DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Quantifying Rapid Adaptation in an Aquatic Invasive Algal Species.

这个项目将调查使非本地藻类物种星石藻能够在美国北方湖泊建立和入侵的遗传因素。水生入侵物种对人类和自然界有严重影响，而且管理费用非常昂贵。星状石藻在欧洲和亚洲的原生地被认为是罕见的，但自从20世纪70年代在北美被发现以来，它已经大量传播并成为入侵性的。研究人员将比较从本地和非本地范围以及不同时间段收集的藻类标本的全基因组数据，以确定负责该物种快速适应美国新栖息地的基因。这项工作的结果将有助于开发管理有害入侵物种的工具和战略。该项目将涉及对本科生的指导，包括对来自科学领域代表性不足的群体的个人的指导。此外，该项目将为纽约市的高中和其他K-12学生制定藻类多样性课程。Nitellopsis obtusa的基因组和基因将进行调查，以检验这一假设，即等位基因频率的变化与快速适应新的化学和营养制度和新的气候条件的入侵范围。遗传数据将收集从新鲜的材料和自然历史收藏，在干标本标本的形式，从本地和入侵范围，在时间点的早期和晚期的入侵。这种空间和时间采样将允许通过时间跟踪等位基因频率偏移，以确定在引入的范围内是否发生了显著变化。对N.将对来自原生和入侵个体的钝角藻进行测序，以测试相对于其他绿色藻类和陆地植物的基因含量和组织。总共48个候选基因，代表了一系列的关键功能，将从时间分层的原生和侵入性样本进行测序。研究结果将为今后该物种的基因型-表型研究以及绿色藻类的系统发育和基因组分析奠定基础。

This project will investigate genetic factors that have enabled the non-native algal species, starry stonewort, to establish and invade northern lakes in the United States. Aquatic invasive species have serious impacts on human and natural communities, and are very expensive to manage. Starry stonewort is considered rare in its native range of Europe and Asia, but has spread prolifically and become invasive since it was discovered in North America in the 1970s. The researchers will compare whole genomic data for algal specimens collected from both the native and non-native range and at different time periods to identify genes responsible for the rapid adaptation of this species to novel habitats in the United States. Results of this work will help in the development of tools and strategies for managing harmful invasive species. The project will involve mentoring of undergraduates, including of individuals from groups that are underrepresented in the sciences. In addition, the project will develop an algae diversity curriculum for high school and other K-12 students in New York City. Genomes and genes of Nitellopsis obtusa will be surveyed to test the hypothesis that allele frequency shifts in this species are associated with rapid adaptation to novel chemical and nutrient regimes and novel climatic conditions of the invasive range. Genetic data will be collected from both fresh material and natural history collections, in the form of dried herbarium specimens, from the native and invasive ranges, at time points early and late in the invasion. This spatial and temporal sampling will allow allele frequency shifts to be tracked through time, to determine if significant changes have occurred in the introduced range. The nuclear genome of N. obtusa from native and invasive individuals will be sequenced to test gene content and organization relative to other green algae and land plants. A total of 48 candidate genes, representing an array of key functions, will be sequenced from the temporally stratified native and invasive samples. Results will lay the groundwork for future genotype-to-phenotype studies in this species and phylogenetic and genomic analyses of green algae.