The conservation of genetic diversity is a fundamental goal of fisheries conservation efforts. To ensure effective conservation of genetic diversity in populations of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the Williston Reservoir watershed, an understanding is needed of existing population structure and gene flow.
This graduate student position supports a genetic study of population structure and gene flow within large-bodied, migratory Bull Trout, to be led by a partnership between the University of Northern British Columbia and Tsay Keh Dene Nation-owned Chu Cho Environmental. The BC Ministry of Forests, Fisheries Section, and BC Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship, Ecosystems Section are additional study collaborators.
The project partners are seeking a creative, inspired MSc student to conduct genetic analysis on samples from populations of Bull Trout in the Williston Reservoir watershed, identify population structure, and evaluate potential hypotheses about factors affecting population structure and gene flow.
The prospective student, who will join the UNBC genetics lab of Dr. Brent Murray, should have strong interests in conservation and ecology in addition to an interest in advanced laboratory methods. Study outcomes will have a direct impact on abundance monitoring and management decisions for Bull Trout in the upper Peace River Basin.
