Are Wolverines on Vancouver Island a Distinct Subspecies?

Scientists and conservationists have been questioning for decades whether Vancouver Island wolverines are a distinct subspecies from those found on the mainland in North America.

Now there is an answer thanks to DNA analysis conducted by researchers Dr. Jamie Gorrell, a VIU Biology Professor, and Evan Hessels, a VIU alum.

“To determine the genetic difference between Vancouver Island and mainland wolverines; we collected tissue samples from known Vancouver Island wolverine specimens in museum collections across North America,” says Hessels. “DNA was extracted from these samples and then compared to that of wolverines from the mainland to determine if any major differences could be found between the populations.” The DNA comparisons showed that the genetic difference was very small and not enough to consider wolverines on Vancouver Island a unique subspecies. Why was the answer to this question so critical? Wolverine populations have been declining in BC and the Vancouver Island wolverine, Gulo gulo vancouverensis, is red listed by the BC Government, which means the species is considered threatened or at risk of being lost to extinction. The last confirmed sighting of a wolverine on Vancouver Island was in 1992.

“While losing wolverines from Vancouver Island is bad news for the conservation of biodiversity, the extinction of a unique subspecies means losing something that can never be replaced,” says Gorrell.

Photo: Damian Power

Resolving the question now allows for potential conservation efforts to relocate mainland wolverines to Vancouver Island. However, reintroducing wolverines to the Island could result in other consequences to biodiversity. “While wolverines from the mainland could be reintroduced to Vancouver Island, this could be dangerous for the survival of the Vancouver Island marmot, which is the most critically endangered mammal in Canada,” says Gorrell. Hessels and Gorrell present their findings in an article, “Characterizing the elusive Vancouver Island wolverine, Gulo gulo vancouverensis, using historical DNA,” which was co-authored by Eric Lofroth from Boreas Ecological consulting, and Rich Weir from the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. The article was published in the Journal of Mammalogy on January 31, 2021. Hessels completed his DNA analysis as part of his fourth-year undergraduate research project in April 2019. He is also the recipient of a VIU REACH Award, which provides students with a stipend to help them complete their own independent research project under the mentorship of a VIU faculty member. This project was funded by a VIU Inquiry Grant and a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant, awarded to Gorrell. 

VIU Biology Professor

The lynx-hare predator-prey cycle that has existed for thousands of years in North America is increasingly under threat from climate change.

The lynx relies almost exclusively on snowshoe hare for food; as the hare populations rise and fall over a roughly 10-year cycle, lynx populations follow suit. As snowshoe hare populations decline some lynx change their behaviour and begin to travel long distances in search of food.

To understand how this cycle, which helps maintain the biodiversity of more than a dozen species in the boreal forest, could be impacted by climate change, Dr. Jamie Gorrell, a VIU Biology Professor, and Dr. Evan Hersh, a VIU Post-Doctoral Fellow, are studying the genetics of Canada lynx.

Hersh is using genomic analyses and bioinformatics to analyze DNA samples. The genetic information will help researchers and conservationists understand lynx movements and connectivity among populations to identify potential habitat corridors that are essential to ensuring lynx populations remain genetically diverse.

Gorrell and Hersh will be completing their research over the next two years thanks to an Accelerate Fellowship grant for $90,000 awarded jointly from Mitacs and Bill Harrower, principal biologist at High-Country Wildlife. 