Trent University is now at the cutting edge of automating DNA technologies for the conservation and management of Canada's natural resources.

Trent University was recently awarded $1.2 million from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation to establish a "Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensic Centre". This Centre represents a partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and brings together the Wildlife DNA Forensic Laboratory, the MNR Stock Assessment and Fish Genetics Laboratory and a number of Trent and MNR research laboratories. The award was made possible by a donation from CRS Robotics of Burlington, which is a world leader in the automation of DNA technologies. A CRS DNA robot will be installed this month in the Science Complex at Trent and will be a first in North America to be used for natural resources' management and wildlife forensic applications.

This exciting development stems from the move of a number of MNR scientists to the campus of Trent University in the fall of 1998 when the MNR moved its headquarters from Toronto to Peterborough. At the same time the Wildlife DNA Forensic Laboratory was moved from McMaster University to Trent University. This laboratory produced the first DNA evidence in 1990 that was used in a North American court for a wildlife case. Since that time the laboratory has been involved in over 600 cases from all over Canada. This laboratory has worked closely with the MNR Stock Assessment and Fish Genetics laboratory for the past 2 years.

A number of Trent undergraduate and graduate students have recently undertaken research using DNA profiles of a range of species in these laboratories. This research has led to the identification of a new species of wolf in Canada. Genetic studies on the wolves located in Algonquin Provincial Park have shown a close affinity to the red wolf of the US and not the gray wolf as it was originally assumed. It has now been proposed that this eastern Canadian wolf be given the separate species designation of Canis lycaon. The eastern coyotes or "Tweed wolves" found in the region have been shown to be hybrids between the western coyotes that reached the area earlier last century and the eastern Canadian wolf. Black bear populations are also being monitored by a graduate student in collaboration with the MNR by developing DNA profiles from samples of hair left on wires near baiting stations. This research will help determine the population sizes and movements of black bears in the province. Another project has involved the monitoring of moose populations across the province. A number of new research programs are being planned with the MNR including genetic monitoring of the recently re-introduced elk.

Another collaborator in the research of the Centre is the Toronto Metro Zoo. A small laboratory has been established at the zoo to extract DNA and store tissue samples. An undergraduate was involved in monitoring species of Mexican tarantulas that form part of the pet trade. The Centre is also involved in a project that involves captive breeding of cricket frogs at the zoo for their eventual re-introduction into southern Ontario.

The Wildlife DNA Forensic Laboratory has been involved in a number of projects involved with the enforcement of the Convention in the Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) by Environment Canada. A Trent undergraduate student has been developing methods for identifying the sturgeon species of origin for different types of caviar. Many of the sturgeon species are endangered. The laboratory has also been involved in monitoring the trade in animal parts used in oriental medicine and as aphrodisiacs. Specifically DNA has been isolated from dried penises to determine the species of origin. Although many were found to legally originate from the east coast seal hunt some came from endangered species such as the fur seal.

When fully operational the DNA robot will be used in a number of applications ranging from DNA forensics to monitoring highly endangered species such as the North Atlantic right whale. The Centre will be involved with the MNR in assessing the genetics of many species across the province and storing the data in a Geographic Information System. This will facilitate the effective management of those species which are harvested and which form part of Ontario's natural capital. Routine monitoring will provide early warning signs of population declines and losses in genetic variation. This DNA profiling data base will be associated with a DNA and tissue bank that will be an archive of Ontario's natural resources that will be physically accessed by the robot. This will form a baseline, which can be used by future generations to assess impacts of environmental change, harvesting and habitat fragmentation on Ontario's biodiversity.

Bradley White is a Conjoint Professor of Biology at Trent University and can be reached at bwhite@trentu.ca and through the web site http://www.trentu.ca/forensic