Field equipment to support research and conservation of fishes in Canada’s inland waters

我们的研究使用加拿大的淡水湖和河流，通过密集的实地研究和尖端的实验室技术来了解鱼类的进化、生态和保护。这笔赠款将提供设备，以支持这项研究的实地部分，包括一艘适合从内陆水域采样鱼类的船只和一辆适合前往安大略省偏远野外地点的车辆。在未来5年内，该设备将用于支持四个主要项目。第一个项目将通过荷尔蒙对基因转录和将资源分配给相互竞争的生物功能的影响，研究荷尔蒙作为生殖行为差异和适应性差异的关键媒介的作用。第二个项目将研究促进在不同猎物上觅食的形态特化及其在交配系统和物种形成中的作用。第三个项目将研究精子竞争作为男性健康的决定因素的作用，特别是评估一些通常测量的精子特征(例如，数量、活力、速度)的重要性。第四个项目将致力于量化鱼类应对气候变化和维持其目前栖息地的能力。这些项目将共同推动解决基本生物学问题的研究，同时提供对管理和保护加拿大宝贵的淡水鱼群落至关重要的实用知识。该设备将直接用于8名研究生、12名本科生和2名博士后在水生采样、船舶操作、鱼类识别、栖息地分类和实验设计方面的实践培训。这些技能的需求量很大，将培养出能够在科学、资源管理和私营行业的跨学科领域工作的高素质人才。

Our research uses Canada’s freshwater lakes and rivers to understand the evolution, ecology and conservation of fishes through intensive field-based research coupled with leading-edge laboratory techniques. The present grant will provide equipment to support the field component of this research, comprising a boat suitable for sampling fishes from inland waters and a vehicle suitable for accessing remote field locations in Ontario. Over the next 5 years, this equipment will be used to support four major projects. The first project will examine the role of hormones as key mediators of differences in reproductive behaviours and fitness through their effects on gene transcription and the allocation of resources to competing biological functions. The second project will examine morphological specializations that facilitate foraging on different prey items and its role in mating systems and speciation. The third project will study the role of sperm competition as a determinant of male fitness, and in particular evaluate the importance of a number of commonly measured sperm traits (e.g. number, motility, speed). The fourth project will work to quantify the capacity of fishes to respond to climate change and to persist in their current habitats. Together these projects will advance research that addresses fundamental biological questions while providing practical knowledge that will be critical for managing and safeguarding Canada’s valuable freshwater fish communities. The equipment will contribute directly to the hands-on training of 8 graduate students, 12 undergraduate students and 2 postdoctoral fellows in aquatic sampling, watercraft operation, fish identification, habitat classification, and experimental design. These skills are in high demand, and will produce highly-qualified personnel that are capable of working in the cross-disciplinary areas of science, resource management, and private industry.