Microplastics are everywhere – in the oceans, rivers and the air you breathe – and are being ingested by various animals and other organisms. And while microplastics are already problematic on their own, they can also absorb toxins and other harmful chemical pollutants in the environment.

“Because microplastics are so small there is a potential that they could affect us all. There is a lot of concern about how microplastics and the chemicals added to them could potentially interfere with our biological and environmental functions. It’s not a problem we want to stay in the dark about,” says Misha Zvekic, who graduated last year from Vancouver Island University (VIU) with a Bachelor of Science, double major in Chemistry and Biology.

Zvekic has been investigating microplastics as an undergraduate researcher at VIU since 2018 and is currently completing a master’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Victoria at VIU’s Applied Environmental Research Laboratories (AERL). Zvekic is the lead author of the research paper Characterizing photochemical ageing process of microplastic materials using multivariate analysis of infrared spectra, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The paper was co-authored by Drs. Larissa Richards, Christine Tong and Erik Krogh, in VIU’s Chemistry department. The paper is based on the undergraduate research Zvekic undertook at VIU.

“It feels so great to finally get it published because some of this work is from the first chemistry project that I was able to work on at VIU with the help of a VIU REACH Award,” Zvekic says.

Zvekic’s research investigated how exposure to sunlight changes the surface properties of plastics. In addition to causing them to break down into smaller pieces, Zvekic says when plastics are exposed to sunlight it changes their chemical structure which affects how they interact with other pollutants.

Organisms can potentially eat these plastics and be exposed to whatever other pollutants the plastic might have picked up along the way. Zvekic generated a unique data set by exposing several common plastics to both natural and artificial light for up to six months in order to examine the differences.

“We were able to compare lab-based experiments to real-world weathering in a way that hasn’t been done before,” Zvekic says. “This comparison can help researchers understand how plastics change in the environment. I am working on a second paper now where we study the interaction of plastics with chemical contaminants in water. Thanks to the work we just published, we have a better understanding of how these weathering processes affect the fate and distribution of other contaminants in the environment.”

Zvekic is currently completing their master’s research with Krogh, funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

“Misha spearheaded several interesting projects as an undergraduate student at VIU. Their academic pursuits in biology and chemistry provided an excellent foundation for this work. It is a rare accomplishment for an undergraduate student to be lead author on a scientific paper,” Krogh says.

During their time studying at VIU, Zvekic acquired numerous research awards and recognition including the VIU REACH Award, the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award three years in a row, and an NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s Program.

Zvekic was also among the first cohort of students to graduate from VIU’s Major in Chemistry degree, which has a unique focus on biological and environmental chemistry.

Written by: Vancouver Island University; used with permission.
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When Devon Guyer decided to pursue his studies at Penn State in 2018, he wasn’t sure what major best fit his interests in design, so he enrolled as a Division of Undergraduate Studies student. While earning some undergraduate course credits that first year, he had the opportunity to explore the design degree options in the College of Arts and Architecture and was particularly drawn to the landscape architecture program in the Stuckeman School.

“What drew me to the field [of landscape architecture] was knowing that I could make a difference in the world through design,” said Guyer. “Landscape architects play a specific role in the development of everyday life, and as designers, we can shape and develop the way people interact.”

After participating in a landscape architecture summer intensive program, taught by Assistant Professor Stephen Mainzer, he was hooked and enrolled as a second-year “Larchie.”

Fast forward three years and Guyer is preparing to graduate on Aug. 13 from Penn State with his bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture; but in the spring of 2022, a class taught by Mainzer compelled Guyer to do a deeper dive into studying representational landscapes before heading into the real world.

“The course (LARCH 424: Design Theory Seminar: Threats to Democracy, Humans, and our Environment) really explored best practices in design to develop landscapes that are representative of the communities that live there,” explained Guyer. “Systemic racism has impacted landscape development over time, so we need to be developing landscapes that reflect an area’s history and culture in order to promote social development.”

These issues of social justice and representation were not only raised in his course, but were also playing out in real life in widespread media over the past several years; and it had Guyer thinking of an area near and dear to him where he could potentially have a real impact as a designer: his hometown of West Philadelphia.

“Growing up in West Philadelphia exposed me to a unique urban community where people care for one another, and we knew who each other was in our neighborhoods,” explained Guyer. “Playing throughout Fairmount Park, I soon discovered all the city’s hidden parks and gardens that shaped my childhood and laid the foundations for my design aspirations.”

His love for his hometown coupled with his exposure to Studio Zewde, a landscape architecture firm in New York City that he studied in another landscape architecture course, inspired Guyer to further explore the effect designers can have on a community by the decisions they make in the design process.

“Sara Zewde came to talk with our class to share some of her firm’s work and one project that stood out to me was the work she did on the Valongo Wharf in Rio de Janeiro, which is the only living relic of the trans-Atlantic slave trade,” said Guyer. “Studio Zewde transformed the wharf into a place that represented the Afro-Brazilian culture of the people that live there, and it was then that I understood the kind of work I’m meant to do in this world.”

With Guyer’s interest in representation and design democracy piqued, he reached out to Mainzer about doing a six-week independent study this summer to research two parks in the Philadelphia area that Studio Zewde is working to revamp: Graffiti Pier and Mander Park.

Mainzer suggested Guyer complete a case study of the two areas, which included reviewing policy maps, U.S. census data and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Screening data to gather demographic information, as well as pouring over academic articles and even social media accounts to get a sense of public opinion and community buzz.

“With any area we go into as designers, it is so important to do the work — to know the history, who the people are, what the culture is like, what the community takes pride in — before we start the actual business of design. That’s something Devon already had in his head, but having him studying these two very different parks in his hometown really drove it home,” said Mainzer.

Guyer also reached out to Studio Zewde to see if he could interview someone there about the firm’s approach to community engagement in the two communities. He was put in touch with Anne Lynch, a landscape architect with the firm.  

“It was important for me to understand the methods the studio used in each park to connect with the communities and how to use that information to create landscapes that reflect a community’s identity,” said Guyer.

From there, Guyer got to work on his case study.

“Our job is really about getting buy-in from the community and continuing that dialogue and inclusion throughout a design project,” said Mainzer. “That’s the side Devon would get to learn about through his partnership with Studio Zewde.”

Graffiti Pier

Located in the West Ward of Philadelphia on the Delaware River waterfront, Graffiti Pier is a former anthracite coal loading dock that was part of Reading Railroad’s Port Richmond Yards.

“Immigrants of Polish decent lived in the adjacent neighborhoods and were exploited to work long, hard hours while facing harsh living conditions,” he said.

The pier was decommissioned and abandoned in 1991 and since then has become an icon of graffiti culture, community identity and public art, according to Guyer. It is, in fact, one of the most Instagrammed places in Philadelphia and features walking trails, green space and waterfront views. The area, however, is facing developmental pressures and sea level rise.

“Graffiti Pier is under pressure because developers are currently developing the adjacent landscape west of the pier, with interest from other riverfront developers. It also faces an environmental threat because of climate change, so it is threatened from all sides,” said Guyer.

Studio Zewde’s approach to getting the community involved was two-pronged to target both public and private stakeholders, said Guyer. Those living in the area were invited to provide input about the best- and worst-case developments of Graffiti Pier during public engagement sessions.  

The private stakeholders of the park, the graffiti artists whose work draws visitors and other creatives to the pier, meanwhile, were invited to join designers from Studio Zewde at a local dive bar.

“It was important to understand the artists’ culture and hear their ideas about the development of the pier,” said Guyer. “Gaining access into a closed community through such an event gives designers a unique opportunity to understand both stakeholders’ needs and the value they bring to the community.”

Mander Park

Mander Park, on the other hand, is in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River. A historically Black, low-income area, the park features open green space for residents to use for community programming and sports, as well as a public pool and playground.

“The area has been influenced and redesigned by redlining histories that restricted access and movement of Black and other minority groups in the city,” explained Guyer. “Redlining kept minority groups together, ensuring the people there have lesser rights to housing while living in depressed conditions.”

In its efforts to engage the Mander Park community, Studio Zewde held a block party that featured music, food and live entertainment. The event fostered a sense of togetherness among residents and provided a platform to share their memories and future hopes for the area.

Social science and community design

Through examining these two Philadelphia parks with guidance from Mainzer and input from Lynch, Guyer says he has come to understand the importance of the social sciences in the design fields, which he looks forward to bringing to his career.

“Really wrapping your head around what makes a community a community before trying to change anything about that place is so important,” said Guyer. “It fosters the development of socially just and representative landscapes and allows us to develop spaces that communities can take pride in and ownership of.”

He also said he is grateful for the opportunity Mainzer gave him to develop his research chops before graduating.

“Traditionally, undergraduate design students don’t get the opportunity to refine their research skills while still meeting their course requirements, so this was a valuable experience for me to figure out who I want to be, and the impact I want to have, as a designer,” said Guyer.

Mainzer said he hopes other design students see the value of adding more research opportunities to their undergraduate studies.

“This experience not only augmented and diversified Devon’s skills and knowledge, it also helped expand his professional network and helped familiarize him with the important process of really understanding a place — it’s history, traditions, people — before getting to the business of design,” said Mainzer.  

The Stuckeman School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture is the largest academic unit in the College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State. It houses the departments of Architecture, Graphic Design and Landscape Architecture, as well as two research centers: the Hamer Center for Community Design and the Stuckeman Center for Design Computing. 

Written by: College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State University; used with permission.
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Montana State University graduate student Franklin Alongi is a conifer connoisseur when it comes to research. Specifically, his research has focused on how high-elevation, five-needle white pines and other pine species respond to stressors under predicted changing climate conditions. He has worked on a full range of projects — from genetic screenings to greenhouse experiments — to further understand the ecophysiological differences among pine populations that can help them adapt and survive in a changing environment.

Alongi has accomplished more in his short tenure at the university than most scientists could hope to achieve in their early careers. He graduated this past May with a B.S. in plant science and will finish a master’s degree by the end of the year. During this time, he has amassed an impressive list of publications, conducted research abroad and presented at national and international conferences, including the H5II Conference last fall.

An early introduction to plant-science research

If you ask what the key to his research success has been, Alongi will modestly tell you “luck”, but in speaking with him, it’s obvious that a lot of hard work, determination and talent are all at play. As a self-proclaimed “academic” type, he knew from the start of his undergraduate career that he wanted to do research. It was only the second week of college when he started cold-emailing professors to inquire about research opportunities.

Matt Lavin, professor in the MSU Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, answered the call and immediately put Alongi to work on a genetics project to develop a low-cost, rapid screening method to distinguish morphologically similar whitebark and limber pine trees — long solving a challenge for researchers studying these pine species. The results of his work were subsequently applied in a modeling study, and the methodology is being used by land managers for monitoring purposes.

A fascination with high-five pines as ecological marvels

Alongi fell in love with the montane ecosystems of the western U.S. during family trips to Yellowstone National Park. He says this was the first time he had seen a landscape that visibly reflected a natural ecosystem, and he was awestruck. Over time, he has become fascinated by high-five pine species because they are “ecological marvels”, employing different evolutionary strategies to live in specific and harsh environments. “I think it’s cool when you go on a hike and you’re up 7,000 feet in the sky and there’s nothing that can grow there except for these super well-adapted specific species,” he remarks.

Additionally, Alongi says it’s important to study these high-five pine species because they are significantly threatened by climate change. In terms of adaptation strategies, upslope migration may not be an option for these trees because they have nowhere to go, which is a phenomenon that most people don’t think about. He says, “They’re the subalpine species, so theoretically they’re the last species that you’re going to find high up in elevation. Eventually they run of out of space to move up and they get outcompeted from below.”

A love for languages and international collaborations

Alongi also graduated with a second bachelor’s degree in modern languages and literature — one that may not seem connected to his science interests but has further expanded his outlook on international research collaborations. Having been born in France and with a sister who lives in Germany, he started studying both languages at a young age. He says a global worldview and love of languages have always been a part of his family’s dynamics.

In the summer after his junior year, he further put his language skills to work and conducted a research internship abroad through the University of Bayreuth in Germany, setting up experimental grassland plots for climate studies. This work has led to co-authorship on papers with his international collaborators and lifelong connections for his research career. (But after discovering an unknown grass allergy during his internship, he says he’ll be sticking to studying trees for the foreseeable future.)

An accelerated track to a future research career

Alongi also has worked on multiple greenhouse experiments, investigating how various high-elevation pine species respond under drought conditions. Most recently, he has been studying the plant defense mechanisms of a southwestern pinyon pine species and whether those defenses are affected by drought stress. This project is co-advised by Lavin and Danielle Ulrich, assistant professor in the MSU Department of Ecology and WPEF board member. Originally an undergraduate project, it has germinated into his graduate work for an accelerated master’s program that he designed.

Alongi says one of the proudest moments of his undergraduate career was being awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship during his sophomore year. He’s also grateful for the countless hours of mentorship he has received from his many research advisors who have fully supported and encouraged his passion for research.

After completing his master’s this fall, he will be returning to Germany for a Ph.D. program at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology–Alpine Campus and working on — you guessed it — high-elevation conifer species in the Bavarian Alps. And he is already planning for an international collaboration between his current and future research institutions.

Written by: Donna Kridebaugh, Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation; used with permission.
Please visit here to read the original article.

A partnership will get students out on the Mississippi River using the water-related technology they’ll need in the future workforce in freshwater science. 

The La Crosse-based company J.F. Brennan Company Inc. — a century-old, nationwide leader in marine environmental solutions — is partnering with UW-La Crosse to strengthen research, curriculum and the company’s talent pipeline. 

“Our business, like any business, is fundamentally based on the ability to recruit, train, and retain good people,” says Matt Binsfeld, president and CEO of J.F. Brennan Company, Inc.  

The partnership between UWL and J.F. Brennan was formed through the initiative of Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust and the UWL College of Science and Health, with the assistance of the La Crosse Community Foundation. 

In early 2022, it was announced that Prairie Springs: The Paul Fleckenstein Trust gave the La Crosse Community Foundation $430,000 to fund construction of a new research vessel for UWL’s River Studies Center: Research Vessel Prairie Springs.  

In relation to the vessel, J.F. Brennan will provide maintenance support, a storage location and instrumentation expertise.   

Partnership will also shape curriculum

J.F. Brennan will also be entering into a new agreement with the UW-La Crosse River Studies Center to help shape classroom curriculum to continue to produce top graduates. UWL students graduate with great technical background such as an understanding, analyzing and reporting geospatial data that applies to careers, Brennan staff say. Still there is room for students to grow through experiential learning outside the classroom. 

“They saw an opportunity and said, ‘You know, would you like to have more dialog about what we’re looking for? Because there’s a huge need out there for these types of students,’” explains Roger Haro, UWL College of Science and Health associate dean. 

The partnership is considered a public-private partnership, explains Binsfeld. 

“How can we work more closely with UWL and the River Studies Center to provide the experiential learning opportunities for young people, so that they’re not only getting the high-value and first-class in classroom experience, but they’re taking that and they’re putting that together with these opportunities to do actually what we do as an organization,” says Binsfeld. 

Written by: Campus Connection, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse; used with permission.
Please visit here to read the original article and watch the corresponding video.

One of the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Programs of Distinction, the Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG) is a community of MU faculty postdoctoral fellows and professionals who are pursuing novel, creative and transformative ideas in the field of plant biology. Students across the Mizzou campus, including those in CAFNR, play an important role in the IPG’s success – especially through the Freshman Research in Plants (FRIPS) Program.

Funded by a series of grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the FRIPS Program at MU allows first-year/first-time undergraduate students an opportunity to get a first-hand look at the exciting plant research taking place on campus. Not only do these students have the chance to experience cutting-edge plant biology research, they are also able to learn from esteemed IPG faculty.

“Working with so many people in so many areas was great,” said Sam Yanders, a junior majoring in plant sciences. “It gave me incredible networking opportunities and introduced me to fields that I had no idea about in plant science. Through the weekly IPG seminars, I was able to talk with many renowned plant scientists from MU and around the world, and learn more about their research. This made me a more well-rounded researcher and helped me connect with people I otherwise wouldn’t have met.

“In fact, I am still working in the same lab as I was freshman year! The FRIPS program helped me prepare to work on my own projects and think more critically about aspects of research. In our weekly FRIPS meetings, we discussed applying for funding, reading and writing scientific manuscripts, properly citing sources, and other important skills for researchers to have. These all helped me continue my research career, as well as giving me a year to get used to working in a lab setting before letting me become independent.”

Yanders joined the lab of Gary Stacey, Curators Distinguished Professor in the Division of Plant Science and Technology and Department of Biochemistry, in 2019. Yanders is still a member of the Stacey lab, where she has learned various laboratory techniques, such as plasmid DNA extraction, running gel electrophoresis for separation of macromolecules, preparing media for plant and bacterial growth, preparing and running PCR for DNA amplification, and setting up and accurately recording experiments.

“In my program, I’ve gotten to meet people from all over the world, and received a really broad range of opinions and views on everything that we do,” Yanders said. “Because of this, I feel that FRIPS gave me many new perspectives on why working with plants is important to society and our future.”

Yanders is one of 107 undergraduate students who have participated in the FRIPS Program since 2010.

“Having the chance to meet with and work with the faculty of the IPG was a fantastic experience,” said Meg Vedra, a senior studying biochemistry. “The initial FRIPS interviews with several IPG faculty showed me the wide range of research that is happening on the MU campus every day. As a part of the FRIPS Program, I had the chance to attend several IPG seminars to hear faculty present their research, and elected to take classes with professors like Dr. Paula McSteen (professor of biological sciences, MU College of Arts and Science) and Dr. David Mendoza-Cózatl (director of graduate studies and associate professor, Division of Plant Science and Technology) based on their research.”

Vedra worked in the lab of Antje Heese, an associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry, during her time in the FRIPS Program. Like Yanders, Vedra has continued to work in the same lab she joined as a freshman.

“I feel incredibly privileged to work with such renowned researchers,” Vedra said. “The FRIPS program introduced me to Dr. Heese, who has become a true mentor, both academically and personally. I left my first interview with her not only knowing that I desperately wanted to work in her lab, but also with a better understanding of what it means to be a researcher.

“Following my year in the FRIPS program, I have been able to continue my research in Dr. Heese’s lab under the wonderful guidance of our postdoctoral fellow Nga Nguyen, and I will stay in the Heese lab until I graduate from MU. My experience from freshman year allowed me to apply for and receive the CAFNR Undergraduate Research Internship, which let me immerse myself in a research project of my own design. The FRIPS program wasn’t just about placing you in a lab to do research, it also provided weekly FRIPS meetings led by PhD student Kelly Mason and Nguyen. In these meetings, we focused on professional development, learning how to write an abstract, how to present your research and how to meet others in the field.”

One of the primary goals of the FRIPS Program is to encourage undergraduate students to pursue future research endeavors, including having them consider research careers in plant biology. The program opens the door for students to step into a laboratory setting early in their collegiate careers and encourages them to further that knowledge as they progress through their degree.

“I attribute my interest in furthering my research to the graduate level fully to FRIPS,” said Matthew Jenkins, a senior majoring in plant sciences. His FRIPS research was with Harley Naumann, associate teaching professor in the Division of Plant Science and Technology. “I don’t know if I would’ve sought out the research lab I was in if I hadn’t had the opportunity with FRIPS. The lab is pretty tight knit so I felt comfortable having long discussions with colleagues and Dr. Naumann. Those conversations alone helped with real-world knowledge, as I came in with very little practical knowledge of both the production and research sides of forages; even after raising alfalfa and other hays while in high school. I feel like these things molded me as a student and researcher and gave me the confidence to be an autonomous thinker.”

The IPG has grown to include 53 faculty-led teams, plus 13 emeritus members, from multiple units and colleges across the Mizzou campus. In the past 15 years, IPG faculty have secured nearly $235 million in extramural grant funding. IPG faculty have an exceptional record of scholarly publications as well. In the past 10 years, the group has published more than 1,800 articles in peer-reviewed journals.

More than 35 IPG faculty have mentored students through the FRIPS Program, which is administered by the Office of Undergraduate Research.

“The faculty collaboration and professional development side of FRIPS is great,” said Alex Vanover, a senior studying biochemistry. “As FRIPS students, we had weekly lectures from faculty in the IPG or other organizations on campus that helped me develop a plan for my future. There were several presentations by the graduate school and MU fellows that were particularly important for me to understand what a career in research would look like and how the final bits of my education could be financed.”

Vanover worked in the lab of Henry Nguyen, professor in the Division of Plant Science and Technology. Vanover has been part of other research projects throughout his time at MU, including doing cancer imaging research associated with the NextGen Precision Health Initiative. The program helped Vanover find where his research passions were.

“FRIPS gave me a step up to know what to expect from doing research and generally being involved in a scientific environment,” Vanover said. “While you can get involved in research any time as an undergraduate, getting involved as a freshman and being able to switch groups so easily – without worrying about having to re-establish myself in a lab in quick enough time to make a valuable contribution to the research team before I graduate – was quite beneficial. FRIPS gave me a head start in the research world, which I’ve tried to appreciate at every chance I get.”

FRIPS alumni have entered graduate programs at several leading institutions, including Michigan State University, Cornell University, UC Berkeley, Washington University and the University of Wisconsin. To date, two alumni have won prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships (GRF) as well. FRIPS students have also been selected for the nationally-competitive American Society of Plant Biologists Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships.

Written by: Logan Jackson, the University of Missouri, College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources; used with permission.
Please visit here to read the original article.

The Vancouver Island marmot is one of Canada’s most endangered mammals and a captive breeding program was started in the late 1990s to help prevent extinction. With such a small population, however, conservationists were concerned about the genetic diversity of the species.

Genetic diversity is crucial for the Vancouver Island marmot to survive threats such as disease outbreaks or adapt to climate change. A recent research paper led by Vancouver Island University (VIU) alum Kimberley Barrett is giving conservationists a better understanding of the genetic diversity of the Vancouver Island marmot. 

Barrett’s research, which was published in the journal Conservation Genetics, found that there’s been no loss of diversity since the start of the captive breeding program and there is no difference in the genetics between the wild and captive populations, which means that diversity is being represented and preserved equally among both groups. It also demonstrates that current efforts to preserve the remaining amounts of genetic diversity have been successful so far.

“With captive breeding one of the foremost concerns on the mind of conservationists is genetic diversity because if that happens, we can see a lot of negative ramifications for that species, especially long-term,” says Barrett, adding that Vancouver Island marmots already have a low level of genetic diversity because they are a species only found on the Island and their numbers had previously declined to the brink of extinction.

The Vancouver Island marmot reached its lowest point in 2003 with less than 30 marmots remaining in the wild and since that time more than 530 captive-born pups have been released back in the wild.

Dr. Jamie Gorrell, a VIU Biology Professor and Barrett’s VIU research supervisor, says that if a species loses genetic diversity, it may be harder to cope with threats later on.

“There’s the risk that low diversity means you may not be able to survive new threats like disease and even if you can survive now, you may not be able to adapt tomorrow,” says Gorrell. “Climate change is a big one. We don’t necessarily know how marmots are going to respond to it. Temperatures are getting more variable and the consistency year-to-year is getting less reliable. We expect it’s going to be harder for marmots to cope with that in the future.”

Barrett graduated from VIU with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2019 and is currently pursuing her Master of Science at the University of Alberta. The paper is based on research she conducted as an undergraduate student at VIU, part of her fourth-year independent research project for Biology 491. It involved sequencing DNA from marmot hair samples supplied by the Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Foundation.

“Kind of CSI style we extracted the DNA from those samples and sequenced those marmots’ DNA,” says Barrett. “With that information we were able to check in on the marmots from a genetic perspective to see if there have been changes in their genetic diversity since the collapse of their population in the early 2000s.”

Barrett received a VIU REACH Award, an award given to students to conduct an independent project, and an Undergraduate Student Research Award from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to pursue her research.

While Barrett is the lead author on the research paper it has eight other co-authors including VIU alum Genevieve Amaral and Melanie Elphinstone, who conducted some of the research while they studied at VIU. The work was completed under the mentorship of Gorrell in collaboration with the Marmot Recover Foundation. It was partially funded by Gorrell’s NSERC Discovery Grant.

Check out the research paper titled “Genetic management on the brink of extinction: sequencing microsatellites does not improve estimates of inbreeding in wild and captive Vancouver Island marmots (Marmota vancouverensis)” on the Conservation Genetics website.

Written by: Vancouver Island University; used with permission.
Please visit here to read the original article.