Lister Science Live Chats: Why Study the Polar Bear Gut Microbiome?

Lister Science Chats...Live from McGill's Macdonald Campus to your home!

Why Study the Polar Bear Gut Microbiome?

MEGAN FRANZ,
MSc student (Renewable Resources), Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University

Sea ice decline is reducing access to the polar bear’s primary food source: ringed seals. Dietary shifts can have significant health impacts for a species. One of the impacts is alteration of the host gut microbiome, an assemblage of microorganisms (predominantly bacteria) known to carry out many important metabolic and immune system processes for their host organism. Megan’s research describes and compares the composition and diversity of gut microbial communities of Southern Beaufort Sea and East Greenland polar bears, based on the respective diets of these subpopulations.

LEARN ABOUT:
Gut microbiomes, apex predators, dietary changes & how useful polar bear droppings are to scientists!

Supported by the Lister Family Engaged Science Initiative, the Lister Science Chats connects students currently at home through live science talks with researchers from McGill's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Each chat features a Macdonald Campus graduate student giving an engaging 30-minute English presentation on their research, followed by a 15-minute question period. Although the targeted levels for these science chats are Secondary 4 & Secondary 5, anyone with a passion for science is welcome to join.

The live chat will take place on ZOOM. No advance registration required. To attend the talk, please visit https://www.mcgill.ca/osas/cpd/listerengagedscience. A link will be made available shortly before the live event. You will just need to click on the link to participate.

For any questions or further information, please contact ingrid.chiraz [at] mcgill.ca (Ingrid Chiraz).