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

重要经济物种太平洋鲑鱼数量的减少归因于一系列因素的相互作用，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的数量产生负面影响。对特定地点的归巢行为隔离了鲑鱼种群，并导致了影响适应性的局部适应特征的选择。研究种群之间的多样性对于了解当地适应的演变很重要，这反过来又可以为恢复努力或水产养殖目的的保护决策提供信息。已经证明了局部适应和生理功能之间的关系，而局部适应的生理特征与遗传差异有关。温度对生物系统有无处不在的影响，在确定动物的分布和丰度模式方面尤其重要，尤其是体温较低的动物。对于地理分布较大的物种，可能存在相当大的耐热性差异，但这种模式尚未得到充分确定。此外，应对气候变化的生态系统变化与地理分布的变化、迁徙失败以及生物事件季节时间的变化有关--变化主要由环境温度驱动。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性能的影响，以及适应不同地理位置的种群之间的性能差异。在这次检查中，我将针对观察到死亡率普遍较高的两个生命阶段：潜伏期和从淡水向海水的迁徙。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和全球气候变化预期的普遍影响，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.