Development and Evolution of an Adaptive Phenotype in the Mechanosensory Lateral Line System

机械感觉侧线系统是存在于所有鱼类中的结构多样的感觉系统，其负责检测水流（流体动力学）刺激，并且在各种行为背景中至关重要。 它由位于皮肤上和骨侧线管道中的感觉器官组成，所述骨侧线管道包含在颅骨中的骨的子集中。 四种类型的运河之一，加宽的运河，是相当敏感的水动力刺激，被认为是一种适应的非视觉检测猎物，这是非常重要的生态鱼类。 马拉维湖（非洲）慈鲷鱼（Aulonocara [加宽运河]和Tramitichromis [狭窄运河]）的两个属将用于研究，该研究使用比较解剖学，发育和行为方法来解决鱼类感官生物学中的基本问题。 首先，扩大运河的趋同进化将评估慈鲷和鱼类之间更普遍，更精确地定义其解剖学的共同特点。第二，模式和发展的时间加宽和狭窄的运河和其中包含的感觉器官将进行定量分析，以确定在侧线运河系统的进化变化的发展基础。 最后，加宽的运河在检测沙栖猎物的作用将使用行为分析和视频分析进行分析。 这项工作将有重要的影响，我们了解的非洲大裂谷湖泊中的慈鲷科鱼类的食性的演变，以及海洋和淡水鱼类的底栖猎物，特别是那些在干扰栖息地，其中非视觉捕食者可能具有生态优势。 PI将通过让本科生和研究生参与该项目的各个方面来整合研究和教育。与同事的合作（涉及：遗传学、生物力学建模、微型CT成像、刺激传递装置的设计）将增强PI研究项目的跨学科性质，并为学生提供新的培训机会。这笔资金将加强罗得岛的研究基础设施，罗德岛是EPSCoR州，研究重点是海洋生命科学。

The mechanosensory lateral line system is a structurally diverse sensory system present in all fishes that is responsible for detection of water flow (hydrodynamic) stimuli and is of critical importance in a variety of behavioral contexts. It is composed of sensory organs located on the skin and in bony lateral line canals that are contained in a subset of bones in the skull. One of the four types of canals, widened canals, are quite sensitive to hydrodynamic stimuli and is considered to be an adaptation for the non-visual detection of prey, which is of great ecological importance for fishes. Two genera of Lake Malawi (Africa) cichlid fishes (Aulonocara [widened canals], and Tramitichromis [narrow canals]), will be used for a study that uses comparative anatomical, developmental and behavioral approaches to address fundamental issues in fish sensory biology. First, the convergent evolution of widened canals will be assessed among cichlids and among fishes more generally to more precisely define common features of its anatomy. Second, the pattern and timing of development of widened and narrow canals and the sensory organs contained within them will be analyzed quantitatively to determine the developmental basis for evolutionary change in the lateral line canal system. Finally, the role of widened canals in the detection of sand-dwelling prey will be analyzed using a behavioral assay and video analysis. This work will have important implications for our understanding of the evolution of feeding habits of cichlids in the African Rift Lakes, and of marine and freshwater fishes that feed on benthic prey, especially those in disturbed habitats in which non-visual predators may have an ecological advantage. The PI will integrate research and education by involving undergraduates and graduate students in all aspects of this project. Collaborations with colleagues (re: genetics, biomechanical modeling, microCT imaging, design of stimulus delivery apparatus), will enhance the interdisciplinary nature of the PI's research program and provide new training opportunities for students. This funding will enhance research infrastructure in Rhode Island, an EPSCoR state with a research focus in marine life sciences.