Development and Evolution of an Adaptive Phenotype in the Mechanosensory Lateral Line System

机械感觉侧线系统是一种结构多样的感觉系统，存在于所有鱼类中，负责检测水流（水动力）刺激，在各种行为环境中至关重要。它由位于皮肤和骨侧线管上的感觉器官组成，这些侧线管包含在颅骨的一部分骨头中。四种运河类型中的一种是加宽运河，它对水动力刺激非常敏感，被认为是对猎物非视觉检测的适应，这对鱼类具有重要的生态意义。马拉维湖（非洲）的两个属的鲷鱼（Aulonocara[宽运河]和Tramitichromis[窄运河]）将用于一项研究，该研究使用比较解剖学，发育和行为方法来解决鱼类感官生物学的基本问题。首先，将在慈鲷和鱼类之间更广泛地评估运河加宽的趋同进化，以更精确地定义其解剖结构的共同特征。其次，将定量分析加宽和狭窄管道及其中包含的感觉器官的发育模式和时间，以确定侧线管道系统进化变化的发育基础。最后，将使用行为分析和视频分析来分析拓宽的运河在探测沙居猎物中的作用。这项工作将对我们理解非洲裂谷湖的鲷鱼和以底栖动物为食的海洋和淡水鱼的摄食习性的进化具有重要意义，特别是那些在受干扰的栖息地中，非视觉捕食者可能具有生态优势的鱼类。PI将通过让本科生和研究生参与这个项目的各个方面来整合研究和教育。与同事的合作（如：遗传学、生物力学建模、微ct成像、刺激输送装置的设计）将增强PI研究项目的跨学科性质，并为学生提供新的培训机会。这笔资金将加强罗德岛州的研究基础设施，这是一个EPSCoR州，研究重点是海洋生命科学。

The mechanosensory lateral line system is a structurally diverse sensory system present in all fishes that is responsible for detection of water flow (hydrodynamic) stimuli and is of critical importance in a variety of behavioral contexts. It is composed of sensory organs located on the skin and in bony lateral line canals that are contained in a subset of bones in the skull. One of the four types of canals, widened canals, are quite sensitive to hydrodynamic stimuli and is considered to be an adaptation for the non-visual detection of prey, which is of great ecological importance for fishes. Two genera of Lake Malawi (Africa) cichlid fishes (Aulonocara [widened canals], and Tramitichromis [narrow canals]), will be used for a study that uses comparative anatomical, developmental and behavioral approaches to address fundamental issues in fish sensory biology. First, the convergent evolution of widened canals will be assessed among cichlids and among fishes more generally to more precisely define common features of its anatomy. Second, the pattern and timing of development of widened and narrow canals and the sensory organs contained within them will be analyzed quantitatively to determine the developmental basis for evolutionary change in the lateral line canal system. Finally, the role of widened canals in the detection of sand-dwelling prey will be analyzed using a behavioral assay and video analysis. This work will have important implications for our understanding of the evolution of feeding habits of cichlids in the African Rift Lakes, and of marine and freshwater fishes that feed on benthic prey, especially those in disturbed habitats in which non-visual predators may have an ecological advantage. The PI will integrate research and education by involving undergraduates and graduate students in all aspects of this project. Collaborations with colleagues (re: genetics, biomechanical modeling, microCT imaging, design of stimulus delivery apparatus), will enhance the interdisciplinary nature of the PI's research program and provide new training opportunities for students. This funding will enhance research infrastructure in Rhode Island, an EPSCoR state with a research focus in marine life sciences.