A team of scientists have, for the first time, sequenced the whole genome of the North American wolverine — an iconic Canadian animal listed as a species of special concern. The researchers, including scientists from the University of Toronto and Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, sampled DNA from a male from the Kugluktuk region of Nunavut.

The sequenced genome provides a present-day genetic snapshot of the wolverine and can ultimately be used as a benchmark of its genetic diversity — one that can be compared with past and future wolverine genetic samples. By sequencing the genome the researchers have pinned down the physical location of thousands of new DNA sequences on the wolverine chromosome. This will allow improved estimates of the animal’s gene flow, inbreeding, relatedness, parentage and population size. 

As climate change continues to change the landscape of wildlife across Canada, another important benefit of a sequence wolverine genome is the improved ability to look at environmental adaptations and predict the future adaptive capacity of wolverine populations to climate change.

Un-frozen fish 

Typically found in the coolant reservoir of cars, antifreeze lowers the freezing point of water-based liquids to regulate vehicle temperatures. It turns out, however, that cars aren’t the only place you can find this solution.

Researchers from the American Museum of Natural History recently discovered a small fish off the coast of East Greenland containing high levels of antifreeze proteins. The variegated snailfish (Liparis gibbus) is commonly found in the Arctic, where ocean current temperatures regularly drop below zero degrees. An issue for most wildlife, this species of snailfish can withstand the freezing temperatures without turning into an ice cube thanks to the antifreeze flowing through their veins.

In 2019, the variegated snailfish became the first polar fish reported to exhibit biofluorescence, glowing green and red in the dark depths of Arctic waters. Now, researchers can add the unique ability to produce antifreeze to this intriguing species’ repertoire of skills.

Scientists have been aware of the presence of antifreeze proteins in fish since the 1970s, but this discovery has the highest manifestation of antifreeze proteins ever observed. While the finding has amazed researchers, it also raises red flags regarding how this fish will survive the threat of a warming ocean. Like many other cold-water dwelling species, more temperate waters may increase competition between the snailfish and species better adapted to warmer waters. Antifreeze may be life-saving now, but it will not protect the snailfish against climate change.

Thick skin

The fossil of a young duck-billed hadrosaur covered in scaly skin is the latest exciting discovery at Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta’s badlands. The exposed fossil — found sticking out of a hillside — is thought to be a complete skeleton of the massive plant-eating species.  

Entire skeletons are very rare, so palaeontologists are excited that this find will provide insight into what the dinosaur looked like and its anatomy. And the fact that it’s likely a juvenile could lead to a better understanding of how hadrosaurs grew and developed.

The cool find was made by Calgary-based biologist and dino enthusiast Teri Kaskie, who volunteers in a field school at the park run by Brian Pickles, a professor from the University of Reading in England. 

While bones are informative, it is the skin that makes this find doubly exciting. “When you find skin, or even better, internal organs, you can start to look at how these animals were when they were living and breathing,” Pickles explained in an interview with CBC News Calgary. 

Expert teams have now begun the slow and painstaking process of excavating the specimen while protecting the exposed fossil, which, they hope, will soon be displayed at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

Bad turn for the army worm