US-U.K. Cooperative Research: Genetics of Physiological Differentiation in the Mussel Mytilus

该奖项将支持南卡罗来纳大学Thomas J. Hilbish博士和英国普利茅斯海洋环境研究所Brian Bayne博士之间的合作研究。本研究的目的是探讨在英国西南部一个明显杂交地区两种贻贝（Mytilus）生理变异的遗传基础。这项研究提供了一个独特的机会来分析潜在基因复合物在已知特征中的行为，这些特征对生物体在自然环境中的生存很重要。此外，这项工作应阐明物种重叠区域的基因流动动力学。在更新世期间，异源居群之间发生了遗传和生理分化。一个分类群主要生活在冷水中，而另一个分类群则生活在温水中。在英格兰西南部，这两个分类群杂交，某些种群提供了一系列基因型组合，这将使研究人员能够分析这两个分类群生理分化的遗传学。研究人员将利用生理特征来解释这两个分类群在生物地理上的差异。该项目将受益于Bayne博士在进化生理学方面的专业知识以及Hilbish博士在生理进化遗传学方面的背景。

This award will support collaborative research between Dr. Thomas J. Hilbish, University of South Carolina, and Dr. Brian Bayne, Institute for Marine Environmental Research, Plymouth, England. The objective of the research is to investigate the genetic basis of physiological variation in two species of the mussel Mytilus in an area of apparent hybridization in southwest England. The research represents a unique opportunity to analyze the behavior of potential gene complexes in traits known to be important to the survival of an organism in its natural environment. In addition the work should shed light on the dynamics of gene flow in an area of species overlap. Genetic and physiological differentiation occurred between allopatric populations of Mytilus during the Pleistocene. One taxon occurs predominantely in cold-water, while the other is a warm-water form. In southwest England the two taxa hybridize and certain populations provide an array of genotypic combinations that will allow the investigators to analyze the genetics of physiological differentiation of the two taxa. The investigators will utilize physiological traits that may explain the differences in biogeography of the two taxa. This project will benefit from Dr. Bayne's expertise in evolutionary physiology of the Dr. Hilbish's background in physiological-evolutionary genetics.