Jahlen Pinelo earned a B.S. in Microbiology from the University of California, Riverside, in June 2023. In August 2024, she joined the LMRCSC at Hampton University, where she is working under the mentorship of Dr. Jeanette Davis in the Marine Biology and Environmental Science Department.

Research Topics: eDNA, Biodiversity with estuaries, Bioremediation, Oyster restoration

Hobbies: Painting longboards & skateboards, volunteering, playing videogames, cooking food from different cultures

Oysters are economically and culturally important in the Chesapeake Bay. While oyster restoration efforts are common throughout the Bay, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the Hampton River. This important water fixture is adjacent to Hampton University and is a place for both students and the local Hampton community to fish and do other recreational activities. Currently, the Hampton River has both naturally occurring reefs present and artificial oyster reefs set to be planted. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is used to investigate the biodiversity associated with 3 sites: a natural oyster reef, a site for reef restoration planting, and a control area with no history of oyster reefs. Sediment samples will be collected seasonally to assess the changes in biodiversity before, during and after the planting of the oyster reefs. Three marker genes (16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, and COI) will be used to capture a comprehensive view of both microbial and eukaryotic communities. In addition, we will compare results to an established oyster restoration site managed by NOAA’s National Center for Coastal Ocean Science, Cooperative Oxford Laboratory (COL) out of Oxford, MD. This project will produce baseline microbial and eukaryotic biodiversity data for the Hampton River, provide insights on seasonal biodiversity, and highlight the value of oyster restoration efforts. This work can help inform NOAA fisheries through the tracking and monitoring of important fisheries and critical habitat for ecologically and commercially valuable species.