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地影响着具有塑料生活史模式的物种的总种群结构。为了对这些过程进行有意义的研究，必须确定哪些生活史阶段和/或环境事件是重要的。北极炭(Salvelinus alpinus L.)具有多种形态类型的特点。这些变形似乎反映了环境条件的差异。这个项目将调查变形、生长和环境历史之间的关系。这项研究将应用新的分析技术来评估北极木炭生活史上的各个时期。鱼的耳石在其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通过耳石的微结构来确定，而个人历史上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生理和生态引起的耳石微结构和化学成分的变化。这一知识对于理解适应生活史模式的基础过程至关重要，并应使人们有可能将生长和迁徙与营养和环境发生联系起来。

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.