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Katy Klymus, PhD

Dr. Katy Klymus is a Research Biologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.

She has 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 and Certifications

  • Ph.D. Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, The University of Missouri, 2011

  • B.S. Zoology, The University of Texas, 2000

Science and Products

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Autonomous environmental DNA sampler located in a USGS stream gage

READI-Net: A network of robotic environmental DNA samplers to enhance the early detection of aquatic biological threats

USGS researchers are working with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute to optimize autonomous, robotic samplers for detection of DNA fragments shed by biological threats (BT; invasive species, parasites, pathogens) in our nation’s waters. Finding DNA fragments (a method known as environmental DNA sampling) produced by an emerging BT in water is akin to finding a needle in a haystack—many...
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Ecosystems, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory
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READI-Net: A network of robotic environmental DNA samplers to enhance the early detection of aquatic biological threats

USGS researchers are working with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute to optimize autonomous, robotic samplers for detection of DNA fragments shed by biological threats (BT; invasive species, parasites, pathogens) in our nation’s waters. Finding DNA fragments (a method known as environmental DNA sampling) produced by an emerging BT in water is akin to finding a needle in a haystack—many...
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CERC researchers collecting eDNA

Threatened, Endangered or Rare Species Detection

The non-invasive nature of eDNA methods for species detection is a great advantage for monitoring of rare, threatened, or endangered species.
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Columbia Environmental Research Center
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Threatened, Endangered or Rare Species Detection

The non-invasive nature of eDNA methods for species detection is a great advantage for monitoring of rare, threatened, or endangered species.
Learn More
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CERC researchers collecting eDNA

Molecular Section: eDNA Research

Environmental DNA (eDNA) research at CERC focuses on the development and utility of eDNA tools as well as interpretation of eDNA data in real-world management applications. We work with academic, state, federal and international partners in developing standards and best practices for eDNA technology and exploring the factors that affect eDNA detection in the field. Our lab's eDNA research covers...
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Columbia Environmental Research Center
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Molecular Section: eDNA Research

Environmental DNA (eDNA) research at CERC focuses on the development and utility of eDNA tools as well as interpretation of eDNA data in real-world management applications. We work with academic, state, federal and international partners in developing standards and best practices for eDNA technology and exploring the factors that affect eDNA detection in the field. Our lab's eDNA research covers...
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Genomic variation in the genus Pimephales: raw sequence data and single-nucleotide polymorphisms

The fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) is a key model of vertebrate toxicity. Standardized tests of toxicity in fathead minnow have been developed to support regulatory science, and much is known about the response of the species to various environmental pollutants. However, there is little data on genetic variation within the species, despite the potential influence of genetic background on tox
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Fort Collins Science Center

Longnose darter (Percina nasuta) eDNA survey results from the St. Francis River, Missouri 2018

Data describe a designed environmental DNA (eDNA) survey for the detection of longnose darter (Percina nasuta) in field collected water samples. Parameters described include the limit of detection and limit of quantification of the assay; a list of freshwater fish species tissue samples that were used to test specificity of the assay; and field collected water samples that were tested to detect th
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Columbia Environmental Research Center

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.
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Ecosystems, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

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; and in si
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Ecosystems, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

eDNA sampling sites in the Grand Canyon region near breccia pipe uranium mines_2015_2016

Geospatial locations of eDNA sampling sites in the Grand Canyon region near breccia pipe uranium mines
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Columbia Environmental Research Center
Filter Total Items: 16

Gaining decision-maker confidence through community consensus: Developing environmental DNA standards for data display on the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

To advance national efforts for the detection and biosurveillance of aquatic invasive species (AIS), we employed a community consensus process to enable the incorporation of environmental DNA (eDNA) detection data into the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database (https://nas.er.usgs.gov/eDNA/). Our goal was to identify minimum standards and best practices for t
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Ecosystems, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Genome resequencing clarifies phylogeny and reveals patterns of selection in the toxicogenomics model Pimephales promelas

BackgroundThe fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) is a model species for toxicological research. A high-quality genome reference sequence is available, and genomic methods are increasingly used in toxicological studies of the species. However, phylogenetic relationships within the genus remain incompletely known and little population-genomic data are available for fathead minnow despite the poten
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Ecosystems, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center

A comparison of eDNA and visual survey methods for detection of longnose darter Percina nasuta in Missouri

The longnose darter Percina nasuta is a rare and cryptic fish that recently disappeared from much of its historic range. We developed and used an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay for longnose darter paired with visual surveys to better determine the species’ range and compare detection probability between sampling approaches in an occupancy modeling framework. We detected longnose darter eDNA furthe
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Ecosystems, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Editorial: Environmental DNA innovations for conservation

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis refers to the collection of bulk environmental samples such as water, sediment, or air, and studying the genetic remnants that organisms have shed into their environment to gain information about species presence.
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Ecosystems, Columbia Environmental Research Center

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 taxonomic knowledge from field personnel. We develo
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Ecosystems, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

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 on the development of species-specific targeted as
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Ecosystems, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

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 reporting across the field is yet to be fully establis
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Ecosystems, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center

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 method. Here, we test eDNA metabarcoding as a survey t
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Ecosystems, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Experimental 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 the fate of eDNA materials in the aquatic environme
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Ecosystems, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center

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 species. The sensitivity of eDNA methods, however, r
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Ecosystems, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory

Environmental 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, etc.) extracted from water samples; the detection of
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Ecosystems, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

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 about overly optimistic conclusions that could be d
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Ecosystems, Cooperative Research Units, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Soamiarimampionona, J., Sam, S.S., Dolch, R., Klymus, K., Rabemananjara, F., Robsomanitrandrasana, E., Rakotoarisoa, J.C., and Edmonds, D., 2015, Effects of three diets on development of Mantidactylus betsileanus larvae in captivity: Alytes, v. 32, p. 7-15
Klymus, K.E., and Carl Gerhardt, H., 2012, AFLP markers resolve intra-specific relationships and infer genetic structure among lineages of the canyon treefrog, Hyla arenicolor: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, v. 65, no. 2, p. 654-667
Klymus, K.E., Humfeld, S.C., and Gerhardt, H.C., 2012, Geographical variation in male advertisement calls and female preference of the wide-ranging canyon treefrog, Hyla arenicolor: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 107, no. 1, p. 219-232
Klymus, K.E., Humfeld, S.C., Marshall, V.T., Cannatella, D., and Gerhardt, H.C., 2010, Molecular patterns of differentiation in canyon treefrogs (Hyla arenicolor): evidence for introgressive hybridization with the Arizona treefrog (H. wrightorum) and correlations with advertisement call differences: Journal of Evolutionary Biology, v. 23, no. 7, p. 1425-1435

**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.

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