SGER: Environmental Genomics of Salpa Thompsoni in the Southern Ocean

SGER：南大洋 Salpa Thompsoni 的环境基因组学

• 批准号: 0849640
• 负责人: Ann Bucklin
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Connecticut
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-09-01 至 2010-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0849640&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SGER; Environmental; Genomics; Salpa; Thompsoni

The proposed research will develop new molecular and genomic tools and approaches for the gelatinous bloom-forming Antarctic salp, Salpa thompsoni, in order to understand the interplay between the salp's complex life history, potential for rapid population growth and bloom formation, and the environmental conditions of the Southern Ocean. Salpa thompsoni is an increasingly important player in the highly-vulnerable Southern Ocean pelagic ecosystem. Despite being recognized as a key component of growing importance in Antarctic pelagic ecosystems, no study has been published on their population genetics or genomics. The research proposed here - including analysis of genome-wide patterns of gene expression of Salpa thompsoni associated with life history events and specific environmental conditions - will be the first of its kind on a salp species. The molecular genetic techniques and approaches proposed here are widely used in bio-medical laboratories and are increasingly applied to diverse model species, but have yet to be applied to ecologically-important but phylogenetically-obscure species, such as salps. A Small Grant for Exploratory Research (SGER) is requested because of the increasing urgency of understanding the underlying causes of observed changes in the Southern Ocean pelagic ecosystem, including the shifting balance between the keystone species, Southern Ocean krill (Euphausia superba) and the gelatinous bloom-forming Antarctic salp (Salpa thompsoni). Given the lack of molecular genetic and genomic information for the target species or any close relative, the proposed research may be perceived as too high risk for funding via usual NSF programs and panels.

拟议的研究将开发新的分子和基因组工具和方法，用于凝胶状水华形成的南极salp，Salpa thompsoni，以了解salp复杂的生活史，快速人口增长和水华形成的潜力以及南大洋的环境条件之间的相互作用。Salpa thompsoni是高度脆弱的南大洋水层生态系统中越来越重要的角色。尽管已被确认为南极远洋生态系统中日益重要的一个关键组成部分，但尚未发表关于其种群遗传学或基因组学的研究。这里提出的研究-包括分析与生活史事件和特定环境条件相关的Salpa thompsoni基因表达的全基因组模式-将是第一个对salp物种进行的研究。这里提出的分子遗传学技术和方法被广泛用于生物医学实验室，并越来越多地应用于不同的模式物种，但尚未应用于生态重要的，但遗传学上模糊的物种，如海鞘。申请探索性研究小额赠款是因为越来越迫切地需要了解南大洋水层生态系统中观察到的变化的根本原因，包括关键物种南大洋磷虾（Euphausia superba）和凝胶状水华形成南极salp（Salpa thompsoni）之间的平衡变化。由于缺乏目标物种或任何近亲的分子遗传和基因组信息，拟议的研究可能被认为风险太高，无法通过通常的NSF计划和小组获得资助。