Laboratory Set-up for Studies of Population and Conservation Genetics

这个项目包括为生态和进化遗传学研究计划建立实验室。最初的研究重点将放在近亲繁殖抑制上：种群间杂交的适应度降低的现象。这将涉及三管齐下的方法。首先，将通过对加利福尼亚虎螯虾（Tigriopus californicus）的育种研究和分子分析来评估远交抑制的遗传机制，该物种的种群间杂交已被证明会导致适应性大幅降低。其次，将通过测量种群间杂交在其他生物中的适应度结果来评估近亲繁殖抑制的普遍性，首先对潮间带鱼类进行研究。第三，计算机模拟将用于确定导致近亲繁殖衰退的因素。由于意外引进和有计划的增加种群规模的尝试，种群间转移的频率正在增加，因此，近亲繁殖的衰退对保护生物学家来说是相当感兴趣的。与此同时，这种种群混合的适应性结果在很大程度上仍然未知。这一现象也引起了研究物种形成的人们的极大兴趣，因为它标志着生殖隔离的第一个阶段。了解物种形成的过程对那些对保护生物多样性感兴趣的人是极其重要的。

9904694EdmandsThis project involves laboratory set-up for a research program in ecological and evolutionary genetics. The initial research focus will be on outbreeding depression: the phenomenon of reduced fitness in interpopulation hybrids. This will involve a 3-pronged approach. First, genetic mechanisms underlying outbreeding depression will be assessed via breeding studies and molecular analyses using the microcrustacean Tigriopus californicus, a species in which interpopulation hybridization has been shown to result in substantially reduced fitness. Second, the generality of outbreeding depression will be assessed by measuring fitness consequences of interpopulation hybridization in other organisms, beginning with a study of an intertidal fish species. Third, computer simulations will be used to determine factors contributing to outbreeding depression.Outbreeding depression is of considerable interest to conservation biologists because the frequency of interpopulation transfers is increasing, due both to accidental introductions and planned attempts to bolster population size. Meanwhile, the fitness consequences of this population mixing remain largely unknown. The phenomenon is also of great interest to those studying speciation, because it marks the first stage of reproductive isolation. Understanding the process of speciation is extremely important to those interested in preserving biodiversity.