Population to ecosystem scale effects of evo-to-eco pathways in nature

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Evolutionary and ecological processes were once thought to occur on such different timescales that evolution could be ignored when examining contemporary (1-100s of generations) ecological dynamics. Yet evolution can be rapid and can affect species traits and genetic diversity. So evolution might also impact contemporary ecological dynamics at population, community and ecosystem levels, with broad implications for our prediction of the consequences of environmental changes induced by human activities. Most research on how evolutionary processes influence ecological changes (`evo-to-eco' pathways) has been conducted under artificial lab conditions. My research program will instead investigate how evo-to-eco pathways influence ecological dynamics in nature. My team will continue our long-term research of pristine brook trout populations at Cape Race, NL. These populations are an informative model for studying eco-to-evo pathways in nature because: (i) they are the top predators and only vertebrates in their streams; (ii) they can be comprehensively studied in occupying small streams; (iii) they differ substantially in traits thought to influence invertebrate prey community structure and aquatic ecosystem productivity; and (iv) they are amenable to experimentation that is very challenging to conduct using other vertebrates (e.g. temporary translocations; common-gardens). Brook trout is also a member of socio-economically important salmonids, so research findings on Cape Race trout have relevance to the conservation/management of aquatic species and ecosystems in Canada and elsewhere. Over the next five years, my team will determine how genetic or trait changes among trout populations affect (i) their population growth, and (ii) community structure and ecosystem function. Objective (i) will combine innovative long-term studies on the demography and genomics of populations that vary in their extent of genetic diversity and inbreeding to test long-standing hypotheses about the role of genetic/evolutionary factors in affecting population viability. Objective (ii) will temporarily transplant trout from different populations to small, isolated ponds to investigate the unresolved importance that varying population densities, genetic diversity and trait characteristics may have on the structure/composition of aquatic communities and ecosystems. These research objectives will comprise four graduate student and five undergraduate thesis projects. My proposed research program offers a conceptually- and analytically-strong working environment that adopts both classic and modern tools to tackle research questions of relevance to Canadian society. In improving knowledge of the extent to which evo-to-eco pathway effects might influence population growth, population productivity, aquatic community structure and ecosystem function, my research program will inform small population conservation and sustainable fisheries management at diverse biological levels.