Putting new genetic monitoring tools into practice: engaging northern communities in the collection of coastal biodiversity information

Climate change and introductions of new species are predicted to significantly impact Arctic ecosystems, substantially changing biodiversity, particularly in coastal regions where development/warming will be greatest.... [ view full abstract ]

Climate change and introductions of new species are predicted to significantly impact Arctic ecosystems, substantially changing biodiversity, particularly in coastal regions where development/warming will be greatest. Establishing reliable baseline data and tracking future changes are essential to develop effective management and conservation plans and adapt to ecosystem modifications. However, many Canadian Arctic marine coastal areas are poorly surveyed. We have been focussing on establishing baseline species inventories in coastal areas of the Canadian Arctic to facilitate future tracking of biodiversity shifts/species introductions, with an emphasis on areas of increased development. This is being coupled with the development of user-friendly environmental sampling tools and training/engagement of indigenous community members and northern research staff in the use of these tools, to build local capacity and provide a foundation for ongoing, cost-effective, community-based data collection. In particular, we have been adapting eDNA methods for Arctic marine ecosystems to enhance detection of more difficult to sample organisms, improve early detection of new species and provide robust baseline genetic information as a reference point for current native biodiversity. Our experience demonstrates the effectiveness of eDNA as a novel data collection tool that, with proper instruction, can be used effectively in citizen science and community-based research program. In this presentation we discuss advances with this tool and provide examples of how it has been utilized for opportunistic collection of coastal biodiversity information by citizens and non-experts as part of programs such as Students on Ice and collaborative research with communities in the eastern Arctic.