Project Summary

A common ragworm will be used to determine if there are significant genetic differences between worms obtained from sediments contaminated with heavy metals and worms obtained from “clean” sediments. The contaminated site exists in Goose Pond, Brooksville, Maine in the area of the old Callahan Mine, which is now an EPA Superfund Site. The application of genomics may offer new perspectives when evaluating the overall health of organisms used by humans for bait (worms) and may further genomic research with edible organisms (e.g. clams) living in contaminated habitats.