Vertebrate molecular ecology and conservation biology

我的研究将现代遗传学方法与传统的脊椎动物种群生态学研究相结合，在三个“分子生态学”领域。第一个区域使用可变的DNA标记来检查形态不同的脊椎动物种群的“微系统学”。我最近的发现赠款研究了加拉帕戈斯嘲鸟的遗传和形态差异，并威胁到了北美青蛙和猎鹰的数量。我的第二个研究领域使用DNA图谱来检测脊椎动物的额外配对受精(EPF)，有几个正在进行的成功的合作研究。我的下一个发现基金将继续这些长期的亲子关系研究，测试为什么雌性鹦鹉会寻求EPF，通常是多只雄性。微卫星和MHC标记可以用来评估鸟类的‘遗传质量’，通过积累两个物种(黑帽山雀和美洲红尾鸟)终生繁殖成功的数据，我们可以检验对雀类EPF的相互竞争的解释。第三个领域关注脊椎动物保护问题，我的下一个发现基金将强调与努纳武特M‘Clintock海峡的加拿大北极熊种群合作。北极熊依靠海冰生存，人们担心，随着整个北极的海冰覆盖面积缩小，气候变化可能会对北极熊的数量产生负面影响。DNA图谱将用于描述北极熊的交配系统，并探索使用对北极熊种群的非侵入性遗传监测作为传统航空标记和重新捕获普查的辅助手段。我们方法的一个独特特点是将努纳武特社区纳入普查过程，并评估传统生态知识(TEK)对标准调查方法的补充潜力。我的实验室计划充分利用迅速崛起的NGS(下一代测序)技术，该技术现已可用于非模式野生动物的分子生态学研究。我的计划已经成功地出版了影响很大的出版物和训练有素的人员，现在他们在各种各样的领域做出了自己的贡献。这项拟议的工作将使我的实验室保持在加拿大和国外分子生态学研究的前沿。

My research integrates modern genetic approaches with traditional ecological studies of vertebrate populations in three areas of 'molecular ecology'. The first area uses variable DNA markers to examine the 'microsystematics' of morphologically divergent vertebrate populations. My recent Discovery Grant looked at genetic versus morphological divergence in Galapagos mockingbirds and threatened North American frog and falcon populations. My second research area uses DNA profiling to detect extra-pair fertilization (EPF) in vertebrates, with several successful ongoing collaborative studies. My next Discovery Grant will continue these long-term parentage studies, testing why female passerines seek EPF, often with multiple males. Microsatellite and MHC markers can be used to assess 'genetic quality' in birds, and with the accumulating data on lifetime reproductive success in 2 species (Black-capped chickadees and American redstarts) we can test competing explanations for passerine EPF. The third area focuses on vertebrate conservation issues, and my next Discovery Grant will emphasize work with Canadian polar bear populations in M'Clintock Channel, Nunavut. Polar bears rely on sea ice for survival and there is concern that climate change may negatively impact polar bear populations as sea ice cover shrinks across the arctic. DNA profiles will be used to describe polar bear mating systems and to explore the use of noninvasive genetic monitoring of polar bear populations as an adjunct to traditional aerial mark and recapture censuses. A unique feature of our approach is the incorporation of Nunavut communities into the census process, and assessment of the potential for traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to augment standard survey methods. My lab plans to take full advantage of rapidly emerging NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) technology now becoming available for molecular ecology studies of non-model wildlife species. My program has been successful at producing high impact publications and well-trained personnel now making their own contributions in a wide variety of areas. The proposed work will maintain my lab at the forefront of research in molecular ecology in Canada and abroad.