Project Search

sector_ico_Environment_trans Environment

Adaptive molecular evolution in a unique British Columbia community- Population genomics of Haida Gwaii

SOF124
  • Project Leaders: Michael Hart
  • Institutions: Simon Fraser University (SFU)
  • Budget: $37540
  • Program/Competition: Strategic Opportunities Fund
  • Genome Centre(s): Genome British Columbia
  • Status: Closed

This project used genomic approaches to understand the impacts of climate change and to help species at risk. Haida Gwaii has many unique animal and plant populations that differ from those on the rest of the BC Coast. These differences may be the result of the geographic separation of Haida Gwaii from the rest of BC by the Queen Charlotte Sound and/or because species in the rest of BC were forced to adapt due to glaciation. The researchers sought to understand the differences that exist between the isolated populations of the bat star on Haida Gwaii and the rest of the BC Coast in order to determine the potential impacts of climate change. They found that male sea stars in Haida Gwaii produced a different form of a sperm-expressed protein than in southern coastal regions.