DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Mechanisms of thermal ontogenetic plasticity and adaptation in native and invasive fishes

全球气候变化导致的环境条件的快速变化已经在世界各地产生了深远的影响，预计未来将变得更加常见。了解耐受性、可塑性和对高温的适应对于预测生物体是至关重要的？应对气候变化，并做出明智的养护管理决策。我们的项目结合了生态学、生理学和基因组学的方法，以加强对两种共域鱼类热耐性和发育可塑性的了解，这两种共域鱼类是濒危的地方性三角洲鱼类和入侵内陆银鱼(Mendia Beryllina)。使用这种方法，我们将比较用于应对这些物种的温度挑战的基因和生理途径，从而洞察哪些鱼将是赢家？或者？失败者？在未来，世界会变得更温暖。大多数鱼类都是外温鱼，全球气候变化预计将对它们的生物多样性和分布产生巨大影响。我们的工作将极大地丰富对鱼类适应变温环境的耐热机制的理解，以及同域分布的原生和入侵物种应对气候变化的能力。因此，这项研究将有助于从根本上理解进化生态学问题以及与保护管理相关的问题。

Rapid changes in environmental conditions due to global climate change are already having profound effects around the world, and are expected to become more common in the future. Understanding the roles of tolerance, plasticity and adaptation to high temperatures is paramount to forecasting organisms? responses to climate change and making informed conservation management decisions. Our project combines ecological, physiological and genomic approaches to enhance understanding of thermal tolerance mechanisms and developmental plasticity in two sympatric fishes, the endangered endemic delta smelt (Hypomensus transpacificus), and the invasive inland silverside (Menidia beryllina). Using this approach, we will compare genes and physiological pathways used to cope with thermal challenges for these species, offering insight into which fishes will be ?winners? or ?losers? in the future, warmer world. Most fishes are ectotherms, and global climate change is predicted to have dramatic impacts on their biodiversity and distributions. Our work will greatly enrich the understanding of the mechanisms of thermal tolerance in fish adapted to variable temperature environments, and the ability of native and invasive species with sympatric distributions to cope with climate change. Thus, this research will significant contribute to both the fundamental understanding of evolutionary ecological questions as well as issues relevant to conservation management.