Using full-genomic data to assess niche-width in wild fish populations

使用全基因组数据评估野生鱼类种群的生态位宽度

• 批准号: 116922-2013
• 负责人: Reimchen, Thomas
• 金额: $ 1.6万
• 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: 2013
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=522097
• 关键词: Using; full; genomic; data; assess

My research addresses the extent to which the diverse assemblage of genotypes found within most animal and plant populations are functional adaptations to differences in individual life histories. This is a poorly understood yet fundamental component of evolutionary processes largely because the identification of genetic markers across the entire genome has been unavailable until recently. My current application takes advantage of the recent full-genome sequencing of the threespine stickleback to evaluate genetic variability in wild populations and supports the training of 4 Honours, 2 MSc, 1 PhD and 1 Post-doc position in field protocols, morphometrics, dietary analyses, stable isotope techniques, genomics and statistical methods. We will be using the well-studied stickleback from Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, for two complementary projects. The first assesses the extent of niche-specialization by integrating different body shapes, defense armour, trophic traits, sex, diet, and parasites, as well as physical and chemical parameters with genome-wide markers in each of two previously investigated lake populations. The second project is analyses of whole-genome sequences of 57 stickleback from 29 of my remote study populations, which span, over short geographical distances, much of the morphological and ecological diversity in the entire species and which largely represent independent and replicated colonization events from marine ancestors including lake-stream species pairs. Such integration of morphometrics, life histories and physiochemical traits with full genome data has not been attempted before. Genetic markers that differ predictably in relation to phenotype or ecological traits may provide insight into how these genes function in other vertebrates. If our results demonstrate genotype-specific niches within and among these remote and undisturbed habitats, this will substantially advance our understanding of basic evolutionary and ecological processes and conservation policy.

我的研究解决了在大多数动植物种群中发现的不同的基因组合在多大程度上是对个体生活史差异的功能性适应。这在很大程度上是因为直到最近才能在整个基因组中识别遗传标记，这是一个知之甚少但却是进化过程的基本组成部分。我目前的应用程序利用最近对三刺鱼的全基因组测序来评估野生种群的遗传变异性，并支持培训4名荣誉、2名硕士、1名博士和1名博士后职位，涉及现场规程、形态计量学、饮食分析、稳定同位素技术、基因组学和统计学方法。我们将使用来自不列颠哥伦比亚省海达格瓦伊的经过充分研究的刺鱼来进行两个互补的项目。第一个评估通过将不同的体型、防御盔甲、营养特征、性别、饮食和寄生虫，以及物理和化学参数与之前调查的两个湖泊种群的全基因组标记相结合，来评估生态位专业化的程度。第二个项目是对我的29个远程研究种群的57个刺鱼的全基因组序列进行分析，这些种群跨越了整个物种的大部分形态和生态多样性，在很短的地理距离内，很大程度上代表了海洋祖先的独立和复制的殖民事件，包括湖泊-溪流物种对。这种将形态计量学、生活史和物理化学特征与全基因组数据相结合的做法以前从未尝试过。可预见的与表型或生态特征相关的不同遗传标记可能为深入了解这些基因在其他脊椎动物中的功能提供帮助。如果我们的结果显示在这些偏远和未受干扰的栖息地内部和之间存在特定的基因型生态位，这将极大地促进我们对基本进化和生态过程以及保护政策的理解。