Conservation genomics of British Columbia caribou

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a key flagship and umbrella species for biodiversity conservation. Declines in caribou across Canada have resulted in numerous populations being listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern under the Canadian Species at Risk Act. This, combined with high-profile population extirpations, has brought caribou to the center-stage of wildlife conservation. Caribou decline is significant in British Columbia (BC), where the species' Designatable Units (DUs; conservation units below the species level) recognized by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) are considered endangered or of special concern. The BC government and Environment and Climate Change Canada's Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) are therefore collaborating and supporting research that will inform recovery strategies. In this project, genomic diversity of BC caribou will be assessed using a new genomic array interrogating ~65,000 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms. The BC government has already collected DNA samples from >800 safely captured caribou, as well as ecological data required to conduct this project, including health, morphology, movement, life history, and demographic information. The project's goals are to 1) assess caribou genomic diversity and population structure across BC to refine DUs boundaries, accounting for ecological and genomic information, as recommended by COSEWIC, 2) identify populations and individuals that should be used to initiate and supplement conservation breeding programs and inform subsequent breeding decisions, and 3) quantify inbreeding and its impacts on populations to guide augmentations. This knowledge will be combined with technology transfer to enable genomic-based management and monitoring of wild and captive caribou. At least two graduate students and one Research Associate will be directly involved. This project will allow for more effective conservation efforts, including refined delineation of conservation units, optimal design and management of conservation breeding programs, evidence-based reintroductions, augmentations and translocations, and long-term monitoring and management.