Vertebrate molecular ecology and conservation biology

我的研究将现代遗传方法与传统的脊椎动物种群生态学研究结合在“分子生态学”的三个领域。第一个领域使用可变DNA标记来检查形态不同的脊椎动物种群的“微系统”。我最近的发现基金研究了加拉帕戈斯嘲鸟的遗传和形态差异，以及受到威胁的北美青蛙和猎鹰种群。我的第二个研究领域使用DNA分析来检测脊椎动物的额外配对受精（EPF），并有几项成功的合作研究正在进行中。我的下一个发现基金将继续这些长期的亲子关系研究，测试为什么雌性雀鸟寻求EPF，通常有多个雄性。微卫星和MHC标记可用于评估鸟类的“遗传质量”，并且随着两种物种（黑冠山雀和美洲红雀）终生生殖成功的累积数据，我们可以测试雀鸟EPF的相互竞争的解释。第三个领域集中在脊椎动物保护问题上，我的下一个发现基金将强调在努纳武特的克林托克海峡与加拿大北极熊种群的合作。北极熊依靠海冰生存，人们担心，随着北极海冰覆盖面积的缩小，气候变化可能会对北极熊数量产生负面影响。DNA档案将用于描述北极熊的交配系统，并探索使用无创的北极熊种群遗传监测作为传统的空中标记和重新捕获人口普查的辅助手段。我们的方法的一个独特之处在于将努纳武特社区纳入人口普查过程，并评估传统生态知识（TEK）的潜力，以增强标准调查方法。我的实验室计划充分利用迅速兴起的NGS（下一代测序）技术，现在可以用于非模式野生动物物种的分子生态学研究。我的项目在出版高影响力的出版物和训练有素的人才方面取得了成功，现在他们在各个领域都做出了自己的贡献。这项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.