October 2024
Wise Ancestors is partnering with Bermuda based NGO BioQuest, Oxford Nanopore Technologies’ ORG.one, Bermuda Department of Culture, and Bermuda National Trust on its first Pilot Series of Conservation Challenges hosted on the new Wise Ancestors Platform. Partially funded by a grant to Wise Ancestors from the Future of Life Institute, the pilot challenges aim to fundraise approximately $56,000 and onboard additional scientific collaborators to complete the world’s first well-annotated, high-quality reference genome and genetic test for the Bermuda Cedar (Juniperus bermudiana), which was listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2010.
In line with Wise Ancestors’ unique model that ties genomic research with benefit-sharing as recommended by the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity’s Nagoya Protocol, the initial challenges will also support an apprenticeship under the Bermuda Department of Culture’s Cultural Apprenticeship Program (CAP). This iteration of the program will pair a tradition-bearer identified by the Bermuda National Trust with a chosen apprentice to retain important information for future generations. For this iteration of CAP, knowledge pertaining to the botany, ecology, and propagation of the critically endangered tree will be passed on to a younger individual to help strengthen local conservation and restoration efforts.
As an Affiliated Project of the Earth BioGenome Project, Wise Ancestors and its partners efforts will contribute to the leading global conservation genomics effort, dubbed “a moonshot for biology,” to sequence all known plant, animal, and fungi species. When completed, the Bermuda Cedar will be one of the largest genomes assembled and annotated using only Oxford Nanopore Technologies. The Bermuda-focused pilot series of Wise Ancestor Conservation Challenges will be highlighted during the upcoming United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties (COP16) in Cali, Colombia from October 21st to 31st at the Wise Ancestors and BioQuest booth #67 in the Blue Zone.
Scientists, bioinformaticians, laboratories, platforms, and biobankers are encouraged to apply to participate on the Wise Ancestors Platform and receive compensation for completing elements of the research. Funding for the work comes from a combination of grants and fundraising. Wise Ancestors is seeking to raise $56,000 through crowdfunding on its platform, and will accept any size donation to help protect this endangered species and the Bermuda ecosystem. Donations made by U.S. Citizens are tax deductible. Wise Ancestors plans on announcing its second set of Pilot Series of Conservation Challenges in the coming weeks.
The Bermuda Cedar plays a key role in Bermuda’s culture since humans first settled on the island. It nearly went extinct after a mass die-off event where approximately 95% of its population were killed by an invasive attack from scale insects between 1946 to 1953, known as the Cedar Blight. This left the island deforested, significantly impacting the habitat of endemic birds and insects. Similar Junipers and other exotic, now often invasive trees were later imported to help reforest the island, however, this caused additional issues, because the imported trees were less resilient to the high winds and salt spray in Bermuda, and the imported junipers also hybridized with the remaining Bermuda Cedar population, thereby weakening that as well. Seeds from the remaining Bermuda Cedars that resisted the scale insects’ attacks were later used to help repopulate them on the island. However, it's unclear whether those seeds were hybrid (coming from the pollen of an introduced variety), and if any of the remaining cedars are pure Juniperus bermudiana.
Dr. Carika Weldon, Co-founder and Director of Research at BioQuest shared, “This project represents an incredible opportunity for Bermuda, as it not only preserves a critical part of our ecosystem but showcases that advanced genomics can be done locally with expertise. By sequencing the Bermuda Cedar’s genome entirely on-island by Bermudians, we are keeping the research and technology at home, aligning with our vision to ensure science equity in previously underrepresented regions for sustainable natural resource management. This work, which is partially made possible by the Roche Research Lecturer Grant I received from Bermuda College, will have lasting impacts on our environment and set the stage for establishing future genomic capacity in the wider Caribbean, empowering our region to play an active role in biodiversity conservation using genetics.”
“This is a perfect use case of leveraging genomics for biodiversity conservation, and our focus on supporting the protection and management of IUCN Red Listed Species in the region. There have been monumental efforts over the past few decades to repopulate the island with Bermuda cedars using seeds from surviving ‘legacy’ pre-blight and other older trees,” said BioQuest Executive Director John-Pierre Rouja, “however it is now suspected that a large portion of these may have been cross-pollinated resulting in hybrids. Once we have produced the reference genome we will be able to definitively prove which of the surviving trees are in fact pure, so that they can be granted enhanced protection from the Bermuda Government Department of the Environment and Natural Resources. The aim will then be to produce a handheld test allowing for trees to be efficiently field tested in the environment, and to ensure that going forward, pure seeds and cloned seedlings can be prioritized for propagation, thus returning more resilient trees into the environment, which is now becoming all the more important due to climate change.”
“Co-creating Conservation Challenges with Dr. Weldon, Executive Director Rouja, and other local scientists and cultural experts in Bermuda has been an incredibly meaningful pilot project for Wise Ancestors,” said Dr. Ann Pace, Executive Director of Wise Ancestors. “Our unique model of community engagement combined with the creation of genomic resources for biodiversity conservation and benefit-sharing back to the community is proving to be impactful not only in the global effort to conserve biodiversity but also to support land stewardship by local communities and build the capacity they need to perform advanced genomics technologies. Given the extinction crisis at hand, both approaches are needed.”
“I am excited about this groundbreaking collaboration to study the genome of Juniperus bermudiana. Using only Oxford Nanopore technology, we’re able to create a reference genome and develop a genetic test while keeping all sample and lab work local. This approach marks a significant step forward, not only in protecting Bermuda’s biodiversity but also in ensuring that our conservation efforts are sustainable and locally-driven,” said Dr. Solenne Correard, Scientific Director of Wise Ancestors.
Myles Darrell, Head of Culture at Bermuda National Trust, said, “Working with Bioquest, the Department of Culture and most recently the team at Wise Ancestors has been invigorating and brought to light the great opportunity and role conservation genomics can play in preserving and protecting biodiversity and Bermuda’s natural heritage. Conservation work can often be depressing, but this work has generated optimism about the future.”
Dr. Kara Dicks, Program Manager of Conservation Genomics for Org.one, said, "ORG.one is excited to be part of Wise Ancestors' first Conservation Challenge by supporting BioQuest to sequence the critically endangered Bermuda cedar and generate one of the largest Nanopore-only genome assemblies. This collaboration demonstrates ORG.one's mission to support conservation efforts with impactful genomic data and showcases how such initiatives can benefit both conservation and local communities.”
Ms. LaRondie Harrell, President & General Manager of Roche Bermuda commented: "We are proud to support innovative local research like Dr. Carika Weldon’s work on the Bermuda Cedar genome through the Roche Research Lecturer Grant. This initiative underscores our commitment to fostering scientific discovery here in Bermuda. Dr. Weldon’s research not only plays a vital role in preserving our island’s unique environment but also showcases how local innovation can contribute to global environmental conservation efforts.”
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