Field equipment to support research and conservation of fishes in Canada’s inland waters

我们的研究利用加拿大的淡水湖和河流，通过深入的实地研究，结合前沿的实验室技术，了解鱼类的进化、生态和保护。目前的赠款将提供设备以支持这项研究的实地部分，包括一艘适合从内陆水域取样鱼类的船和一辆适合进入安大略省偏远实地地点的车辆。在未来5年内，这些设备将用于支持四个主要项目。第一个项目将通过对基因转录的影响和对竞争性生物功能的资源分配，研究激素作为生殖行为和适应性差异的关键媒介的作用。第二个项目将研究有助于觅食不同猎物的形态特殊化及其在交配系统和物种形成中的作用。第三个项目将研究精子竞争作为男性健康决定因素的作用，特别是评估一些通常测量的精子特征（如数量、活力、速度）的重要性。第四个项目将致力于量化鱼类应对气候变化的能力，并维持在现有栖息地的能力。这些项目将共同推进解决基本生物学问题的研究，同时提供对管理和保护加拿大宝贵的淡水鱼群落至关重要的实用知识。该设备将直接为8名研究生、12名本科生和2名博士后提供水产采样、船舶操作、鱼类识别、栖息地分类和实验设计等方面的实践培训。这些技能需求量很大，将培养出能够在科学、资源管理和私营企业等跨学科领域工作的高素质人才。

Our research uses Canada’s freshwater lakes and rivers to understand the evolution, ecology and conservation of fishes through intensive field-based research coupled with leading-edge laboratory techniques. The present grant will provide equipment to support the field component of this research, comprising a boat suitable for sampling fishes from inland waters and a vehicle suitable for accessing remote field locations in Ontario. Over the next 5 years, this equipment will be used to support four major projects. The first project will examine the role of hormones as key mediators of differences in reproductive behaviours and fitness through their effects on gene transcription and the allocation of resources to competing biological functions. The second project will examine morphological specializations that facilitate foraging on different prey items and its role in mating systems and speciation. The third project will study the role of sperm competition as a determinant of male fitness, and in particular evaluate the importance of a number of commonly measured sperm traits (e.g. number, motility, speed). The fourth project will work to quantify the capacity of fishes to respond to climate change and to persist in their current habitats. Together these projects will advance research that addresses fundamental biological questions while providing practical knowledge that will be critical for managing and safeguarding Canada’s valuable freshwater fish communities. The equipment will contribute directly to the hands-on training of 8 graduate students, 12 undergraduate students and 2 postdoctoral fellows in aquatic sampling, watercraft operation, fish identification, habitat classification, and experimental design. These skills are in high demand, and will produce highly-qualified personnel that are capable of working in the cross-disciplinary areas of science, resource management, and private industry.