Over the years, I have collaborated with experts in conservation, to use molecular data (sequences) and computational methods to identify genetic differentiation of species, find population structure of endangered species (to aid conservation efforts), or even use molecular barcoding to find out what endangered species are illegally traded in fish markets.
Molecular barcoding of shark catches
Many shark species are threatened, largely due to the lucrative shark finning-industry worldwide, pollution and climate change crisis. It is predicted that around 73 million sharks are killed illegally every year, and this puts ~75% of the shark species at the risk of extinction. These alarming statistics pushed many governments of coastal regions to prohibit fishing of shark species (or at least a subset of them that are critically endangered). Guiana is one of those countries, where mostly blacktip fin shark are allowed to be fished. My good friend, Prof. Matt Kolmann, and I set out to use molecular barcoding to assess what species land in markets in Guiana, where there is restriction on fishing of sharks. This work was sponsored by World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Structure analyses of endangered populations
Many North American freshwater fishes occur in discontiguous populations. These populations are sometimes separated by natural barriers (e.g. large falls) or by man-made structures (e.g. dams and locks). Some of the isolated populations can become threatened, mostly due to climate change, pollution or man-made activities. In developing recovery strategy for these populations, it is important to know how genetically similar these populations are to each other.
In this study, my colleagues, Drs. Frances Hauser and João Pedro Fontenelle, and I look at the population genetics of Lake Chub Sucker, a threatened species in the Great Lakes. We identified one location in Canada (Lyons Creek) that is genetically different from the rest, which would require recovery efforts due to its genetic isolation from the other populations.
In this study, my colleagues, Drs. Frances Hauser and João Pedro Fontenelle, and I look at the population genetics of Lake Chub Sucker, a threatened species in the Great Lakes. We identified one location in Canada (Lyons Creek) that is genetically different from the rest, which would require recovery efforts due to its genetic isolation from the other populations.
In the following study, my colleague Dr. JP Fontenelle and I conducted a study for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Canada) and US Geological Survey (USA) to analyze the genetic diversity of Silver Chubs across North America to aid conservation efforts of this species.
Our work shows that the population in Lake Erie, a vulnerable habitat that has suffered a lot of biodiversity damage over the last few decades, is genetically distinct from the other populations. Our work suggests that Silver Chub in Lake Erie should be considered a different conservation unit (or a different species entirely).
Our work shows that the population in Lake Erie, a vulnerable habitat that has suffered a lot of biodiversity damage over the last few decades, is genetically distinct from the other populations. Our work suggests that Silver Chub in Lake Erie should be considered a different conservation unit (or a different species entirely).
