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GYROSCOPE: A multidisciplinary approach to host-shifting and invasive potential by gyrodactylid parasites

Obiettivo

Problem: In a global economy, the transfer of parasites to novel hosts can pose a major threat to both farmed and wild animal stocks. The effects of parasite invasion can have significant impacts on rural economies and biodiversity, but are difficult to evaluate in the short-term, since adaptation to new hosts occurs over an evolutionary time-scale.

Aims:
- To study neutral genetic changes and adaptive evolution of morphology and virulence of gyrodactylid parasites associated with historical translocations of the guppy (Poecilia reticulata).
- To design a web-based database of gyrodactylids featuring genetic, ecological, morphological and biogeographic data. Background: The guppy has been translocated to ca. 40 countries worldwide over the last 75 years, resulting in the widespread introduction of non-native gyrodactylids.

This group of fish-parasites consists of ca. 20,000 species, the majority of which are still unknown to science. Gyrodactylids are renowned for their colonization abilities and pathogenicity, and one species alone, Gyrodactylus salaris has cost the Norwegian Salmon Industry >500 million € in 25 years. Gyrodactylids demonstrate biological plasticity including host-shifts, an evolutionary characteristic important for parasite invasion. Plan of work: We will utilize a multi-disciplinary approach (GYROSCOPE), integrating morphometrics, molecular systematics and experimental parasitology to identify and describe novel species, to study their invasion potential, and to evaluate DNA barcoding.

Analysis is performed at three evolutionary time-scales:
- Macroevolutionary - natural range (5MYA),
- Mesoevolutionary - human introductions (75 years), and
- Microevolutionary - laboratory experiments (less than 10 years). Implications to EC: The proposal work will directly enhance our understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning thereby contributing towards the objectives of sub-prioty 1.1.63 "Global Change and Ecosystems" of Framework 6.

Campo scientifico (EuroSciVoc)

Parole chiave

Argomento(i)

Invito a presentare proposte

FP6-2004-MOBILITY-3
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Meccanismo di finanziamento

TOK - Marie Curie actions-Transfer of Knowledge

Coordinatore

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Contributo UE
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Costo totale
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Partecipanti (1)