FORT researchers Sara Oyler-McCance and Jenny Fike discuss genetic data in the Molecular Ecology Lab.
Jennifer A Fike
Jennifer Fike is a Geneticist and Lab Manager at the Fort Collins Science Center.
Jennifer Fike is a Geneticist at the Fort Collins Science Center and lab manager for the Molecular Ecology Lab (MEL). She specializes in all aspects of laboratory benchwork including DNA extraction, PCR, microsatellite development, microsatellite genotyping, Sanger sequencing, qPCR, ddRAD library preparation, shotgun sequencing, SNP genotyping, working with non-invasive genetic samples and eDNA. The data she generates is used in a wide range of genetic and genomic studies including species identification, sex determination, parentage analysis, landscape genetics/genomics and genetic mark-recapture.
Professional Experience
2009 to present, Geneticist, USGS Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO
2006-2009, Research Assistant, Wildlife Genetics Laboratory, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2003-2006, Laboratory Technician VII, Wildlife Genetics Laboratory, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Education and Certifications
M.S. in Wildlife/Fisheries Biology, Frostburg State University, 2005
B.S. in Biology, Furman University, 2000
Science and Products
High genetic diversity, low population genetic structure, strong natal philopatry, and longevity revealed in the Black Swift (Cypseloides niger borealis)
A genetic assessment of natural barriers for isolating a habitat network proposed for Greenback Cutthroat Trout reintroduction
The potential influence of genome-wide adaptive divergence on conservation translocation outcome in an isolated greater sage-grouse population
Comparing modern identification methods for wild bees: Metabarcoding and image-based morphological taxonomic assignment
Genetic Connectivity in the Arizona toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus): implications for conservation of a stream dwelling amphibian in the arid Southwestern U.S.
Genetic mark–recapture analysis reveals large annual variation in pre-breeding sex ratio of greater sage-grouse
Assessing arthropod diversity metrics derived from stream environmental DNA: Spatiotemporal variation and paired comparisons with manual sampling
Simulation of genetic change under four removal strategies for a wild horse population
A genetic warning system for a hierarchically structured wildlife monitoring framework
Gene flow and spatial population structure of Brook Trout in a large headwater stream network in Colorado
Genetic analyses provide new insight on the mating strategies of the American Black Swift (Cypseloides niger)
New strategies for characterizing genetic structure in wide-ranging, continuously distributed species: a Greater Sage-grouse case study
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Molecular Ecology Lab (MEL)
Developing and evaluating a point-of-use environmental DNA test for rapid field detection of highly invasive brown treesnakes
Fort Collins Science Center Labs and Facilities
Environmental DNA (eDNA) Sampling Improves Occurrence and Detection Estimates of Invasive Burmese Pythons and Other Constrictor Snakes in Florida
Greater sage-grouse genetic data and R code for evaluating conservation translocations in the northwestern United States, 1992–2021 (ver. 1.1, December 2024)
Whole genome sequencing of three North American large-bodied birds
Reduced representation sequencing and genotyping of Arizona Toads (Anaxyrus microscaphus) from the southwestern United States
Sample collection information and microsatellite data for Northern Black Swifts in 6 colonies across Colorado, New Mexico and Idaho
Voucher and metagenetic sequencing of DNA barcodes of wild-collected bees (Apoidea) from Iowa, USA
Genotypes and cluster definitions for a range-wide greater sage-grouse dataset collected 2005-2017 (ver 1.1, January 2023)
Greater sage-grouse genetic warning system, western United States (ver 1.1, January 2023)
Metabarcode sequencing of aquatic environmental DNA from the Potomac River Watershed, 2015-2020
Microsatellite data, boundaries of subpopulation centers, and estimated effective migration for greater sage-grouse collected in western North America between 1992 and 2015 (ver. 2.0, December 2022)
Genetic variation in hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) assessed from archived samples
Taxonomic composition of environmental DNA acquired by filtration from the St. Regis River, New York
Sample collection information, single nucleotide polymorphism, and microsatellite data for white-tailed ptarmigan across the species range generated in the Molecular Ecology Lab during 2016

FORT researchers Sara Oyler-McCance and Jenny Fike discuss genetic data in the Molecular Ecology Lab.
The Molecular Ecology Lab at the Fort Collins Science Center.
The Molecular Ecology Lab at the Fort Collins Science Center.
Science and Products
High genetic diversity, low population genetic structure, strong natal philopatry, and longevity revealed in the Black Swift (Cypseloides niger borealis)
A genetic assessment of natural barriers for isolating a habitat network proposed for Greenback Cutthroat Trout reintroduction
The potential influence of genome-wide adaptive divergence on conservation translocation outcome in an isolated greater sage-grouse population
Comparing modern identification methods for wild bees: Metabarcoding and image-based morphological taxonomic assignment
Genetic Connectivity in the Arizona toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus): implications for conservation of a stream dwelling amphibian in the arid Southwestern U.S.
Genetic mark–recapture analysis reveals large annual variation in pre-breeding sex ratio of greater sage-grouse
Assessing arthropod diversity metrics derived from stream environmental DNA: Spatiotemporal variation and paired comparisons with manual sampling
Simulation of genetic change under four removal strategies for a wild horse population
A genetic warning system for a hierarchically structured wildlife monitoring framework
Gene flow and spatial population structure of Brook Trout in a large headwater stream network in Colorado
Genetic analyses provide new insight on the mating strategies of the American Black Swift (Cypseloides niger)
New strategies for characterizing genetic structure in wide-ranging, continuously distributed species: a Greater Sage-grouse case study
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Molecular Ecology Lab (MEL)
Developing and evaluating a point-of-use environmental DNA test for rapid field detection of highly invasive brown treesnakes
Fort Collins Science Center Labs and Facilities
Environmental DNA (eDNA) Sampling Improves Occurrence and Detection Estimates of Invasive Burmese Pythons and Other Constrictor Snakes in Florida
Greater sage-grouse genetic data and R code for evaluating conservation translocations in the northwestern United States, 1992–2021 (ver. 1.1, December 2024)
Whole genome sequencing of three North American large-bodied birds
Reduced representation sequencing and genotyping of Arizona Toads (Anaxyrus microscaphus) from the southwestern United States
Sample collection information and microsatellite data for Northern Black Swifts in 6 colonies across Colorado, New Mexico and Idaho
Voucher and metagenetic sequencing of DNA barcodes of wild-collected bees (Apoidea) from Iowa, USA
Genotypes and cluster definitions for a range-wide greater sage-grouse dataset collected 2005-2017 (ver 1.1, January 2023)
Greater sage-grouse genetic warning system, western United States (ver 1.1, January 2023)
Metabarcode sequencing of aquatic environmental DNA from the Potomac River Watershed, 2015-2020
Microsatellite data, boundaries of subpopulation centers, and estimated effective migration for greater sage-grouse collected in western North America between 1992 and 2015 (ver. 2.0, December 2022)
Genetic variation in hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) assessed from archived samples
Taxonomic composition of environmental DNA acquired by filtration from the St. Regis River, New York
Sample collection information, single nucleotide polymorphism, and microsatellite data for white-tailed ptarmigan across the species range generated in the Molecular Ecology Lab during 2016

FORT researchers Sara Oyler-McCance and Jenny Fike discuss genetic data in the Molecular Ecology Lab.
FORT researchers Sara Oyler-McCance and Jenny Fike discuss genetic data in the Molecular Ecology Lab.
The Molecular Ecology Lab at the Fort Collins Science Center.
The Molecular Ecology Lab at the Fort Collins Science Center.