NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology: From Genes to Ecosystems: The Genetic Underpinnings and Evolutionary and Ecological Consequences of Alternative Reproductive Tactics

研究员姓名：Madilyn GambleProposal编号：2208962研究题目：从基因到生态系统：遗传基础和替代生殖策略的进化和生态后果赞助科学家和主办机构：Suzanne Alonzo（加州大学圣克鲁斯分校），Eric Palkovacs（加州大学圣克鲁斯分校），John Carlos Garza（国家海洋渔业局）这项行动资助了2022财年NSF生物学博士后研究奖学金，研究基因组，环境和表型之间相互作用的生命规则的综合研究。该奖学金支持将以创新方式对生活规则领域作出贡献的研究员的研究和培训。同一物种的动物在外表和行为上彼此不同是很常见的。这是令人惊讶的，因为同一物种的成员共享大部分基因。科学家试图了解基因和环境是如何影响这种变化的。然而，很少有研究关注基因如何同时影响性状变异、种群动态和生态系统过程。该项目旨在了解雄性钢头鳟鱼的基因变异如何影响雌性的进化、种群增长和生态系统过程。结果将影响鲑鱼的保护。该项目还将通过该研究员在为第一代和西班牙裔本科生服务的项目中提供指导，扩大科学参与。该项目的具体研究目标是：(1)量化钢头鳟鱼雄性选择性生殖策略（ARTs）背后的遗传结构如何影响雌性生活史、繁殖力和适应性；(2)确定ART基因型的性别特异性效应在多大程度上解决了随长度和成熟年龄变化的局部冲突；(3)建立雄性ART选择如何影响雌性进化和种群增长率的模型。(4)预测对抗逆转录病毒的选择以及由此导致的遗传变异、体型和种群增长的变化如何改变淡水生态系统过程，如养分转移和沉积物运输。总之，这些目标将构成一个模型，用于预测具有性别特异性变异特征的基因如何影响其他性别的进化，以及种群动态和生态系统功能。该模型将适用于其他鲑鱼系统，更广泛地说，适用于任何具有性别特异性抗逆转录病毒基因变异的物种。该研究员的职业发展活动将包括参加会议，展示研究成果，撰写和发表科学手稿，并通过加州大学圣克鲁斯分校的高级指导、探究式机会中心（CAMINO）和多丽丝杜克学者项目指导本科生和研究生。这些项目的共同目标是扩大在生态学、进化生物学和保护科学领域的参与。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。

Fellow's name: Madilyn GambleProposal number: 2208962Research title: From genes to ecosystems: the genetic underpinnings and evolutionary and ecological consequences of alternative reproductive tacticsSponsoring scientist(s) and host institution(s): Suzanne Alonzo (University of California, Santa Cruz), Eric Palkovacs (University of California, Santa Cruz), John Carlos Garza (National Marine Fisheries Service)This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2022, 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. It is common for animals of the same species to look and act differently from one another. This is surprising because members of the same species share most of their genes. Scientists seek to understand how genes and the environment affect this variation. However, few studies have focused on how genes can affect trait variation, population dynamics, and ecosystem processes all at once. This project aims to understand how variation in genes in male Steelhead trout affects female evolution, population growth, and ecosystem processes. The results will affect salmon conservation. The project will also broaden participation in science through the Fellow’s mentorship in programs serving first-generation and Hispanic undergraduates.The specific research goals of this project are to (1) quantify how the genetic architecture underlying male alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) in Steelhead trout affects female life history, fecundity, and fitness, (2) determine the degree to which sex-specific effects of ART genotypes resolve intralocus conflict over length and age at maturity, (3) model how selection on male ARTs might affect female evolution and population growth rate, and (4) project how selection on ARTs and the resulting changes in genetic variation, body size, and population growth alter freshwater ecosystem processes such as nutrient transfer and sediment transport. Together, these objectives will comprise a model for predicting how genes underlying a trait with sex-specific variation can affect the evolution of the other sex, as well as population dynamics and ecosystem function. The model will be applicable to other salmonid systems and, more broadly, to any species with genetic variation for sex-specific ARTs. Career development activities for the Fellow will include attending conferences to present findings, writing and publishing scientific manuscripts, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students through the Center to Advance Mentored, Inquiry-Based Opportunities (CAMINO) and Doris Duke Scholars programs at the University of California, Santa Cruz. These programs share a goal of broadening participation in the fields of ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation science.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.