Research Starter Grant - Causes and Consequences of Biocomplexity

太平洋鲑鱼以其生命史和种群形态的巨大多样性而闻名。这种多样性是两种因素共同作用的产物，一是出生时的归巢，导致繁殖孤立的种群，二是空间上不同的选择压力。不同的自然选择作用于可遗传的表型特征，然后推动适应当地条件，并最终导致种群分化。鲑鱼种群的多样性对鲑鱼渔业的长期可持续性很重要，因为对渔业总产量的相对贡献取决于当时的环境条件。PI的总体目标是什么？美国的研究计划是阐明鲑鱼种群多样性的原因和后果。本研究由三个部分组成。首先是深入探索当前银鲑种群多样性的生态和进化原因。第二部分是对种群同质化（即多样性丧失）后果的研究，重点关注加利福尼亚最近灭绝的奇努克鲑鱼。最后，理论部分将重点介绍分析选择的方法。研究启动奖将有助于启动这项研究计划。这项研究的结果将对太平洋鲑鱼的管理和保护产生直接影响。在美国，目前有28种太平洋鲑鱼进化重要单位被列为受威胁或濒危物种。这些单位中有10个全部或部分位于加州。明确考虑这些生物面临的进化挑战应该导致更有效的管理和保护努力。PI正在努力让代表性不足的群体成员参与她的研究项目。

Pacific salmon are renowned for the great diversity of life histories and morphologies among populations. This diversity is the product of the combination of natal homing, which leads to reproductively isolated populations, and spatially varying selection pressures. Divergent natural selection acting on heritable phenotypic traits then drives adaptation to local conditions and, ultimately, population differentiation. Diversity among salmon stocks is important for the long-term sustainability of salmon fisheries because the relative contribution to total production of a fishery shifts depending on the prevailing environmental conditions. The overall goal of the PI?s research program is to illuminate the causes and consequences of diversity among salmon stocks. This research three components. First is in depth exploration of the ecological and evolutionary causes of diversity among current populations of coho salmon. The second component is a study of the consequences of population homogenization (i.e., diversity loss) by focusing on California's recently collapsed Chinook salmon. Finally, a theoretical component will focus on advancing methods for analyzing selection. The research starter award will help to launch this research program.The results of this research will have direct implications for the management and conservation of Pacific salmon. In the United States, 28 Evolutionary Significant Units of Pacific salmonids are currently listed as threatened or endangered. Ten of these units are found, either wholly or in part, in California. Explicit consideration of the evolutionary challenges facing these organisms should result in more effective management and conservation efforts. The PI is making a strong effort to engage members of underrepresented groups in her research program.