MhGeneS: An analytical pipeline to allow for robust microhaplotype genotyping

Article Title: MhGeneS: An analytical pipeline to allow for robust microhaplotype genotyping Authors: Julia C. Geue, Peng Liu, Sonesinh Keobouasone,  Paul Wilson & Micheline Manseau Abstract: Microhaplotypes are small linked genomic regions comprising two or more single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are being applied in forensics and are emerging in wildlife monitoring studies and genomic epidemiology. Typically, targeted in non-coding regions,…

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Hot off the press: Assessing the suitability of a one-time sampling event for close-kin mark-recapture: A caribou case study

Article Title: Assessing the suitability of a one-time sampling event for close-kin mark-recapture: A caribou case study Authors: Brandon Merriell, Micheline Manseau & Paul Wilson Abstract: Abundance estimation is frequently an objective of conservation and monitoring initiatives for threatened and other managed populations. While abundance estimation via capture–mark–recapture or spatially explicit capture–recapture is now common, such approaches are…

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Cory Fournier publishes in Global Ecology and Conservation!!

Article Title: Genetic network analysis uncovers spatial variation in diversity and connectivity of a species presenting a continuous distribution Authors: Cory Fournier, Micheline Manseau, Bridget Redquest, Leon Andrew, Allicia Kelly, Dave Hervieux, Troy Hegel,  Gigi Pittoello, Vicki Trim,  Dennis Brannen & Paul Wilson Abstract: The conservation of genetic diversity and connectivity is essential for the long-term persistence and adaptive ability of a species. Recent calls have been made for the inclusion of genetic…

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Post-Doctoral Fellows (PDFs)

Due: May 17th, 2024 The EcoGenomics research group under Principal Investigators Dr. Paul Wilson (Trent University) and Dr. Micheline Manseau (Environment & Climate Change Canada) is recruiting multiple Post-Doctotal Fellows (PDFs) in support of a nation-wide genomics research and monitoring project on caribou. The PDF positions will be based out of Peterborough, Ontario at Trent…

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Successful winter survey in the Mackenzie Mountains

In conjunction with the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board (Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨nę Gots’ę́ Nákedı) we successfully completed the fourth consecutive year of winter fecal sampling of Northern Mountain Caribou (Shúhta goɂepę́) in the Mackenzie Mountains. This ongoing research is part of the Nı́o Nę P’ęnę́ – Trails of the Mountain Caribou: Renewing Indigenous Relationships in Conservation project.…

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First MinION Nanopore Sequencing Run!

A big thank you to Derek Smith and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) laboratories for helping get the first MinION nanopore sequencing test run started! After an informative trip by Ella Clarke to the ECCC River Road laboratory (Ottawa, ON), to troubleshoot some technical issues, our lab team is now set up with the…

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Ontario boreal caribou knowledge plan workshop 18-19th October 2023

Ecogenomics biologist Cory Fournier attended the Ontario boreal caribou knowledge plan workshop on the 18-10th October 2023. This 2 days workshop was hosted by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and held in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The workshop brought together various stakeholders including municipal,…

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EcoGenomics Researchers assess variation in the spatial co-occurrences of close kin in wild caribou populations

Novel multilayer network analysis to assess variation in the spatial co-occurrences of close kin in wild caribou populations Authors: Teri Jones , Micheline Manseau, Brandon Merriell, Gigi Pittoello, Dave Hervieux, Paul Wilson Abstract Understanding how individuals within populations are connected genetically and through shared space-use is critical to understanding the demographic patterns of at-risk populations.…

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EcoGenomics Researchers disentangle the genomic population structure and inbreeding history of Lake Superior Caribou

Genomic population structure and inbreeding history of Lake Superior caribou Authors: Kirsten Solmundson, Jeff Bowman, Micheline Manseau, Rebecca Taylor, Sonesinh Keobouasone, Paul Wilson. Abstract Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) have experienced dramatic declines in both range and population size across Canada over the past century. Boreal caribou (R. t. caribou), 1 of the 12 Designatable Units, has…

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Symposium and presentations at the 19th North American Caribou Workshop

The NACW is a central event for sharing Indigenous knowledge, science and lessons learned, reporting on caribou status and discussing approaches to address key challenges to caribou conservation, management and recovery. For the very first time this year, the 19th North American Caribou Workshop (NACW) and 16th Arctic Ungulate Conference are combined and held together…

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Successful survey of the Redstone Caribou herd

A successfully survey of the Redstone caribou herd in the Mackenzie Mountains of the Northwest Territories – the results of an excellent collaboration between the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Polar Continental Shelf Program and Epéchille Production.

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Dr. Micheline Manseau discusses how new genomics methods can inform on caribou demography

Dr. Micheline Manseau, one of the Principal Investigators of the EcoGenomics research program, recently spoke at the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute’s Caribou Ecology & Recovery Webinar Series on how advances in genomics methods are opening new horizons in caribou monitoring and conservation. Genetic data, most often obtained non-invasively by collecting fecal or hair samples, can…

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EcoGenomics Researchers Employ Network Analyses to Inform Caribou Recovery Efforts

Authors: Samantha McFarlane, Micheline Manseau, Paul Wilson ABSTRACT In social species, reproductive success and rates of dispersal vary among individuals resulting in spatially structured populations. Network analyses of familial relationships may provide insights on how these parameters influence population‐level demographic patterns. These methods, however, have rarely been applied to genetically derived pedigree data from wild…

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