Life history variation in native and non-native fishes

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My research will focus on the life history and morphological characteristics of two invasive species, the pumpkinseed sunfish and the round goby. I will determine whether introduced populations show particular adaptations in non-native environments, whether such differences can be related to the physical or biological environment, and if they have become part of the genetic makeup of these introduced populations.The pumpkinseed was introduced in Europe in the late 1800's, and is considered invasive throughout much of southern Europe.  I will study its reproduction, morphology and genetics across the native and introduced range to identify major differences between native and non-native populations.  I will also conduct experiments with pumpkinseeds of different origins reared in a common environment in order to explain the differences observed in nature. The round goby is recent Eurasian invader that has become a serious problem in Canada. I will compare population and reproductive attributes of gobies where they are well established with those at the edge of their expanding range to determine whether this fish succeeds by changing its life history strategy as it becomes more established. I will determine whether range expansion occurs mainly through the migration of juveniles or adults.The proposed pumpkinseed research builds upon 17 years of life history investigations on native and introduced populations, and provides a unique opportunity to explain why aquatic species are successful invaders in some regions and not in others. The goby research would fill in a major gap in our knowledge of the species in its non-native range, and could explain how invasive populations respond to opportunities for expansion.