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

An eagle rests on a log with a map in the background.

New research shows the influence of salmon abundance on the movement of bald eagles

The effect of salmon carcass availability on eagle distribution across multiple rivers was previously not well understood.
Coastal wolf walking along the shoreline on a calm day.

Mirror, mirror on the wall: The wolf as scapegoat

An essay from Paul C. Paquet about our relationship with wolves.
A mother grizzly with two cubs walking along a river bank.

DNA analysis of grizzly bears aligns with Indigenous languages

On the central coast, genetic analyses have identified three genetic groups of grizzly bears – bears are more likely to be related to other bears within their own group than to bears in another group.
Two people measuring a Douglas-Fir tree standing in tall grass.

Ethics of making the location of big trees accessible to the public

The benefits and implications of unrestricted access to tree location need to be carefully considered.
Kelp lays in a tangle in the Salish Sea.

They’re everywhere: research finds polyester fibres throughout the Arctic Ocean

The presence of microplastics raises concerns that textiles, laundry and municipal wastewater may be an important source of these emerging pollutants.
Two people looking at a measuring tape wrapped around a douglas fir tree.

Interview: Big tree registries, BC’s logging practices and Nerdy about Nature

We posed some questions to Ross Reid, of Nerdy about Nature, so you can get to know him better.
Three Salish Sea Emergin Stewards sit in their kayaks.

On hope

“What would your ‘management plan’ for the Salish Sea be?” I ask the youth gathered. We are having a conversation about wild Pacific salmon and Southern Resident killer whales with Misty MacDuffee.
Twilight on a gulf island in a mossy forest with ocean and mountains in the distant background.

Advancing urgently needed tree protection policy in the Islands Trust

The findings of this research were presented during a webinar and they were also compiled into a comprehensive tree bylaw report, now available.