NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2021: Adaptation along a thermal gradient in the holopelagic ctenophore, Mnemiopsis leidyi

这一行动为NSF 2021财年生物学博士后研究奖学金提供了资金，综合研究调查了支配基因组、环境和表型之间相互作用的生命规则。该奖学金支持研究员的研究和培训，这些研究员将以创新的方式为生活规则领域做出贡献。温度影响所有的生物过程，但目前对热环境如何影响种群、生物体和遗传反应的了解主要是由陆地和淡水物种主导的。虽然对海洋系统的研究越来越多，但很少有研究调查海洋系统如何适应被称为远洋动物(终生生活在水柱中的动物)的温度。研究具有不同于经典研究的生物体的生物学特征的生物体具有巨大的潜力，不仅可以拓宽我们对这些生物体的理解，而且可以拓宽我们对一般基本和广泛的进化过程的理解。这一知识差距将通过研究美国大西洋沿岸原生范围内不同热环境中的全水性鞭毛虫种群来解决。研究物种对当代温度梯度做出反应的机制，将有助于深入了解它们在与气候变化相关的气温上升中生存的能力。这个项目将通过指导和接触科学中代表性不足的群体来增加对科学的参与。这项研究将使用一种综合的方法来扩大我们对热环境如何驱动M.leidyi差异化的理解。首先，将对大西洋沿岸的莱氏分枝杆菌种群进行全基因组测序，以表征热环境如何影响海洋动物的种群动态。其次，对沿这一大纬度梯度的种群进行的实验性热分析将提供对热应激恢复能力的地理模式的洞察，并阐明温度、发育和全洋性扩散之间的相互作用。最后，对全基因组测序数据的离群值分析将阐明面对正在进行的基因流动如何出现基因分化，以及具有生活史特征的物种如何适应广泛的温度。重要的是，这位研究员将接受生物信息学、胚胎培养技术、发展包容性研究项目以及成为一名更有效的科学传播者的培训。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2021, Integrative Research Investigating the Rules of Life Governing Interactions Between Genomes, Environment and Phenotypes. The fellowship supports research and training of the fellow that will contribute to the area of Rules of Life in innovative ways. Temperature affects all biological processes, yet the current understanding of how thermal environment impacts populations, organisms, and genetic responses is largely dominated by land and freshwater species. While studies in marine systems are growing in number, there are few studies investigating how marine systems adapt to temperatures in what are called holopelagic animals (animals that live their entire life in the water column). Studying organisms with biological traits distinct from classically studied organisms has great potential to broaden our understanding not only of these organisms, but of fundamental and broad evolutionary processes in general. This knowledge gap will be addressed by studying populations of the holopelagic ctenophore, Mnemiopsis leidyi from distinct thermal environments along its native range of the Atlantic coast of the United States. Investigating the mechanisms species employ to respond to contemporary thermal gradients will provide insights into their capacity to survive the rising temperatures associated with climate change. This project will increase participation in the sciences through mentoring and outreach to groups under-represented in science.This research will use an integrative approach to expand our understanding of how thermal environment drives differentiation in M. leidyi. First, whole-genome sequencing of M. leidyi populations along the Atlantic coast will be performed in order to characterize how thermal environment affects population dynamics in holopelagic animals. Second, experimental thermal assays from populations along this large latitudinal gradient will provide insights into geographic patterns of resilience to thermal stress and shed light on the interaction between temperature, development, and holopelagic dispersal. Finally, outlier analysis on the whole-genome sequencing data will elucidate how genotypic differentiation arises in the face of ongoing gene flow and how species with life history traits that necessitate exposure to a wide range of temperatures adapt. Importantly, the fellow will receive training in bioinformatics, embryo culturing techniques, developing inclusive research programs, and becoming a more effective science communicator.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.