JRS grantee the University of Florida started the second year of their Freshwater Biodiversity Data of Rivers of the Lake Victoria Basin project by organizing a successful DNA Barcoding  workshop at the University of Eldoret from January 28-31. Workshop facilitators came from Kenyan and US institutions: Randolph-Macon College, the National Museums of Kenya,and the University of Eldoret training 26 participants from National Museums of Kenya, University of Eldoret, Egerton University, Kenya Fisheries Service and Chuka University. Participants were trained in macroinvertebrate and fish taxonomy and identification, DNA extraction and sequencing, data bioinformatics and upload, and specimen imaging.

During the workshop 88 specimens were sequenced and will be uploaded to Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD). Workshop participants were trained in important skills that cam be applied at the new genomics lab at University of Eldoret.

Training scientists in using DNA barcoding techniques to analyze patterns in biodiversity distribution is just one of the goals of the Freshwater Biodiversity Data of Rivers of the Lake Victoria Basin project.

In addition to the workshop, the project team lead by Dr. Amanda Subalusky and Dr. Edward Njagi, recently managed the installation a telemetry station allowing real-time uplink of water quality data from the Mara River in a significant development for the project that  will enable improved data and knowledge sharing with resource managers in the Mara-Serengeti Ecosystem.

Read more about the other goals of the Freshwater Biodiversity Data of Rivers of the Lake Victoria Basin project here.