Using genomics to assess risk to migratory birds related to dietary change in breeding areas

Funding period: 2020-2024
Lead: Kirsty Gurney
Total GRDI funding: $68,000

The use of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to analyze prey DNA that persists in fecal samples is becoming increasingly common in dietary studies. We propose to incorporate NGS techniques into an ongoing risk assessment for a migratory bird species. Specifically, we will use blood, feces, and eggs collected from nesting individuals, trapped at field sites in northern Canada, to test the extent to which local diet influences contaminant levels in an arctic-breeding shorebird. We will use NGS of DNA extracted from fecal samples to evaluate differences in key prey items among individuals and to investigate linkages between diet variability and levels of contaminants (mercury, persistent organic pollutants) in the eggs and blood. This will help identify critical habitat and resources for breeding birds and contribute to decision-making needs for species at risk and wildlife conservation.