University of Calgary study reveals high inbreeding in southern B.C. caribou
A year-long genomics project by the University of Calgary found that caribou populations in southern British Columbia are highly inbred, threatening their survival.
A genomics investigation led by a University of Calgary PhD candidate examined 759 caribou from 45 populations near the Rocky Mountains, in partnership with the Government of British Columbia. The analysis, using genome-wide mini-markers, revealed that the threatened woodland caribou in southern British Columbia are markedly inbred, limiting their genetic diversity and fitness. Inbreeding can lower offspring numbers, body condition, and the ability to adapt to environmental changes, adding a genetic layer to existing habitat pressures.
Researchers stress that protecting habitat alone may be insufficient without addressing genetic health. The study’s ultimate goal is to inform government-backed restoration and translocation efforts by incorporating inbreeding management. Ongoing work will focus on finer-scale genetic patterns in both B.C. and Alberta caribou populations.
Why it matters
Genetic health is crucial for the survival of threatened caribou, a species vital to ecosystems and Indigenous cultures.
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