficiently manage environmental and greenfield sites.  In project areas like offshore wind leases, understanding the biological community present before construction begins or expected during certain seasons is necessary for proper siting, permitting, and sequencing of work.  In contaminated sites, PRPs can use these techniques to frame risk assessments and remedial investigations around ecological receptors present.  These techniques can also inform managers about the presence and abundance of endangered or threatened species.