Following the completion of the Annapolis River Tidal Power Generating Station in 1984, the abundance of many native diadromous fish species declined in the river. In 2019, new regulatory directives resulted in the abrupt termination of power generating activities, and tide gates that had barred access to the river were left open for the first time in 35 years.

Cougars are one of the most important predators of BC’s large mammals, especially species valued for hunting. Yet, we know little about the habitat needs and responses of cougars to landscape disturbance and hunter harvest. In this project, we fit GPS-collars on 50 adult cougars in order to quantify their seasonal habitat use and predation rates of mule deer and other ungulates in relation to wildfires, roads, and forestry activity.

Mice and rats are commonly used in biomedical research to model human diseases. Usually, we house them in "shoebox-sized" cages in small same-sex groups. Since they are social species, we know having social contact is important for their well-being. For example, rodents will choose to spend time with other rodents rather than live alone, and when given a choice, rats will choose to spend time with another rat before eating. However, laboratory rodents are often housed on their own without contact with other rodents.

World population is increasing exponentially and to feed this growing population is the biggest challenge for farmers and scientific community. It is estimated that 20% of world’s cultivable land is affected by salinity. In Canada alone about 10 million acres of Canadian prairies are affected by salinity. Among the previously characterized salt-tolerance genes, NHX1 and SOS1 are the best candidates which are capable of alleviating cellular toxicity against salinity.

Most of chronic wounds have delayed healing process due to infection. Silver is the most common available method for controlling topical infection. While the microorganisms are getting resistance against silver. To address this concern, we developed novel antimicrobial composition which is effective than silver and available common antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and gentamicin).

Indigenous and non-Indigenous natural resource managers and salmon agencies in the Yukon have identified extensive knowledge gaps surrounding juvenile Chinook salmon and their use of rearing and overwintering habitats. This knowledge gap limits the ability of resource managers to establish effective freshwater conservation and protection measures for these fish.

Climate change is an important driver of environmental modifications and creates important changes in the ecosystem functioning. It is important to be able to follow these changes, but following whole ecosystems is impossible. Thus, it is recommended to follow bioindicators accurately reflecting the environment state. Arthropods (spiders, insects, etc.) are particularly sensitive to climate changes and are expected to react rapidly. Following their reactions (displacement northward, changes in abundances) could be insightful of climate change impacts.

In the Arctic, climate change is leading to declines in seasonal sea-ice cover. Polar bears are increasingly at-risk from sea-ice loss because they use the ice as a platform to hunt seals, their preferred food source. When the ice retreats seasonally, bears rely on their stored energy reserves as fuel, but climate-driven changes in sea-ice melt and refreezing have forced bears to go for longer periods without access to seals. With temperatures expected to increase, it is important to know how polar bear populations will respond to never-before-seen declines in sea ice.

With the demand for high quality farmed fish on the rise, we are also expected to deliver on greater supplies of fish feed. Currently, fish feed is manufactured by capturing small foraging fish in the ocean, which are converted into pellets. This practice hinders marine life by disrupting the natural food chain of larger fish. The proposed research aims to use microalgae as an alternative to forage fish. We aim to accomplish this by using genetic engineering tools to upregulate the production of nutrients that are necessary for fish growth and quality.

Western honey bees are economically important insects that provide essential pollination services to agriculture. It is generally acknowledged that Varroa destructor mites, since making their way from Asia to the rest of the world, have become the most serious threat to the stability of the apiculture industry. To control V. destructor, apiculturists apply miticides, but this entails significant costs and additional labour, has collateral effects on honey bees, and can leave residues in commercial products; moreover, miticide resistance has repeatedly evolved.