Laboratories and research support: National Wildlife Specimen Bank

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National Wildlife Specimen Bank

The National Wildlife Specimen Bank houses over 900,000 biological sub-samples taken from 200,000 tissue samples of over 800 species.

Laboratory technician at cryogenic freezer

Scientists use these samples to conduct research on contaminants monitoring and the effects of toxic chemicals on the environment. This research helps develop science-based regulations controlling the use, distribution, application, and disposal of chemicals.

Started in 1963 as the Canadian Wildlife Service Specimen Bank, the National Wildlife Specimen Bank gives scientists the unique ability to use historical environmental specimens to:

  • screen for new chemical contaminants
  • retrospectively analyze emerging contaminants of concern
  • conduct analysis in the future using more sophisticated analytical equipment
  • investigate environmental trends
Technician preparing amphibian samples for cryogenic freezing
Research using the specimen bank has revealed of concern and helped in building an understanding of environmental contaminants such as the impacts of and on wildlife.

Recent uses of the specimen bank go beyond the initial intentional use. Samples are now also used to build knowledge in new fields of research including:

  • stable isotope analysis to better understand species' diet patterns and migration. This information helps identify critical habitat to wildlife and can set land conservation priorities
  • DNA analysis to catalogue species and examine genetic drift
  • pathogen and disease investigation
  • scientific analysis to support Canada's Chemicals Management Plan

Specimen Collection

Field scientists submit about 3000 samples annually. These are processed for long-term storage or prepared for real-time analysis by the Tissue Preparation and Specimen Bank Unit of Laboratory Services.

Ninety-six per cent of the archive samples are collected from within Canada: 33% from Ontario, 17% from Quebec, 13% from British Columbia, 13% from the NWT/Nunavut, and 20% from the other provinces and the Yukon. The remainder, close to 5%, is from the USA, South America, northern Europe and Mexico.

Laboratory technician preparing samples for cryogenic freezing
 

This table describes the taxonomic groups represented in the Specimen Bank, and identifies what percentage of the total bank the taxonomic group is.

Taxonomic groups
Taxonomic Group Percentage of Bank
Bird 77
Mammal 9
Environmental 4
Fish 4
Reptile 3
Amphibian 2
Invertebrate 1

 

Storage Conditions

Tissue samples are stored in three walk-in freezers at -40°C, totalling 270 cubic metres. Samples intended for use in biochemical studies are deep-frozen in three liquid nitrogen freezers with vapour phase below -130°C, and seven chest freezers at -80°C. Each freezer is constantly monitored for ideal temperature and protected from electrical failure to maintain sample integrity.

Information Management

A customized LIMS LabVantage system has been created to process information about the specimen bank. This secure MS Access relational database captures details about the field data, tissue processing and tissue archiving.

Eggs gathered from field studies awaiting preparation for inclusion

Analytical data are maintained and backed up by each laboratory unit and are easily retrievable by authorized personnel. Paper files containing information on field collections, processing, analyses and any correspondence are also kept.

 

Access to Specimens

Technician preparing samples for inclusion into the Specimen Bank
Specimens are used by the , but are also made available to researchers studying the effects of contaminants on living organisms or for other types of research that may benefit from the use of the tissues. Specimen requests must be approved by the National Wildlife Research Centre’s Specimen Bank Committee. For more information, please .

Experts in Laboratory

  • Guy Savard
  • Lisa Hermsen
  • Christine McClelland

Further Reading

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