Genomics of Wildlife

Full genomic analysis of wildlife DNA through techniques such as Next Generation Sequencing provides new insights into the genetic structure of animal populations for informing natural resource biodiversity assessments and management decisions.

Abstract

The Genomics of Wildlife project includes a variety of research directions and methods that inform our partners. Current research objectives include: (1) providing guidance to ASC staff on genomics lab protocols and data processing pipelines, (2) determining breeding area origins of harvested common eiders in the eastern U.S. and Canada, (3) genomics of the rusty blackbird, a species of conservation concern, and (4) genetics to assist with age structure and forage species of Pacific walrus in the Chukchi Sea.

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Products

Title	Type
Phylogenomics reveals ancient and contemporary gene flow contributing to the evolutionary history of sea ducks (Tribe Mergini)	Publication
Genomic Data of North American Sea Ducks	Data
Implications of historical and contemporary processes on genetic differentiation of a declining boreal songbird: the rusty blackbird	Publication
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) Genetic Data, North America	Data
High site fidelity does not equate to population genetic structure for common goldeneye and Barrow's goldeneye in North America	Publication
Genetic Data from Barrow's Goldeneye and Common Goldeneye	Data
Genomic Data from Ptarmigan and Grouse, Alaska, 2015-2019	Data
Metabarcoding of Feces of Pacific Walruses and Autosomal DNA Sequence Data of Marine Invertebrates, 2012-2015, Alaska	Data
Hawaiian Coot (Fulica alai) and Hawaiian Gallinule (Gallinula galeata sandvicensis) Microsatellite and Mitochondrial DNA Data, 2014-2016, Oahu, Kauai, and Molokai, Hawaii	Data
USGS Molecular Ecology Laboratory	Project Website

Contacts

Sonsthagen, Sarah A., 907-786-7054
Wilson, Robert E., 907-786-7066

Status: completed
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2021

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Project Sites

USGS Mission Area and Program

Ecosystems → Wildlife Program

Major Initiatives

USGS - Changing Arctic Ecosystems Initiative