Dr. C. J. Kyle

Assistant Professor, Forensic Science Department Research Chair in Wildlife Genetics and Forensics Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensics Centre 2140 East Bank Drive, DNA Building, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, K9J 7B8

Current Research Interests
Landscape/Molecular Epidemiology (Raccoon Rabies)
Landscape/Conservation Genetics (North American Carnivores)
Molecular Applications in Forensic Science (Forensic Entomology)

Research Projects

Coevolutionary Mechanisms in Pathogen/Vector Complexes

This research stream will investigate coevolutionary mechanisms within pathogen/vector systems using the raccoon rabies virus and its vectors as a model system.

The dynamic interaction between species and their pathogens plays a pivotal role in their
adaptation, evolution, and persistence. Conventional belief suggests that rabies is a lethal disease with no potential for evolution within its hosts. Disease challenge and vaccination experiments, however, indicate that variability exists in the immune response of raccoons to rabies. This project will involve an investigation of selective responses of raccoons to rabies via genes that are intimately associated with the initiation of an immune response and studied in relation to the absence, presence and duration of rabies exposure. These data will be used to empirically test theories of balancing selection, frequency-based selection, the geographic mosaic theory of co-evolution, and contribute to our understanding of mechanisms involved in disease spread and maintenance.

Conservation/Landscape Genetics of North American Carnivores

We are investigating the conservation/landscape genetics of North American carnivores, primarily focusing on North American black bears, but also other species of conservation interest including several mustelid species (marten, wolverines and badgers).

Resolving the underlying factors influencing the movement of animals and genetic variation across complex landscapes is critical to understanding their ecology, evolution, effective conservation and management. Using a landscape genetics approach, correlations between genetic discontinuities (gene flow or local adaptation) with landscape and environmental features (mountains, lakes, road systems) can be revealed. New statistical and analytical tools are now emerging to enhance our understanding of the distribution of genetic variation on finer scales and statistically test hypotheses (e.g. quantify barrier effects of roads/unsuitable habitat and certain forestry practices) using detailed GIS-based geographical and environmental data, along with high-resolution molecular markers. Black bears are harvested for sport, food, fur, and other derivatives (bones, urine, and gall for traditional medicines). It is not always clear how many animals, and from what populations, we can harvest in a sustainable manner. This project involves using DNA profiling to define populations and non-invasively census black bears using baited hair-traps. These same data will be applied to further our understanding of black bear ecology through landscape genetics and enhance DNA databanks to enforce wildlife laws in illegal harvest and trade.

Molecular Applications in Forensic Science: An Integrated Forensic Entomologic Database for Precise PMI Estimates

Forensic entomology is primarily concerned with the identification and succession of insects that lay eggs upon dead bodies to provide an estimation of the time of death. Given presumptions associated with the consistency of succession of species arrival to a dead body, time of death, or postmortem interval (PMI), can be determined based on age classes of maggot species collected from a corpse. Precise identification is crucial as closely related species grow at different rates and taxonomic misidentifications will provide misleading PMI estimates. A technical difficulty, however, is that it is often impossible to identify maggot species using morphological methods. Further, the current practice of identifying maggots by rearing them to an adult stage is complicated by several factors including: no comprehensive morphological keys for forensically important insects, cryptic species, intra-specific morphotypes, rearing maggots to adult stages is costly and can be time prohibitive, and there is a lack of understanding of how successional patterns may vary seasonally and regionally.
To enhance the ability to derive defensible information from entomological evidence on dead bodies, my research will begin by validating current forensic entomology species identification practices and verifying local successional patterns using molecular tools. My forensic entomology research will begin by focusing on the family Calliphoridae, commonly called the blowflies that are among the first to find and colonize human corpses. Based on their mobility, most blow fly species are assumed to be genetically homogeneous and unlikely to show local variation in forensically important phenomena such as larval growth rate. Recent data, however, suggests that differences in growth rates and molecular traits may occur on a relatively small geographic scale. As such, there is a need to clearly categorize levels of inter- and intraspecific genetic and morphological variation in these species to validate current species identification protocols. Beyond definite species identifications, region or seasonal variations in successional patterns of blowflies could greatly alter PMI estimates; as such there is a need to verify the consistency of these patterns across the landscape. The outlined project will proceed with two complementary research streams of phenotypic and molecular identifications to evaluate the local biodiversity of blowflies, evaluate current methodologies to identify distinct species, and verify the regional consistency of successional patterns.
This study will form the basis of ongoing forensic entomology studies and my vision for the development of a Canada-wide forensic entomology database. As mentioned, little data exists as to local variations in species' presence and successional patterns in Canada. My intension is to perform similar studies in other biogeographically representative eco-regions across the country to further validate current forensic entomology practices. I have made contact with all (four) of the forensic entomologists in Canada, and they are interested in pursuing this future initiative.

EDUCATION:
Postdoc.-Wildlife Genetics/Disease - Trent University (Peterborough, ON, June 2007)
Ph.D. -Conservation Genetics -University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB, Aug. 2002)
M.Sc. -Population Genetics/Marine Biology -University of Guelph (Guelph, ON, Oct. 1997)
B.Sc. (Hon) -Biochemistry -Bishop's University (Lennoxville, QC, May 1995)
Diplôme d'Études Collégiales - Health Science -Champlain College (Lennoxville, QC, May 1992)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
-Professor, Trent University: courses taught (July 1, 2007 - present)
- DNA Laboratory Forensics (3rd year undergraduate)
- Case Studies in Scientific Law & Ethical Practices (1st year undergraduate)
- Introduction to DNA and Forensic Science (continuing education)

-Research Associate, Trent University: courses taught (Sept. 2003-June 2007).
- DNA Laboratory Forensics (3rd year undergraduate)
- Population Genetics (3rd year undergraduate)
- Crime Scene Investigations (3rd year undergraduate)
- Trends in Forensic Science (3rd year undergraduate)
- Forensic Science Independent Research Projects (3rd year undergraduate)
- Molecular Genetic Techniques and Analyses (graduate)
- Introduction to DNA and Forensic Science (continuing education)
- Scientific Method for Forensic Practitioners (professional development)

1. Reudink MW, CJ Kyle, JJ Nocera, RA Oomen, MC Green, and CM Somers (in press) Range-wide panmixia despite apparent ecological and behavioural barriers to gene flow in a widely-distributed waterbird. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.

2. Ethier DM, CJ Kyle, TK Kyser, and JJ Nocera. (in press) Variability in the growth patterns of the cornified claw sheath among vertebrates: Implications for using biogeochemistry to study animal movement. Canadian Journal of Zoology.

3. Srithayakumar V, Castillo S, and CJ Kyle (in press) MHC class II DRB diversity in raccoons (Procyon lotor) reveals associations with raccoon rabies virus (Lyssavirus). Immunogenetics

4. Castillo S, Srithayakumar V, Meunier V, and CJ Kyle (2010) Characterization of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) DRB Exon 2 and DRA Exon 3 Fragments in a Primary Terrestrial Rabies Vector (Procyon lotor) PLOS ONE, 5, 8, e12066.

5. Obbard M, Howe E, and CJ Kyle (2010) Empirical comparison of density estimators for large carnivores. Journal of Applied Ecology, 47, 1, 76-84.

6.Rutledge LY, PJ Wilson, CJ Kyle, TJ Wheeldon, BR Patterson, and BN White (2009) How the Gray Wolf Got its Colour. Science, 325, 33-34.

7. Rees EE, BA Pond, CI Cullingham, RR Tinline RR, Ball D, Kyle CJ, White BN (2009) Landscape modelling spatial bottlenecks: implications for raccoon rabies disease spread. Biology Letters, 5, 387-390.

8. Cullingham CI, CJ Kyle, BA Pond, EE Rees, and BN White (2009) Differential permeability of rivers to raccoon gene flow corresponds to rabies incidence in Ontario, Canada. Molecular Ecology, 18, 43-53.

9. Cullingham CI, BA Pond, CJ Kyle, EE Rees, RC Rosatte RC, and BN White (2009) Combining direct and indirect genetic methods to estimate dispersal for informing wildlife disease management decisions. Molecular Ecology, 17, 4874-4886.

10. Cullingham CI, CJ Kyle, BA Pond, and BN White (2008) Genetic structure of raccoons in Eastern North America based on mtDNA: implications for subspecies designation and rabies disease dynamics Canadian Journal of Zoology, 86, 947-958. 

11.  Rees, EE, BA Pond, CI Cullingham, R Tinline, D Ball, CJ Kyle, and BN White (2008) Assessing a landscape barrier using genetic simulation modeling: Implications for raccoon rabies management. Preventative Veterinary Medicine, 86, 107-123.

12.  Kyle CJ, AR Johnson, BR Patterson, PJ Wilson, and BN White (2008) The Conspecific Nature of Eastern and Red Wolves: Conservation and Management Implications. Conservation Genetics, 9, 699-701.

13. Swanson BJ, and CJ Kyle (2007) Relative influence of temporal and geographic separation of source populations in the successful reintroduced of marten populations. Journal of Mammalogy, 88, 1346-1348.

14. Carr D, J Bowman, CJ Kyle, S Tully, E Koen, JF Robitaille, and PJ Wilson (2007) Rapid Homogenization of Multiple Sources: Genetic Structure of a Recolonizing Population of Fishers. Journal of Wildlife Management, 71, 1853-1861.

15. Kyle CJ, and CC Wilson (2007) Mitochondrial DNA Database of Game and Harvested Fish in Ontario. Forensic Science International, 166, 68-76.

16. Kyle CJ, TJ Karels, CS Davis, S Mebs, B Clark, C Strobeck, and DS Hik (2007) Social structure and facultative mating systems of hoary marmots (Marmota caligata). Molecular Ecology, 16, 1245-1255.

17. Cullingham CI, CJ Kyle, and BN White (2006) Isolation, Characterization and Multiplex Genotyping of Raccoon Tetranucleotide Microsatellite loci. Molecular Ecology Notes 6, 1030-1032.

18. Cegelski CC, LP Waits, NJ Anderson, CJ Kyle, and C Strobeck (2006) Genetic diversity and population structure of fragmented wolverine (Gulo gulo) populations at the far southern reach of their current distribution in North America. Conservation Genetics, 7, 197-211.

19. Kyle CJ, AR Johnson, BR Patterson, PJ Wilson, K Shami, SK Grewal, and BN White (2006) Genetic nature of eastern wolves: past, present, and future. Conservation Genetics, 7, 273-287.

20. Peters RL, CJ Kyle, and BJ Swanson (2006) Genetic evaluation of an American marten reintroduction. Journal of Mammalogy, 87, 272-280.

21. Kyle CJ, TJ Karels, B Clark, C Strobeck, DS Hik, and CS Davis (2004) Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in hoary marmots (Marmota caligata). Molecular Ecology Notes, 4, 749-751.

22. Kyle CJ, RD Weir, NJ Newhouse, H Davis, and C Strobeck (2004) Genetic structure of sensitive and endangered northwestern badger populations (Taxidea taxus taxus and T. t. jeffersonii).  Journal of Mammalogy, 85, 633-639.

23. Kyle CJ, A Davison, and C Strobeck (2003) Genetic structure and variation of pine martens (Martes martes) from central and northern Europe. Conservation Genetics, 4, 179-188.

24. Kyle CJ, and C Strobeck (2003) Genetic homogeneity of Canadian mainland marten populations underscores distinctiveness of Newfoundland pine martens (Martes americana atrata). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 81, 57-66.

25. Kyle CJ, and C Strobeck (2002) Connectivity of Peripheral and Core Populations of North American Wolverines.  Journal of Mammalogy, 83, 1141-1150.

26. Kyle CJ, JF Robitaille, and C Strobeck (2001) Genetic variation and structure of fisher (Martes pennanti) populations across North America. Molecular Ecology, 10, 2341-2347.

27. Kyle CJ, and C Strobeck (2001) Genetic structure of North American wolverine (Gulo gulo) populations. Molecular Ecology, 10, 337-348.

28. Kyle CJ, CS Davis, and C Strobeck (2000) Population genetic structure of martens (Martes americana) from the Northwest Territories and Yukon. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 78, 1150-1157.

29. Kyle CJ, and EG Boulding (2000) Comparative population genetic structure of marine gastropods (Littorina spp.) with and without pelagic larval dispersal. Marine Biology, 137, 835-845.

30. Kyle CJ, and EG Boulding. (1998) Molecular genetic evidence for parallel evolution in a marine gastropod, Littorina subrotundata. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, London, 265, 303-308.

2. Pelletier A, ME Obbard, BN White, C Doyle, and CJ Kyle. In Review Small scale genetic structure of American black bears illustrates potential post-glacial recolonization routes. Journal of Mammalogy (submitted June 2010)

 4. Recoskie S, D Beresford, V Nicholls, and CJ Kyle. In Review. PMI from blowflies undermined by beetle grubs in remote forest landscape. Forensic Science International (submitted Jan 2010)

1. Kyle CJ Review of, “Wildlife Forensic Investigations”. Canadian Journal of Forensic Science (in press)

2. Kyle CJ, B Patterson, and BN White (2008) Conservation and Management of Eastern North American Wolves. Wolves Magazine.

3. Kyle CJ (2002) Population Genetics of Manitoba Mustelids. Canadian Trapper May/June 2002

4. Kyle CJ, and C Strobeck (2002) North American Wolverine.  Canadian Trapper May/June 2002

5. Mowat G, CJ Kyle, and D Paetkau (2001) Testing methods for detecting wolverine. Prepared for: Alberta Environment, NRS, Fisheries and Wildlife Management Division Resource Status and Assessment Branch, Species at Risk Program, Edmonton, Alberta. 11pp.

6. Kyle CJ (2001) Consideration for Genetic Applications within the Canadian Wildlife Service. Prepared for Prairie and Northern Region, Wildlife Branch, Canadian Wildlife Service. 86pp.

7. Wilson GA and CJ Kyle (2000) A review of the influences on minimum viable population (MVP) estimates in bison. Prepared for the United States Department of the Interior, Yellowstone National Park. 15pp.

Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensic Centre DNA Building, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, K9J 7B8 Phone: (705) 748-1011 ext. 7126| Fax (705) 748-1132 Email: info@nrdpfc.ca