Using full-genomic data to assess defense and trophic niche differentiation within wild fish populations

使用全基因组数据评估野生鱼类种群内的防御和营养位分化

• 批准号: 116922-2012
• 负责人: Reimchen, Thomas
• 金额: $ 1.89万
• 依托单位: University of Victoria
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2012-01-01 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=506895
• 关键词: Using; full; genomic; data; assess

My research examines the relationship between genome-wide diversity and environmental diversity within populations, specifically, whether different genotypes exploit different microhabitats during their life histories. This is poorly understood yet is a critical component of evolutionary and ecological theory such as the process of adaptation and is very important for conservation genetics, habitat fragmentation, population bottlenecks and loss of species. My proposed research supports the training of four graduates and a post-doctoral candidate and uses threespine stickleback fish from two well-studied lakes on Haida Gwaii as a model to assess the extent of niche-specialization of genotypes. We take advantage of a newly developed array of over 3000 genetic markers distributed at known positions across the entire genome and measure a large series of traits for each fish including body shape, defense armour, sex, diet, and parasites, as well as physical and chemical parameters at each site in the lake where individual fish are collected. This integration of genome-wide data with detailed morphological and ecological data has not been previously done for any species and irrespective of the results, would represent a substantive advance at two levels. Any of the genetic markers that differ predictably in relation to biological or limnological data allow insight into specific gene function, which may then be relevant to understanding how this operates in other vertebrates, including humans. Secondly, the extinction of small populations is usually associated with loss of genetic diversity, inbreeding and negative impact of multiple pathogens and parasites. If our results demonstrate genotype-specific niches, this implies that loss of genetic diversity from widespread fragmentation and population reduction will further constrain the adaptability of populations in a changing planet.

我的研究研究了种群内全基因组多样性与环境多样性之间的关系，特别是不同的基因型在其生命史中是否利用不同的微生境。 人们对此知之甚少，但却是进化和生态理论（例如适应过程）的重要组成部分，并且对于保护遗传学、栖息地破碎化、种群瓶颈和物种丧失非常重要。我提出的研究支持培训四名毕业生和一名博士后候选人，并使用来自海达瓜伊两个经过充分研究的湖泊的三刺刺鱼作为模型来评估基因型的生态位专业化程度。我们利用新开发的阵列，包含分布在整个基因组已知位置的 3000 多个遗传标记，测量每条鱼的一系列特征，包括体型、防御装甲、性别、饮食和寄生虫，以及湖中每个收集个体鱼的地点的物理和化学参数。这种将全基因组数据与详细的形态学和生态数据相结合的做法此前还没有对任何物种进行过，无论结果如何，这都代表着两个层面上的实质性进展。 任何与生物学或湖泊学数据可预测不同的遗传标记都可以帮助我们深入了解特定的基因功能，这可能有助于了解该基因在包括人类在内的其他脊椎动物中的运作方式。其次，小种群的灭绝通常与遗传多样性的丧失、近亲繁殖以及多种病原体和寄生虫的负面影响有关。如果我们的结果证明了基因型特异性的生态位，这意味着广泛的破碎和人口减少导致的遗传多样性丧失将进一步限制人口在不断变化的星球中的适应性。