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

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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.