Plasticity of Life History Traits: Arctic Charr as a Paradigm

由于海洋和淡水系统环境条件的不同性质，这些环境的特征强烈影响具有塑料生活史模式的物种的总体种群结构。为了对这些过程进行有意义的研究，有必要确定哪些生活史阶段和/或环境事件是重要的。北极鲑（Salvelinus alpinus L.）具有多种形态类型。这些形态似乎反映了环境条件的差异。这个项目将研究形态、生长和环境历史之间的关系。本研究将应用新颖的分析技术来评估北极木炭的生活史时期。鱼类耳石的结构和化学成分中包含了大量的生活史和生理信息。年龄、生长速度和环境扰动将从耳石微观结构中确定，而个体历史的环境趋势将通过耳石的元素组成分析来确定。这些研究的结果将是全面和详细地了解耳石微观结构和化学成分的生理和生态诱导的变化。这方面的知识对于了解适应性生活史模式的基本过程是至关重要的，并应使我们能够将生长和迁移与营养和环境事件联系起来。

Due to the disparate nature of environmental conditions in oceanic and freshwater systems, the characteristics of these environments strongly influence total population structure of species with plastic life history patterns. To conduct meaningful research on these processes, it is essential to identify which life history stages and/or environmental events are significant. The Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) is characterized by a variety of morphological types. These morphs appear to be reflect differences in environmental conditions. This project will investigate the relationships between morph, growth and environmental history. This research will apply novel analytic techniques to evaluate the periods in the life history of the Arctic charr. The otoliths of fish have incorporated within their structural and chemical components a large amount of life history and physiological information. Age, growth rate and environmental perturbations will be determined from otolith microstructure, while environmental trends in the history of an individual will be determined through elemental composition analyses of otoliths. The result of these investigations will be a comprehensive and detailed understanding of physiologically and ecologically induced changes in otolith microstructure and chemical composition. This knowledge is vital to an understanding of the processes foundational to adaptable life history patterns and should make it possible to link growth and migration to nutritional and environmental occurrences.