Evaluating salmon carcass swabbing as a non-invasive sampling method in comparison with hair to monitor bear foraging ecology and population health in coastal British Columbia

Grizzly bears are an iconic species and the focus of a growing eco-tourism industry in First Nations communities in coastal British Columbia, Canada. Monitoring the effects of eco-tourism and other human activities on bear population health is essential to establish practices that minimally influence bears. This project aims to investigate a novel, rapid approach for monitoring bears using trace amounts of DNA collected from carcasses of salmon chewed on by bears in comparison with the more traditional approach for monitoring bears using hair samples. Information generated by this work will inform conservation of bears and their habitat and will guide further development of eco-tourism.

Faculty Supervisor:

Chris Darimont

Student:

Heather Bryan

Partner:

Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Discipline:

Geography / Geology / Earth science

Sector:

Environmental industry

University:

Program: