Researching sled dogs for a master’s in marine and coastal management

My current project is my master’s thesis, titled “Investigating associations between pack management strategies and the intestinal microbiota of Greenland sled dogs (Canis lupus familiaris borealis): a One Health approach”

Abstract: “The Greenland sled dog (Canis lupus familiaris borealis, GSD) is a breed of working dog unique to the Greenlandic Arctic. GSDs have distinct connections to their surrounding environment: they are housed outside, drink from natural sources, and are fed primarily raw marine mammals and fish—reflecting the traditional diet of many settlements in Greenland. Due to their close association with humans and the coastal environment, GSDs offer potential for monitoring infectious pathogens (parasites, bacteria and viruses) as well as the role of diet and environment on the intestinal microbiome. This study applies the One Health framework to investigate two populations of working GSDs. Fecal samples from GSDs in Ittoqqortoormiit, where GSDs are fed game and managed as described above, are compared to samples from Daneborg, where GSDs are fed dryfeed and managed by the Danish military. Genome-resolved metagenomics is used to characterize the diversity, composition, and functional traits of the intestinal microbiota. Results demonstrate that shotgun sequencing can detect the same parasites found by classical parasitology. Additionally, different microbial communities and functional profiles are observed between populations. Ittoqqortoormiit samples host a higher abundance of pathogens, and a greater capacity to degrade antibiotics, xenobiotics, and alcohols—highlighting the presence of anthropogenic compounds in the Arctic coastal environment. This research illustrates the potential of shotgun sequencing for informing management decisions and underscores the importance of incorporating microbiome research into coastal studies.”

The thesis was submitted in March, 2024, and passed with no revisions in April, 2024. The thesis was written for University Centre of the Westfjords, while on Erasmus exchange at the University of Copenhagen Globe Institute.

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