Insect community metabarcode sequencing for mine reclamation monitoring

Mining is important to the Canadian economy, contributing an estimated $43.9 billion in 2020 while addressing growing demand for minerals. Mine operations disturb natural environments, and Canadian federal and provincial authorities have instituted the Mines Act, and the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia, providing a regulatory framework for mine closure and reclamation. The intern carrying out this research project will evaluate the utility of DNA metabarcoding techniques as a tool for monitoring invertebrate community response to reclamation techniques with the aim of including this tool in environmental monitoring. Invertebrates are sensitive indicators of environmental change and may provide early metrics to guide reclamation progress. This project represents a new collaboration between researchers at Thompson Rivers University and Chu Cho Environmental, an environmental research and consulting firm wholly owned by Tsay Keh Dene Nation.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jonathan D. Van Hamme;Eric M. Bottos

Student:

Partner:

Chu Cho Environmental LLP

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Thompson Rivers University

Program: