RAPID: Rapid Evolutionary Response of Coastal Copepods to the Gulf Oil Spill

本研究将研究一种小型甲壳类动物桡足类Eurytemora affinis对墨西哥湾石油泄漏的生理和进化反应。这个物种是沿海生态系统的主要成员，特别是在墨西哥湾。该项目将解决以下问题：(1)生物体对原油毒性反应的进化速度和程度有多快？(2)哪些特征在原油暴露下发生了进化？(3)不同种群（独立衍生的选定品系和来自野外不同地点的种群）的反应是否相似？(4)适应原油的毒性影响是否有成本？它将通过进行实验室选择并将这些反应与海湾人口的进化变化进行比较来实现这些目标。考虑到原油的急性毒性，了解进化反应对于确定受影响种群的长期生存和恢复至关重要。除了桡足类动物，这项研究的结果将为了解其他海湾物种的反应提供重要信息。该项目还将培养两名研究生。

This study will examine the physiological and evolutionary responses to the Gulf of Mexico oil leak of a small crustacean, the copepod Eurytemora affinis. This species is a dominant member of coastal ecosystems, especially those in the Gulf of Mexico. This project will address the following questions: (1) How quickly and to what extent can organisms evolve in response to the toxic effects of crude oil? (2) Which traits evolve in response to crude oil exposure? (3) Do different populations (independently-derived selected lines, and populations from different locations in the field) respond in a similar manner? (4) Is there a cost to adaptation to the toxic effects of crude oil? It will accomplish these goals by conducting a laboratory selection and comparing those reponses to evolutionary changes in Gulf populations.Understanding evolutionary responses is essential for determining the long-term survival and recovery of the impacted populations, given the acute toxicity of crude oil. Beyond the copepods, the results of this study will provide critical information for understanding responses in other gulf species. The project will also result in the training of two graduate students.