08/06/2026
As part of BETO's ongoing efforts to update Odanak's ecological inventories, BETO has partnered with Genome Québec to implement an Environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring project across the community. 🦎💧
Beginning in May, Project Manager Conor Cubit and Field Technician Albert Klopfenstein have been conducting field surveys throughout Odanak, collecting water samples from vernal pools and other aquatic habitats. After collection, each sample is filtered and sent to Génome Québec's laboratory in Montréal for genetic analysis. By detecting trace amounts of DNA naturally shed into the environment by organisms, eDNA allows researchers to identify not only threatened and endangered species, but also the broader diversity of wildlife utilizing these habitats.
This technology provides a powerful, non-invasive tool for identifying ecologically significant areas and sensitive habitats within Odanak. The resulting data will help the Nation make informed land management decisions, support environmental stewardship, and ensure that future development and land-use planning consider the presence of important species and habitats. 🌎
