Dissertation Research: Embryonic learning in stickleback: An evolutionary perspective

论文研究：刺鱼的胚胎学习：进化的视角

• 批准号: 0910066
• 负责人: Susan Foster
• 金额: $ 1.22万
• 依托单位: Clark University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-06-15 至 2011-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0910066&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Embryonic; learning; stickleback

The threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is a widely-distributed species, occupying marine and freshwater ecosystems throughout the northern hemisphere. Widely distributed species are exposed to variable environmental conditions across their ranges, including variation in local predation. Learning to use sensory cues from the surrounding environment can greatly enhance predator avoidance, and can be an evolutionary adaptation to variation in predation. Embryonic and juvenile stickleback are at risk from a variety of predators, and therefore could benefit from use of environmental signals to learn and avoid local predators. Olfactory cues, such as odors released in a predator's waste, provide reliable information about a predator's diet and could be readily used by stickleback embryos and fry to learn predators. Examination of the post-hatching response of stickleback conditioned to predator odors as embryos versus unconditioned individuals demonstrated that under laboratory condition embryos do learn. This learning has a significant effect on post-hatching response to predator odors, as well as affecting subsequent learning opportunities. The aim of this study is to address whether the embryonic learning demonstrated in the laboratory is relevant in nature. The results of this research have important conservation implications, as learning is likely to play a critical role in allowing prey to recognize novel threats. Novel predators (typically sport fish) are regularly introduced to lakes containing stickleback and this poses an elevated risk to predator-naïve stickleback. This project has already involved several undergraduate research assistants, and will provide opportunities for additional graduate (Masters and Doctoral) and undergraduate students to gain experience in the laboratory and field, helping them develop their own research projects.

三棘鱼是分布广泛的鱼类，分布于北方的海洋和淡水生态系统中。 广泛分布的物种在其分布范围内暴露于各种环境条件，包括当地捕食的变化。 学习使用来自周围环境的感官线索可以大大增强捕食者的回避，并且可以是对捕食变化的进化适应。 棘鱼的胚胎和幼鱼面临着各种捕食者的威胁，因此可以利用环境信号来学习和避免当地的捕食者。 嗅觉线索，如在捕食者的废物中释放的气味，提供了关于捕食者饮食的可靠信息，并且可以很容易地被棘鱼胚胎和鱼苗用来学习捕食者。 检查孵化后的反应，棘鱼条件的捕食者气味的胚胎与无条件的个人证明，在实验室条件下胚胎学习。 这种学习对孵化后对捕食者气味的反应有显著影响，并影响随后的学习机会。 本研究的目的是解决在实验室中展示的胚胎学习是否具有相关性。 这项研究的结果具有重要的保护意义，因为学习可能在让猎物识别新威胁方面发挥关键作用。 新的捕食者（通常是运动鱼类）经常被引入到有棘鱼的湖泊中，这对捕食者天真的棘鱼造成了更高的风险。 这个项目已经涉及到几个本科研究助理，并将提供更多的研究生（硕士和博士）和本科生的机会，以获得在实验室和现场的经验，帮助他们开发自己的研究项目。