Meet Meghan Duffy

Meghan Duffy, PhD, is Susan S. Kilham Collegiate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of Michigan.

Daphnia

Daphnia, commonly called water fleas, are a type of small crustacean found in lakes and ponds. They feed on algae and help keep water clear. A food source for fishes, Daphnia are a key link in aquatic food webs. 

Dr. Duffy researches Daphnia and various parasites associated with them to understand how they spread through populations, which helps shed light on the ecology of infectious diseases.

Data collection

Dr. Duffy and her team collect samples from various lakes in southeast Michigan. Each water sample can contain thousands of Daphnia and other aquatic microorganisms, as well as parasites like bacteria and fungi.

Clones

Daphnia are mostly female and reproduce by cloning themselves, generally resulting in female offspring. However, when conditions are right, a hormone is released to the developing embryos and instead produces male offspring. These male Daphnia are genetically identical to the mother.

Making it count

Back in the lab, Dr. Duffy processes samples and data collected on the field. Using microscopes and a well trained eye, researchers look closer at the variety of life in water samples, identifying different species of Daphnia and their parasites.

Plankton meditation

Plankton are small floating organisms in bodies of water. Enjoy 30 seconds of mesmerizing plankton life, featuring Daphnia and friends.