Mostly, She’s Been Good Around the Net

You could say a love for animals is deeply embedded in Caroline Lucas’ DNA. 

For as long as she can remember, the Pickens, S.C., native has dreamed of being a veterinarian. She grew up with dogs, cats, and chickens, and her father, who worked for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, would often show her animals. He even let her hold a baby alligator a time or two. 

It’s no surprise then that her academic career at Francis Marion University, where she’s a Darla Moore Scholar and a member of the Patriot volleyball team, has been immersed in the world of biology. 

She’s already engaged in a detailed individual research project, and has traveled to Hawaii to present her work at an important conference. 

“I was recruited to FMU to play volleyball, but instantly fell in love with the campus and the programs offered here,” says Lucas. “The opportunities available in the Biology program for students to work with professors are unmatched. I knew I couldn’t get that anywhere else.” 

Lucas’ research project began in the spring of 2024 when enrolled in a fisheries class with Dr. Jason Doll, associate professor of Fisheries Biology and Coordinator of the Environmental Science Program. Lucas liked fishing and thought the course would be fun. It was that and more, opening up a world of research. 

Lucas identified a project with help from Doll and Dr. Tim Shannon, another member of FMU’s Biology faculty. 

Her project is entitled, “Ichthyoplankton in the Great Pee Dee River,” and is the first of its kind examining ichthyoplankton, or larval fish, in this part of the Pee Dee. 

Lucas sampled ichthyoplankton using a plankton net that was towed behind a research vessel for 30 minutes at each site selected for the project. She initially identified the ichthyoplankton using morphological characteristics and later confirmed the identification with DNA barcoding. To use DNA barcoding, Lucas extracted and purified DNA from the ichthyoplankton with a Qiagen DNeasy Blood and tissue kit. Sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene were amplified and examined using agarose gel electrophoresis. From that, PCR fragments were sequenced and then compared to known COI gene sequences using BLAST to determine the likely identity of ichthyoplankton fish larvae and eggs. 

Lucas’ research yielded 399 larvae and eggs. Species sampled included the Ictiobus species which could not be separated due to the similarities in their COI gene, American Shad, Spotted Sucker, Shorthead Redhorse, Common Carp, and the Tessellated Darter. The Ictiobus species peaked in mid to late April, likely due to their spawning event typically associated with group migration. Followed by Ictiobus, American Shad and Spotted Sucker were most abundant. 

If that sounds complicated, and perhaps a bit more ambitious than the usual undergraduate research work, well, it is. But it’s what Lucas wanted to do, and what her faculty pushed her to accomplish. 

“The ability to do real, hands-on research alongside two faculty members was a great experience,” says Lucas. “I was able to apply the knowledge I have been learning in the classroom to a real world project — one that’s the first of its kind in this part of our state. Being able to be on the forefront of that was an experience I’m so grateful for.” 

“I’ve had the pleasure of teaching Caroline in multiple courses and working with her on a research project,” says Doll. “Her intellectual curiosity, strong work ethic, and team-oriented mindset make her a truly remarkable individual.” 

While her research was conducted close to home, Lucas also landed the opportunity to travel across the globe to present her poster at the American Fisheries Society conference held in Hawaii. This experience, says Lucas, was eye opening. 

“At the American Fisheries Society conference in Honolulu, I was honored to present the poster on my research of ichthyoplankton,” says Lucas. “Being able to interact with so many people who work in the fisheries field as well as professors and other students was such a great experience.” 

Lucas’ work will continue next when she completes a manuscript on her work that Doll plans to submit to a peer-reviewed publication in the field. 

“This is a testament to both her scholarly potential and commitment to excellence,” says Doll. 

Lucas, a biology major, has excelled across the board at FMU. The 6-0 middle blocker was named to the Conference Carolinas All Conference Team in 2023 (second team) and 2024 (first team) and has been on the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor roll during every semester at FMU. 

For Lucas, Francis Marion is a place where she has grown both as a student and an athlete and excelled in both areas. As she looks to the future, she can’t help but be thankful that FMU has been on her path. 

“Francis Marion has already given me so much,” says Lucas. “The athletic department is incredible and I love working with my coaches and teammates. On the academic side, I continue to be stretched to learn more and do more. The campus environment truly feels like a family, and I’m surrounded by professors who want to do all they can to help me grow and become all that I can be. I’m so thankful to be a part of a school that values who I am not only as a student, but an athlete and a person with so many dreams for the future.”