Ecologically-informed Evolutionary Developmental Biology in Threespine Stickleback

三刺刺鱼的生态学进化发育生物学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04057
• 负责人: Jamniczky, Heather
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=746556
• 关键词: Ecologically; informed; Evolutionary; Developmental; Biology

How do populations retain the ability to produce phenotypic variation, despite the tendency for selection to reduce variation over time? The long-term objective of my research program is to investigate the means by which phenotypic variation becomes available and is maintained for selection to act upon, resulting in adaptive change within species. Phenotypic variation is characterized as resulting from the interaction of three major biological domains: genetic information, developmental processes, and environmental factors. Although each domain is very large in scope, the present proposal focuses on understanding the interaction spaces between domains as a means of elucidating the relative contributions of each domain to the production of variation. I propose three Objectives designed to test how three key sources of phenotypic variation interact to facilitate adaptive change: sexual dimorphism, phenotypic plasticity, and ancestry. The threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is an ideal organism in which to test explore these phenomena, due to its capacity for rapid colonization of new habitats and propensity for parallel evolutionary change related to colonization events, as well as its ease of study in the wild and tractability in the laboratory. My laboratory is among the first to apply high-throughput quantitative phenotyping and genomics techniques to natural populations. I leverage world-class facilities and training collaborations facilitated by the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC) to provide a unique environment for HQP to develop field and bench skills in concert during their training. Several of our field sites are located in areas undergoing substantial natural resource development and expansion that threatens substantial, likely negative, impact on local flora and fauna. Further, several sites are on or adjacent to the traditional territories of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation, and therefore present a unique opportunity for collaboration to better understand the history of these localities and the impacts of resource development on both animal habitat and local human populations. My HQP will make substantial scientific discoveries while taking advantage of unparalleled opportunities for professional development and mentorship as they develop new knowledge and ask complex questions about the nature of variation in natural systems and its production in the face of environmental lability.

尽管随着时间的推移，选择倾向于减少变异，但种群如何保持产生表型变异的能力？我的研究计划的长期目标是调查表型变异变得可用并保持选择作用的方式，从而导致物种内的适应性变化。表型变异的特点是由三个主要的生物学领域的相互作用：遗传信息，发育过程和环境因素。虽然每个域是非常大的范围内，目前的建议侧重于了解域之间的相互作用空间，作为一种手段，阐明每个域的相对贡献的变化的生产。我提出了三个目标，旨在测试如何表型变异的三个关键来源相互作用，以促进适应性变化：性二型，表型可塑性和祖先。三棘鱼（Gasterosteus aculeatus）是一种理想的生物体，在其中测试探索这些现象，由于其快速殖民新的栖息地和平行的进化变化的倾向，殖民事件的能力，以及其易于研究在野外和在实验室中的可处理性。我的实验室是最早将高通量定量表型和基因组学技术应用于自然人群的实验室之一。我利用班菲尔德海洋科学中心（BMSC）提供的世界一流的设施和培训合作，为HQP提供一个独特的环境，在培训期间共同发展现场和板凳技能。我们的几个现场位于正在进行大量自然资源开发和扩张的地区，这可能会对当地植物群和动物群产生重大的负面影响。此外，有几个地点位于Huu-ay-aht第一民族的传统领土上或附近，因此提供了一个独特的合作机会，以更好地了解这些地方的历史以及资源开发对动物栖息地和当地人口的影响。我的HQP将取得实质性的科学发现，同时利用无与伦比的专业发展和指导机会，因为他们开发新的知识，并提出有关自然系统中变异的性质及其在环境不稳定性面前的生产的复杂问题。