Individual and population level variation in physiological response to environmental change in Pacific salmon: mechanisms for local adaptation

具有重要经济意义的太平洋鲑鱼物种数量的减少是多种因素相互作用的结果，包括淡水和海洋环境的环境变化以及过去的管理做法。因此，环境的变化可能会对鲑鱼种群产生负面影响。返回特定地点的行为隔离了鲑鱼种群，并导致了对影响适应性的当地适应性特征的选择。研究种群之间的多样性对于了解当地适应的演变非常重要，这反过来又可以为恢复工作或水产养殖目的的保护决策提供信息。地方适应和生理功能之间的关系已被证明，和地方适应的生理性状与遗传差异。温度对生物系统有广泛的影响，在建立动物的分布和丰度模式方面特别重要，但特别是变温动物。对于具有大的地理分布的物种，耐热性可能存在相当大的差异，但这种模式还没有得到充分的确定。此外，应对气候变化的生态系统变化与地理分布的变化、迁移失败和生物事件季节性时间的改变有关-这些变化主要是由环境温度驱动的。我提出的研究计划的目的是确定环境，特别是温度对鲑鱼生理表现的影响，以及适应不同地理位置的种群之间的表现如何不同。在本研究中，我将针对两个生命阶段，在这两个阶段中，通常观察到高死亡率：潜伏期和从淡水到海水的迁移。这项研究将使我们了解鲑鱼对环境温度变化的生理和分子反应，鉴于许多环境干扰对温度的局部影响以及全球气候变化的预期普遍影响，这些发现特别重要。

Declines in abundance of economically important species of Pacific salmon have been attributed to the interplay of a wide range of factors, including environmental changes in both freshwater and marine environments and past management practices. Changes in environment, therefore, are likely to negatively affect populations of salmon. Homing behaviour to specific locations isolates populations of salmon and has led to selection of locally adapted traits that influence fitness. Studying diversity among populations is important for understanding the evolution of local adaptations, which in turn can inform conservation decisions for restoration efforts or aquaculture purposes. Relationships between local adaptations and physiological function have been demonstrated, and locally adapted physiological traits are linked to genetic differences. Temperature has pervasive effects on biological systems and is particularly important in establishing the distribution and abundance patterns for animals, but particularly ectothermic animals. For species with large geographic distributions, considerable differences in thermal tolerance are likely to exist, but such patterns have not been adequately determined. Additionally ecosystem changes in response to climate change are linked to shifts in geographical distribution, migration failure, and alterations in seasonal timing of biological events - changes largely driven by environmental temperature. The objective of my proposed research program is to determine the effect of environment, particularly temperature, on physiological performance of salmon and how performance may differ among populations adapted to different geographic locations. For this examination I will target two life stages where generally high rates of mortality have been observed: the incubation period and the migration from freshwater to seawater. This research will provide us with an understanding of the physiological and molecular responses of salmon to temperature changes in their environment, findings that are particularly important given the localized effects of many environmental disturbances on temperature and the expected pervasive effects of global climate change.