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.

Research scientist Adam Warner holding two small beakers while wearing a lab coat in a lab.
Photo by Alex Harris / Raincoast Conservation Foundation.

Recent articles

Birds eye view of a pod of killer whales swimming near the surface of the ocean.

Recovery efforts for endangered killer whales

Raincoast continues to work toward an ocean that provides healthy, abundant salmon and is quiet enough for hunting and feeding.
Pod of Northern Resident killer whales from a drone.

Whale conservation and recovery: our plans for 2023

Our research helps us better understand their susceptibility to anthropogenic threats and the impact of those threats, and develop practical and effective measures to reduce them. 
Lance and Valeria standing on a beach looking out to the ocean.

The ocean we share

Our new Cetacean Conservation Research Program was launched at the beginning of 2022 and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
Person holding the report.

We need to understand the extent to which floods further degrade fish habitat

Our findings painted a bleak picture of the health of the waterways meandering through the remnants of Sumas Lake, drained nearly 100 years ago by the Barrowtown Pump Station.
Banana slug on the forest floor.

A window into the COP 15 Biodiversity Summit

Raincoast’s focus at COP 15 has extended beyond our usual BC-based conservation focus to advance ways to implement these world-wide biodiversity targets. 
Bird in the cold all puffed up.

Over $2 million has been raised to protect KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest

It has been less than a year since we launched our campaign to permanently protect KELÁ_EKE Kingfisher Forest and together we have already raised over $2 million.
Trail cam photo of a wolf in the forest.

Dive into wolf conservation ethics on the Nerdy About Nature podcast

As a guest on the Nerdy About Nature podcast, Chelsea sat among the trees with Ross Reid to discuss all things wolves.
Belted Kingfisher on a branch.

All we want for the holidays is a belted kingfisher in a fir tree!

As we move into the last thirty days of our collaborative campaign to purchase and protect this 45 acre forest, we are reflecting on all of the reasons why conserving this habitat and others like it is so important.