Katy Klymus
Biography
I am a research biologist at Columbia Environmental Research Center with a background in evolutionary biology, animal behavior and genetics. Since joining the USGS in 2016, my research focus is on using genetic methods to inform wildlife species management. Currently I am studying environmental DNA methods and how they can be used to assess current levels of and changes in biodiversity.
Education
Ph.D. Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, The University of Missouri, 2011
B.S. Zoology, The University of Texas, 2000
Science and Products
Metabarcoding data from freshwater mussel eDNA collected in Clinch River, Virginia 2017
Data from metabarcoding assays to detect a suite of mussel species using mitochondrial DNA regions of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit (ND1) genes sequences.
Mucket eDNA detection in Wallen’s Bend, Clinch River, Tennessee, September 2019
The data describe the technical performance of a designed qPCR assay for the detection of mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina) eDNA from field collected water samples. Parameters described include the sequences of the primers and probes used; the limit of detection and limit of quantification for the assay; a list of freshwater mussels species that were used to test specificity of the assay%3
Metabarcoding assays for the detection of freshwater mussels (Unionida) with environmental DNA
Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida are a widely distributed taxon that are important in maintaining freshwater ecosystems and are also highly imperiled throughout the world. Monitoring of mussel populations with environmental DNA (eDNA) is an attractive alternative to traditional methods because it is noninvasive and requires less labor and...
Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Thompson, Nathan; Hinck, Jo Ellen; Jones, Jess W.Development and testing of species-specific quantitative PCR assays for environmental DNA applications
New, non-invasive methods for detecting and monitoring species presence are being developed to aid in fisheries and wildlife conservation management. The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) samples for detecting macrobiota is one such group of methods that is rapidly becoming popular and being implemented in national management programs. Here we focus...
Klymus, Katy E.; Ruiz Ramos, Dannise Vannesa; Thompson, Nathan; Richter, Catherine A.Reporting the limits of detection and quantification for environmental DNA assays
BackgroundEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is increasingly being used to detect the presence and relative abundance of rare species, especially invasive or imperiled aquatic species. The rapid progress in the eDNA field has resulted in numerous studies impacting conservation and management actions. However, standardization of eDNA methods and...
Klymus, Katy E.; Merkes, Christopher M.; Allison, Michael J.; Goldberg, Caren S.; Helbing, Caren C.; Hunter, Margaret; Jackson, Craig; Lance, Richard F.; Mangan, Anna M.; Monroe, Emy M.; Piaggio, Antoinette J.; Stokdyk, Joel P.; Wilson, Chris C.; Richter, Catherine A.Metabarcoding of environmental DNA samples to explore the use of uranium mine containment ponds as a water source for wildlife
Understanding how anthropogenic impacts on the landscape affect wildlife requires a knowledge of community assemblages. Species surveys are the first step in assessing community structure, and recent molecular applications such as metabarcoding and environmental DNA analyses have been proposed as an additional and complementary wildlife survey...
Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Thompson, Nathan; Hinck, Jo EllenExperimental observations on the decay of environmental DNA from bighead and silver carps
Interest in the field of environmental DNA (eDNA) is growing rapidly and eDNA surveys are becoming an important consideration for aquatic resource managers dealing with invasive species. However, in order for eDNA monitoring to mature as a research and management tool, there are several critical knowledge gaps that must be filled. One such gap is...
Lance, Richard F.; Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Guan, Xin; Farrington, Heather L.; Carr, Matthew R.; Thompson, Nathan; Chapman, Duane C.; Baerwaldt, Kelly L.Critical considerations for the application of environmental DNA methods to detect aquatic species
Species detection using environmental DNA (eDNA) has tremendous potential for contributing to the understanding of the ecology and conservation of aquatic species. Detecting species using eDNA methods, rather than directly sampling the organisms, can reduce impacts on sensitive species and increase the power of field surveys for rare and elusive...
Goldberg, Caren S.; Turner, Cameron R.; Deiner, Kristy; Klymus, Katy E.; Thomsen, Philip Francis; Murphy, Melanie A.; Spear, Stephen F.; McKee, Anna; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.; Cornman, Robert S.; Laramie, Matthew B.; Mahon, Andrew R.; Lance, Richard F.; Pilliod, David S.; Strickler, Katherine M.; Waits, Lisette P.; Fremier, Alexander K.; Takahara, Teruhiko; Herder, Jelger E.; Taberlet, PierreEnvironmental DNA calibration study interim technical review report December 2014
The Environmental DNA Calibration Study (ECALS) is a multi-year study to improve the understanding and interpretation of the detection of Asian carp DNA in environmental samples (eDNA) used in early detection monitoring. eDNA surveillance programs seek to detect the presence of genetic material (DNA in cells sloughed off in slime, feces, urine,...
Baerwaldt, Kelly; Bartron, Meredith L.; Schilling, Kurt; Lee, Debbie; Russo, Edmond; Estes, Trudy; Fischer, Richard; Fleming, Beth; Guilfoyle, Michael P.; Killgore, Jack; Lance, Richard; Perkins, Edward; Schultz, Martin; Smith, David; Amberg, Jon J.; Chapman, Duane C.; Gaikowski, Mark P.; Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.A reply to Iversen et al.'s comment “Monitoring of animal abundance by environmental DNA - An increasingly obscure perspective”
We appreciate the conversation put forward by Iversen et al. (2015) in their response to our article “Quantification of eDNA shedding rates from invasive bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix” in the 2015 environmental DNA special issue of Biological Conservation.We agree with Iversen et al.'s concern...
Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Chapman, Duane C.; Paukert, Craig P.Quantification of eDNA shedding rates from invasive bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
Wildlife managers can more easily mitigate the effects of invasive species if action takes place before a population becomes established. Such early detection requires sensitive survey tools that can detect low numbers of individuals. Due to their high sensitivity, environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys hold promise as an early detection method for...
Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Chapman, Duane C.; Paukert, Craig P.Environmental DNA calibration study. Interim technical review report
Invasive aquatic nuisance species pose a major threat to aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Invasive Asian carps, including bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix) have been steadily dispersing upstream through the Mississippi, Illinois, and Des Plaines Rivers since the 1990s. To prevent further movement up the Illinois...
Baerwaldt, K.; Bartron, Meredith L.; Schilling, K.; Lee, Debbie; Russo, Edmond; Estes, Trudy; Fischer, Richard; Fleming, Beth; Guilfoyle, Michael P.; Kilgore, K. Jack; Lance, Richard; Perkins, Edward; Schultz, Martin; Smith, David; Amberg, Jon J.; Chapman, Duane C.; Gaikowski, Mark P.; Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.ECALS: loading studies interim report October 2013
Here we follow up the loading studies interim report from July 2013 and include results from laboratory studies assessing the effects of diet on eDNA shedding rates by bigheaded carps(silver and bighead carp). In order to understand how eDNA behavesin the environment, we must understand how it enters the system. In our July interim report, we...
Klymus, Katy; Richter, Cathy; Chapman, Duane; Paukert, Craig P.ECALS: loading studies interim report July 2013
Since the initial detection of Asian carp moving up the Mississippi Basin, the potential for invasion of the Great Lakes by Silver Carp and Bighead Carp has been a major concern to stakeholders. To combat this problem, sampling for environmental DNA (eDNA) is used to monitor the waterways near Lake Michigan. This monitoring area includes the...
Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Chapman, Duane C.; Paukert, Craig P.