Thesis Defense: Investigating associations between pack management strategies and the intestinal microbiota of Greenland sled dogs

In the coming weeks, UW master's students will defend their theses. The subjects are varied and the students are from both master's programs, Coastal Marine Management and Coastal Communities and Regional Development. The defenses are accessible to everyone through zoom links but they are also open to the public, at the University Centre of the Westfjords in Ísafjörður.

Tuesday at 09:00 April 23rd

Student: Elsa Brenner
Thesis title: Investigating associations between pack management strategies and the intestinal microbiota of Greenland sled dogs (Canis lupus familiaris borealis)
Program: Coastal Marine Management
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.

Zoom link: https://eu01web.zoom.us/j/63577285819

Defense schedule for this defense season: