DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Investigating Local Adaptation to Different Habitats in the Blackstripe Topminnow, Fundulus notatus

当与来自其他栖息地的个体相比，个体在其本土栖息地具有更高的适合度时，就会发生局部适应。然而，导致这种情况的确切因素往往并不清楚。通过利用淡水鱼物种黑条金枪鱼(Fundulus Notatus)的湖泊和溪流种群，这项工作将加强我们对这两种生境的局部适应的了解，并加深我们对身体大小和形状如何反映局部适应的理解。它还将研究水流状况变化对鱼类当代进化的影响，因为许多伊利诺伊州的河流被蓄水以创造用于休闲捕鱼的湖泊。同样重要的是，这项工作将为几名大学本科生提供研究机会，并通过外联活动教育公民有关伊利诺伊州原生鱼类的知识，从而使当地社区受益。

Local adaptation occurs when individuals have higher fitness in their native habitats compared to individuals from other habitats. Yet, often the exact factors leading to this are unclear. By utilizing lake and stream populations of a freshwater fish species, the blackstripe topminnow (Fundulus notatus), this work will enhance our understanding of local adaptation to these two habitats and add to our understanding of how body size and shape may reflect local adaptation. It will also examine the effects of changes in flow regime on contemporary evolution in fish, as many Illinois rivers have been impounded to create lakes for recreational fishing. Just as importantly, this work will benefit the local community through providing research opportunities for several college undergraduates and educating citizenry about native Illinois fishes through outreach events.