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The Moose Genome Project: a short video featuring Meredith Purcell, discussing Ontario moose research. CBC Radio UP NORTH A Trent University researcher is looking at why the moose population is declining Listen to the full interview with Jason Turnbull, here. Ontario OUT OF DOORS Magazine Wanted: Hunter's moose samples. View the full article with Megan McPhaden here. ANGLER AND HUNTER RADIO Season 5, Episode 23 Tune in to the podcast from my interview with Randy Jennings here. TRENT UNIVERSITY 3 Minute Thesis competition 3 Minute Thesis is an international competition that challenges graduate student to present their work to the public in a clear and easy to understand manner in just three minutes. Here, I introduce my project and present some preliminary results. SUPERIOR MORNING Moose DNA being used to study mysterious population decline Trent University researcher collects meat samples from hunters to test the effect of climate change Click here to read the article or listen to the interview on CBC Radio with Gord Ellis. THE CHRONICLE JOURNAL Hunters asked to help gather clues BY BRYAN MEADOWS NORTHWEST BUREAU Moose hunters across Northwestern Ontario are being asked to be part of a DNA study looking at the effects of climate change on the region's moose population. The Moose Genome Project is looking to collect samples of moose killed by hunters in wildlife management areas across the region. Trent University PhD student Meredith Purcell said this week that the project began as an attempt to identify why some moose populations are declining, while others nearby remain steady, or are increasing. "These declines began in Minnesota, where moose are barely hanging on today," she said. "More recent declines have been reported in Manitoba, causing the closures of several game hunting areas. In Ontario, we are just beginning to see these declines, which have been reflected in the decreased number of tags issued last year. "The goal of the Moose Genome Project is to identify what factors may be affecting moose differentially," she said. "We particularly focus on those factors related to climate change and immunity, because these are two main factors that have been connected with the Minnesota moose decline. "Genetic work is not normally incorporated into management plans, but," she said, "the hope of this work is to provide a foundation for additional research, which could one day be used to inform a more well-rounded, proactive moose management strategy. "By examining moose DNA samples, we can identify important factors in moose persistence in a relatively inexpensive, and non-invasive manner. Instead of collaring animals and identify cause of death or movements, we are using samples from many sources (hunter harvest, roadkill, fecal samples, etc.) to look at how moose across Ontario and Manitoba are genetically different in order to find correlations with environmental factors that may account for them," Purcell said. This is possible because, she said, "we are looking at genes that mutate relatively rapidly, allowing us to see potential adaptation over short time frames." For example, it could be possible that some moose are able to adapt to warming temperatures, despite their otherwise low tolerance for heat (14 C in summer), she said, adding that this can be seen by looking at differences in heat shock genes and seeing if their variation corresponds to changes in temperature. Purcell noted that hunters can play a pivotal role in providing samples for this project. "Though we use samples from a variety of sources, hunter-harvested moose comprise the good majority of where our samples come from. We only need a small piece of meat, about the size of a pinky fingernail," she said, adding that hunters interested in contributing a sample can contact her to obtain a kit. Her email address is [email protected] or she can be reached through a contact form atmeredithcpurcell.weebly.com. Kits can also be picked up at Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters zone meetings that Purcell intends to attend. She will be at OFAH Zone A meeting in Red Lake on May 2, and a Zone B meeting in Thunder Bay on May 22. "We rely heavily on this hunter contribution, and this series of presentations aims to inform moose hunters and interested parties of the project's preliminary results, future work, and sampling areas that we still need additional samples from," she said. The sample kits are easy to use, and contain some information, a tube, and an information sheet all in a prepaid envelope. Samples can be in many forms, including teeth, ear tips, hide, and muscle tissue. "I will have tubes available at the (OFAH) talks," she said, explaining that samples can be placed directly in the tube and then mailed to the following address: Meredith Purcell, c/o Dr. Paul Wilson, Trent University, NRDPFC, DNA building, Loading Dock A, 2140 East Bank Drive,, Peterborough, Ont. K9J 7B8. "All I need returned is the tube and information sheet. So, whenever you thaw out your next steak, slice off a small chunk, drop it in the tube, and send it right back," Purcell added. © 2015 The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal. All rights reserved. |
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