Reference number : GC-2017-Q3-00598, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Helbing, Caren (University of Victoria), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : British Columbia|Colombie-Britannique, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Engage Grants for universities, program name french : Subventions d'engagement partenarial pour les universités, program purpose english : The protection of marine habitats requires appropriate means to consistently and accurately detect impacts of_x000D_
pollution associated with multiple discharges including municipal wastewater, stormwater, industrial waste and_x000D_
agricultural runoff. Traditional means for determining pollution impact has been through sediment and water_x000D_
quality monitoring along with evaluating the composition of invertebrate species living in marine sediments._x000D_
For over 20 years, Biologica Environmental Research Services Ltd. has provided expert species identification_x000D_
services based upon taxonomy for government and industry clients. However, this activity is challenging and_x000D_
labour-intensive; organisms must be painstakingly isolated and carefully catalogued from marine sediment_x000D_
samples and are often not intact enough for a taxonomic identification. The cost and time commitment severely_x000D_
limits the spatial and temporal resolution of taxonomic surveys. Biologica has identified the need for a_x000D_
complementary capacity for faster, more efficient assessments based upon DNA technologies. Using the_x000D_
extensive biomolecular experience of the Helbing lab, Biologica intends to form a new collaborative_x000D_
relationship with the University of Victoria with the overall objective of developing a DNA-based toolbox to_x000D_
assess the proportions of animals living in marine sediments as pollution indicators. The creation of_x000D_
taxonomically-verified protocols would place Biologica as a global leader in the taxonomic services industry_x000D_
and ensure the sustainability of Biologica's core services by providing the tools and training to verify_x000D_
identifications using DNA sequences. The proposed project represents an opportunity for Canada to: (1)_x000D_
provide enhanced taxonomy services through targeted capitalization of advances in molecular biology, (2)_x000D_
improve and expand monitoring programs for various industries and municipalities; (3) drive innovation of_x000D_
taxonomy-based companies encouraging their sustainability and longevity, and (4) improve upon our_x000D_
understanding of the biodiversity of understudied marine habitats along the Pacific Northwestern coast., program purpose french : The protection of marine habitats requires appropriate means to consistently and accurately detect impacts of_x000D_
pollution associated with multiple discharges including municipal wastewater, stormwater, industrial waste and_x000D_
agricultural runoff. Traditional means for determining pollution impact has been through sediment and water_x000D_
quality monitoring along with evaluating the composition of invertebrate species living in marine sediments._x000D_
For over 20 years, Biologica Environmental Research Services Ltd. has provided expert species identification_x000D_
services based upon taxonomy for government and industry clients. However, this activity is challenging and_x000D_
labour-intensive; organisms must be painstakingly isolated and carefully catalogued from marine sediment_x000D_
samples and are often not intact enough for a taxonomic identification. The cost and time commitment severely_x000D_
limits the spatial and temporal resolution of taxonomic surveys. Biologica has identified the need for a_x000D_
complementary capacity for faster, more efficient assessments based upon DNA technologies. Using the_x000D_
extensive biomolecular experience of the Helbing lab, Biologica intends to form a new collaborative_x000D_
relationship with the University of Victoria with the overall objective of developing a DNA-based toolbox to_x000D_
assess the proportions of animals living in marine sediments as pollution indicators. The creation of_x000D_
taxonomically-verified protocols would place Biologica as a global leader in the taxonomic services industry_x000D_
and ensure the sustainability of Biologica's core services by providing the tools and training to verify_x000D_
identifications using DNA sequences. The proposed project represents an opportunity for Canada to: (1)_x000D_
provide enhanced taxonomy services through targeted capitalization of advances in molecular biology, (2)_x000D_
improve and expand monitoring programs for various industries and municipalities; (3) drive innovation of_x000D_
taxonomy-based companies encouraging their sustainability and longevity, and (4) improve upon our_x000D_
understanding of the biodiversity of understudied marine habitats along the Pacific Northwestern coast., agreement title english : Revolutionizing organic pollution impact assessment on benthic invertebrate communities using_x000D_
DNA-based methods, agreement title french : Revolutionizing organic pollution impact assessment on benthic invertebrate communities using_x000D_
DNA-based methods, agreement number : EGP, agreement value : 25000.0, agreement start date : 2017-11-08, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)., additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019)., owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada