Radiation and adaptation of harbor porpoises within the North Atlantic

Descripción del proyecto

Resolver la paradoja marina: la genómica de la marsopa común

Aunque las marsopas comunes del Atlántico Norte son excelentes nadadoras que apenas se topan con obstáculos físicos, a menudo forman grupos aislados y genéticamente distintos. Esta «paradoja de la especiación marina» hace que las poblaciones pequeñas sean vulnerables al cambio climático y a los elevados niveles de capturas accidentales en la pesca comercial. El equipo del proyecto PorpAdapt, que cuenta con el apoyo de las Acciones Marie Skłodowska-Curie, tiene como objetivo comprender esta conectividad mediante el análisis del mayor conjunto de datos sobre cetáceos hasta la fecha: 311 genomas. Mediante la combinación de la genómica y la biología marina, en el proyecto se analizará cómo evolucionaron estos linajes y cómo se adaptaron a los entornos locales. Además de cartografiar la aptitud genética, su objetivo es ofrecer recomendaciones fundamentales a los responsables de la conservación. En definitiva, en PorpAdapt se contribuirá a la elaboración de estrategias eficaces para proteger estas poblaciones y a mejorar nuestra comprensión de la evolución marina.

Objetivo

Marine mammals face few physical barriers to dispersal, yet evidence of isolation, genetic differentiation and local adaptation have been reported for many species; comprising what has been referred to as the marine-speciation paradox. The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is a champion of dispersal and population establishment, occurring across the northern hemisphere from subarctic to temperate regions. Despite its ability to disperse across the marine environment, evidence for multiple distinct genetic populations and subspecies have been suggested, indicating barriers to gene flow are present and populations have adapted locally to environmental conditions. Small, genetically isolated populations, such as those in the Belt and Black Seas are at risk of population collapse, with climate change as an impending threat and reported bycatch levels from commercial fisheries greater than five times sustainable estimates. Comprehensively assessing the connectivity of North Atlantic populations, assessing genomic erosion, and understanding the extent of local adaptations is essential to implement conservation strategies. I propose leveraging 311 genomes sampled across the entire North Atlantic to compile the most comprehensive dataset of cetacean to date. Drawing on the disciplines of marine biology, genomics, bioinformatics and conservation ecology, I plan to investigate the radiation of harbour porpoise lineages, assess their genomic fitness and document their adaptations to local environments. In a broader context, the results will aid in understanding how marine species form unique lineages and will provide value recommendations to nature managers on the status of harbour porpoise populations. The combination of my experience in speciation genomics and the expertise of my host in conservation and adaptation genomics will ensure the successful implementation of this project and prepare me for a career as a leading researcher in marine mammal science.