What role does adaptation play in population differentiation and speciation in highly mobile organisms?

传统上，新物种被认为是随着种群的逐渐遗传分化而产生的，这些种群被物理屏障隔离开来。然而，在我们对物种形成的理解上还有许多巨大的差距。例如，相同的因素是否会破坏不同物种的扩散？高流动性物种是否能从基因上适应当地环境？我的研究小组正在研究海鸟的这些问题。海鸟提供了有用的研究系统，因为它们的生态学通常被很好地理解，而且它们很容易大量取样。此外，由于它们在扩散过程中几乎没有遇到什么物理障碍，因此在各种生物中能够促进分化的非物理因素比在流动性较差的生物中更为明显。在上一个融资周期中，我们发现了对传统物种形成模型的几个令人惊讶的挑战。在目前的应用中，我建议研究局部适应在高流动性生物群体分化和物种形成中的作用。具体来说，我建议结合生态学（例如生活史）数据和前沿的基因组方法来研究a)带背风暴海燕季节性种族平行适应的遗传基础，以及B)两种北极海鸟的局部适应程度。计划采用两种方法：1)在关键特征（如繁殖季节）上不同个体的全基因组比较；2)研究目标（候选）基因的功能变异，如“时钟”（涉及生殖和迁移的时间）和“ADCYAP1”（可能涉及迁移不安）。鉴于我们广泛的DNA档案，合作者网络和创新历史，我的实验室具有独特的定位，可以最大限度地利用这些研究系统的发现。这项工作将阐明功能性状的遗传基础、这些性状的适应度效应以及功能基因的变异水平。研究结果对于了解当地适应的潜力和速度非常重要，并且对加拿大几种海鸟具有直接的保护效益。该项目将为4名博士、3名硕士和大约5名博士生提供多学科培训。10名理学士。

Traditionally, new species were thought to originate following gradual genetic divergence of populations separated by a physical barrier to dispersal. However there are many large gaps in our understanding of speciation. For example, do the same factors disrupt dispersal in different species? Do highly mobile species adapt to local conditions genetically? My research team is addressing questions such as these in seabirds. Seabirds present useful study systems because their ecology is generally well understood, and they are easy to sample in large numbers. Furthermore, because they encounter few physical barriers to dispersal, non-physical factors that can promote divergence in a variety of organisms are more evident than in less mobile organisms. In the previous funding cycle, we found several surprising challenges to the traditional model of speciation. In the present application, I propose to investigate the role of local adaptation in population differentiation and speciation in highly mobile organisms. Specifically, I propose to apply a combination of ecological (e.g. life history) data and cutting-edge genomic methods to investigate A) the genetic basis of parallel adaptation in seasonal races of band-rumped storm-petrels, and B) the extent of local adaptation in two species of arctic seabirds. Two approaches are planned: 1) genome-wide comparisons of individuals differing in a key trait (e.g. breeding season); and 2) investigation of functional variation in target (candidate) genes such as 'clock' (involved in the timing of reproduction and migration) and 'ADCYAP1' (potentially involved in migratory restlessness). Given our extensive DNA archive, network of collaborators and history of innovation, my lab is uniquely positioned to maximize the findings from these study systems. The proposed work will clarify the genetic basis of functional traits, fitness effects of these traits, and levels of variation in functional genes. Results are important for understanding both the potential for, and rate of, local adaptation, and have direct conservation benefits for several species of Canadian seabirds. This program will provide multidisciplinary training for 4 Ph.D., 3 M.Sc. and approx. 10 B.Sc. students.