SGER: Documenting the Effect of the 1997 El Nino Southern Oscillation Event on a Broadly-Dispersing Barnacle Species at a Major Biogeographical Boundary

这个项目调查1997年强厄尔尼诺南方涛动事件对沿海海洋生物的影响。在厄尔尼诺现象出现的年份，通常沿着美国西部向南带来冷水的洋流改变了方向。这种方向的改变不仅改变了水流的方向，而且使海面温度远远高于正常水平。在E.N.S.O.期间，许多海洋生物在其正常地理范围的北部被发现。在本项目中，我们研究E.N.S.O.事件是否对普通橡实藤壶（Balanus glandula）的遗传群体结构有影响。先前的研究表明，在蒙特利湾南部收集的藤壶具有独特的遗传特征。我们会问，蒙特雷北部的南方人的比例是否因为北流的洋流而增加。这个项目很重要，因为E.N.S.O.年份的温暖条件为全球变暖对海洋物种地理范围的影响提供了一个窗口。这些研究可以帮助确定哪些物种将受益，哪些物种将受到全球变暖的伤害。本研究以独特的视角研究变暖趋势对物种遗传的影响。这是特别有用的，因为遗传学可以提供关于过去分布和扩散模式的信息。

Cunningham 9808267 This project investigates the impact of the powerful 1997 El Nino Southern Oscillation Event on coastal marine organisms. During E.N.S.O. years, the ocean current that normally brings cold water south along the Western United States changes direction. This change in direction not only reverses the direction of flow, but raises sea surface temperatures far beyond normal. During E.N.S.O. years, many marine organisms are found far to the north of their normal geographic ranges. In this project, we are asking whether E.N.S.O. events have an effect on the genetic population structure of the common acorn barnacle Balanus glandula. Previous work has shown that barnacles collected to the south of Monterey Bay have a characteristic genetic signature. We will be asking if the proportion of southern individuals north of Monterey increases as a result of the northward flowing current. This project is important because the warmer conditions of E.N.S.O. years provide a window onto the consequences of global warming on the geographic ranges of marine species. These studies can help identify which species will benefit, and which ones will be hurt by global warming. This study takes the unique perspective of studying the effects of warming trends on the genetics within species. This is especially useful, because genetics can provide information about past distribution and dispersal patterns.