Conservation Genetics Laboratory

Our conservation genetics research addresses threats to cetaceans, fish, and coastal carnivores.

The Conservation Genetics Lab is an integral part of Raincoast’s efforts to protect the land, waters and wildlife of coastal BC. The DNA and RNA analysis we perform provides our scientists with reliable insights into the population structure, health, diets, and resilience and genetic isolation of coastal species. The lab works closely with our Cetacean Conservation Research Program and also helps answer important questions for our other conservation initiatives.

Two hands wearing blue gloves holding and organizing beakers.

Research scientist Adam Warner holding two small beakers while wearing a lab coat in a lab.

Cutting edge genetics and genomics analysis

The Raincoast Conservation Genetics Lab is equipped with a complete set of instrumentation to conduct molecular biology and genetics, including cutting-edge DNA sequencing technology. Our Research Scientist, Dr. Adam Warner, has extensive experience in genetics, genomics and DNA sequencing, has set up our lab space and has begun to carry out this research under the guidance of our Cetacean Research Program directors Dr. Lance Barrett-Lennard and Dr. Valeria Vergara. The lab works alongside Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which is hosting our lab space at the Pacific Science Enterprise Centre.

Understanding killer whale diet

A lack of sufficient Chinook salmon in the diets of Southern and Northern Resident killer whales has been linked to declines in population health. Our lab has the ability to extract and analyze salmon DNA from Resident killer whales feces, to identify the salmon stocks of most importance to the whales. Since we can identify the individual whales that produced fecal material genetically, we can link other health metrics such as stress hormone levels (also found in the fecal material) to individual killer whales.

Overhead photo of a pod of killer whales swimming in the ocean. — Photo by Raincoast Conservation Foundation, taken under SARA Research License XMMS-2-2022.

Two killer whales surfacing on the ocean. — Photo by John Kelsey.

Killer whale population health and dynamics

Killer whales live in small populations that from their size alone would appear to be vulnerable to negative effects of inbreeding. We recently sequenced the entire genomes of 142 members of the Northern Resident population to directly assess inbreeding, genetic diversity, and immune system strength. We are comparing this information in this dataset to one for Southern Residents compiled by NOAA in the United States. This will help us gain insight into the comparative health of these important fish-eating populations of killer whales. We are also finalizing a study of inbreeding in marine mammal-eating Bigg’s killer whales, which will inform our understanding of similarities and differences between North Pacific killer whale populations.

Environmental DNA to aid research focused on wild salmon and coastal wolves

Our research on wild salmon and coastal wolf populations has the potential to be expanded through the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring and analysis. Through eDNA, we can track and assess salmon populations and determine abundance and diversity. Using wolf scat samples we can identify specific individuals, their sex, and the prey consumed. By learning more about these important populations, we hope to drive policy change to protect biodiversity.

Recent articles

The Bear Necessities: A Fall Harvest of Salmon

Island Tides By Chris Darimont and Misty MacDuffee How do salmon declines affect coastal bears? And how much salmon is required to sustain wildlife? These are questions that many people are asking

Raincoast speaks for salmon

Fall 2009 news coverage, letters and articles voicing our concerns for wild salmon. Times Colonist, October 4, 2009 Letter to Minister, Sept 16, 2009 Notes from the Field: Sept 11, 2009 Times Colonist, Sept 9, 2009 Seaside Times, September 05, 2009 Times Colonist, August 29, 2009 Globe & Mail, August 19, 2009

Fraser Sockeye Collapse: Did sea lice play a role?

There has been much media attention about the factors responsible for the Fraser sockeye collapse, and whether sea lice from fish farms were a contributor. As an organization on the front lines of this issue, our research plays a pivotal role in finding an answer. In the spring of 2007, Raincoast’s field crew searched the waters…

A coastal wolf moves along the coast, rocks are in the background.

British Columbia’s Rainforest Wolves

Fall was in the air and Raincoast’s wolf project was conducting a ten day expedition on our research vessel Achiever to collect genetic samples from areas on B.C.’s north coast in the vast area known as the ‘Great Bear Rainforest.’ Arriving after sunset, we anchored in a system known to us to be a wolf…

The bear essentials of saving salmon

Fully protected safe havens would have positive effect on ecosystems By Chris Darimont and Misty MacDuffee Times Colonist The headlines blare across local, regional, and national media: Nine million Fraser River sockeye salmon missing. At the same time, questions have arisen concerning the status of other Pacific salmon runs

A wolf with dark colourings, swims in the ocean

Cross-breeding in Vancouver Island wolves

Raincoast’s Chris Darimont speaks to CFAX. Adam Sterling of CFAX Radio interviews Raincoast’s Dr. Chris Darimont on coastal wolves and the affect that human interference has had on their breeding behaviours on Vancouver Island. Find the audio source file here (MP3).

Salmon for Bears

How do salmon declines affect coastal bears? And how much salmon biomass is required to sustain terrestrial species? These are questions many people are asking in light of the increasing number of salmon runs that fail to return as expected to fall spawning streams.

Cross-bred animals found on Vancouver Island ‘aren’t fit as pets or wild creatures’

By Nicholas Read, Special to the Vancouver Sun A1 September 29, 2009 Scientists working on Vancouver Island have determined for the first time that when you try to eliminate a population of wolves from an area, you run the risk of repopulating that area with what one biologist called “monster wolves.”