Dimensions: Eco-Evolutionary Drivers of Diversity in Toxic Algal Blooms

生态学和进化是两个重要的生物过程，经常被独立研究。然而，生态学和进化之间的相互作用很可能是产生生物多样性的关键。该项目将研究有毒藻华，以了解生态和进化过程之间的联系如何影响生物多样性。在过去的十年里，基因组测序技术和生物数据分析取得了惊人的进步。现在有机会将这项新技术应用于藻类的研究。藻类之所以重要，有几个原因。在大多数海洋和淡水环境中，藻类是主要的生产者。藻类产生许多物质，包括抗生素和其他潜在的人类药物。藻类还会产生危害人体健康和水质的毒素。这些有毒的藻华在全球范围内的频率和严重程度都在增加。该项目开发的资源将有助于更好地预测有毒藻华。这个项目将训练本科生学习基因组学和系统发育方法。亚利桑那州的生物圈2号设施也将开发有关水族栖息地藻类的宣传材料。这项研究的目的是研究一种名为Prymnesium的有毒藻类。樱草在德克萨斯州的水生群落中含量丰富。该项目将集中在德克萨斯州的研究地点。该项目将验证毒性变化影响樱草种群遗传多样性的假设。为此，该项目将首先通过对100多种不同的水藻菌株进行全基因组测序来描述有毒藻华的多样性。这将是迄今为止在自然藻类种群中进行的最大的基因组变异调查。其次，该项目将利用RNA测序和网络分析确定毒性的分子机制。这种方法将克服快速、准确地识别潜在功能性状的基因的挑战。第三，研究人员将经验数据整合到生态进化反馈的数学模型中，以预测有毒藻华中生物多样性的所有三个维度（遗传、系统发育和功能）。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Ecology and evolution are two significant biological processes that are often studied independently. Yet, it is likely that interactions between ecology and evolution are key to generating biological diversity. This project will study toxic algal blooms to understand how links between ecological and evolutionary processes shape biodiversity. The last decade has seen amazing advances in genome sequencing technology and biological data analysis. There is now an opportunity to apply this new technology to the study of algae. Algae are important for several reasons. Algae are the primary producers in most ocean and freshwater environments. Algae produce numerous substances including antibiotics and other potential human drugs. Algae also produce toxins that endanger human health and water quality. These toxic algal blooms are increasing in both frequency and severity across the globe. The resources developed as a result of this project will help better predict toxic algal blooms. This project will train undergraduate students in genomics and phylogenetic approaches. Outreach materials focused on the algae in aquarium habitats will also be developed for the Biosphere 2 facility in Arizona.The goal of this research is to study a type of toxic alga called Prymnesium. Prymnesium is abundant in aquatic communities in Texas. The project will focus on study sites in Texas. The project will test the hypothesis that changes in toxicity shape the genetic diversity of Prymnesium populations. To do so, the project will first characterize the diversity of toxic algal blooms through whole genome sequencing of over 100 diverse Prymnesium strains. This will be the largest survey of genomic variation within a natural algal population to date. Second, the project will identify the molecular mechanisms of toxicity using RNA sequencing and network analysis. This approach will overcome the challenge of rapid, accurate identification of genes underlying functional traits. Third, the researchers will integrate the empirical data into mathematical models of eco-evolutionary feedbacks to predict all three dimensions (genetic, phylogenetic, and function) of biodiversity within toxic algal blooms.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.