Collaborative Research: Tracking genes in real time as they traverse a hybrid invasion landscape.

60年前，来自德克萨斯州的斑斑虎被引入加州，在那里它们与当地濒临灭绝的加州虎蜥蜴杂交。其结果是一种全新的景观，其中一些火蜥蜴种群完全由杂交个体组成，一些种群主要或完全由具有本地基因的个体组成。在过去的25年里，谢弗实验室收集并存储了加州虎蜥蜴整个范围内的组织样本，为研究非本土基因的分布和传播提供了独特的数据集。目前的研究项目使用尖端的基因组工具来描述历史和当代的火蜥蜴种群，并追踪数千个非本土基因在过去25年入侵加州虎蜥蜴原生范围时的传播情况。许多物种在自然界中进行杂交，而基因在物种之间的移动是理解物种如何适应不断变化的环境的重要组成部分。这个项目提供了一个无与伦比的机会，实时研究物种之间的基因传播，因为它发生在自然界。这项研究还解决了濒危物种保护中的一个基本和困难问题：杂交物种的保护价值是什么？杂交通常被视为对濒危物种的严重威胁，因为杂交与祖先物种中的个体在基因上不同，而且杂交通常不受保护。这项研究将直接面对杂交物种在濒危物种管理中的作用，为保护机构提供机会，更好地了解杂交是如何在自然界进行的。此外，PIS将为研究生和一名博士后研究员提供培训和支持，并将为K-12教育贡献资源。

Sixty years ago, barred tiger salamanders from Texas were introduced into California, where they hybridized with native, endangered California tiger salamanders. The result is a completely novel landscape in which some salamander populations are composed entirely of hybrid individuals and some are largely, or completely comprised of individuals with native genes. For the last 25 years, the Shaffer laboratory has collected and stored tissue samples from across the range of the California tiger salamander, providing a unique data set to study the distribution and spread of non-native genes. The current research project uses cutting-edge genomic tools to characterize historical and contemporary salamander populations, and to track the spread of thousands of non-native genes as they invaded the native range of the California tiger salamander over the last quarter century. Many species hybridize in nature, and the movement of genes between species is an important component of understanding how species adapt to changing environments. This project provides an unparalleled opportunity study the spread of genes between species in real time as it occurs in nature.This research also addresses a fundamental, and difficult issue in the conservation of endangered species: what is the conservation value of hybrids? Hybridization is generally viewed as a serious threat to endangered species, since hybrids are not genetically the same as individuals in the ancestral species, and hybrids are usually not protected. This research will directly confront the role of hybrids in endangered species management by providing conservation agencies the opportunity to better understand how hybridization proceeds in nature. Additionally, the PIs will provide training and support for graduate students and a postdoctoral researcher, and will contribute resources for K-12 education.