Stony Brook University, in collaboration with the University of Waterloo, citizens of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, Open Ocean Robotics, and McLane Research Laboratories, has unveiled a solar-powered, remote-controlled craft that can autonomously roam Shinnecock Bay for months. This vessel gathers vital data on species inhabiting the waters without harming the ecosystem.
The 12-foot-long vessel collects environmental DNA (eDNA) — genetic material shed by marine organisms — allowing researchers to detect a wide range of species without direct interference. The technology offers a comprehensive and non-invasive way to study marine life compared to traditional methods like trawling, which can damage sensitive habitats.
“This is the first of its kind,” said Ellen Pikitch, endowed professor of Ocean Conservation Science in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), at the September 12 launch of the vessel at the Marine Science Center at Stony Brook Southampton.
Pikitch, executive director of the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science and a lead investigator on the project, has been a driving force behind Shinnecock Bay’s recovery from harmful brown and red tides in the 1980s. These events devastated local marine populations like scallops and clams. Thanks to restoration efforts including clam sanctuaries, oyster reefs, and seagrass beds, the bay’s ecosystem has seen significant improvement.
Traditional methods for surveying marine life such as bottom trawling have limitations. They often miss key species and cause damage to habitats researchers aim to protect. In contrast, eDNA methods are non-destructive and highly accurate. “We can capture the broadest spectrum of marine life possible,” Pikitch explained. “Including rare and elusive species.”
In collaboration with Kelsey Leonard, a professor at the University of Waterloo and member of the Shinnecock Nation, the team partnered with environmental tech firms Open Ocean Robotics (OOR) and McLane Research Laboratories to integrate the McLane RoCSI™ eDNA sampler and OOR DataXplorer™. The solar-powered vessel autonomously collects DNA samples from water while producing zero emissions.
These technologies will expand research capabilities while aligning with values important to the Shinnecock Nation regarding “least-harm” approaches in scientific research.
The DataXplorer™, with its self-righting design and silent operation, will collect samples from 27 different sites across Shinnecock Bay over several weeks. The bay was named a global “Hope Spot” in 2022—the first such designation in New York—a significant honor in marine conservation.
Data collected will be analyzed against previous survey methods. The team expects this new system to reveal more about Shinnecock Bay's biodiversity. “In 14 years of traditional surveys we detected just four species of sharks, rays, and skates,” Pikitch noted. “In just a few years using eDNA we’ve already detected 12.”
Future phases of this research will be guided by a newly formed Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC), ensuring future studies incorporate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives.— Beth Squire
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