Periodic Reporting for period 4 - ALH (Alternative life histories: linking genes to phenotypes to demography)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2019-11-01 al 2021-04-30
We tackled a range or inter-related questions in the ALH project using a combination of large-scale laboratory and field experiments, whilst also exploiting recent exciting technical developments in molecular biology such as whole-genome resequencing and RNAseq and ever-increasing computing power to analyse “big data” and run simulation models. Our approach focussed on obtaining synthetic understanding of key patterns and processes across different biological levels, from DNA and associated biomolecules, to the behaviour and physiology of individuals, to the joint ecological and evolutionary dynamics of populations. As well of being of academic interest from a “blue skies research” perspective, our investigations are also of applied relevance in the context of biodiversity conservation and fisheries management.
A second strand of this project examined how fish acquire and utilise energy and how metabolism links to migration tactics, lifestyles and environment. So far this work has resulted in a published paper (Archer et al. 2020 Conservation Physiology) and another in review with Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
A third strand focussed on molecular-level patterns and processes, where the idea was to identify genetic variants that are associated with migration tactics and to better understand the links from DNA to RNA (“gene expression”) to individual phenotypes. For example, we have shown that migratory and resident fish differ in their expression of metabolic genes in their livers, but interestingly rather few genes were differentially expressed in their brains (Wynne et al. 2021 Ecology and Evolution). To identify genetic factors influencing whether fish migrate or not, we conducted an exciting study where we compared the genomes of river-caught trout that live either above or below waterfalls – the idea being that genetic variants that cause a fish to migrate should be selected against in above-falls populations (as individuals carrying such genes migrate over the falls but cannot then get back up). A draft paper is at an advanced stage, and further spin-off papers are being underway that examine additional aspects relating to “sexual conflict”, where genetic variants increase survival or reproductive success in one sex but decrease it in another. We also published another spin-off paper that was the first to comprehensively catalogue immune genes in brown trout and explore their expression and evolution (Colgan et al. 2021 Frontiers in Immunology).
The final part of the project used computer modelling to explore how environmental change – in particular sea lice from fish farms – affects migratory trout populations in terms of interactions between genetic and ecological terms. One novel angle developed here was the role of sexual conflict in influencing outcomes, with a manuscript to be submitted soon. We foresee that this model can be adapted to address a range of other interesting questions relevant to evolutionary biology, fisheries and climate change.
In addition to the above outputs, members of the ALH group have given over 15 presentations at national and international conferences/departmental seminars/workshops and engaged extensively with the media. Finally, the PI of this project has leveraged this ERC funding to obtain a permanent Senior Lecturer position at his Host Institute, and has also reinforced and expanded his international collaborative network.
In conclusion, by drawing attention to fundamentally important biological questions in an iconic species of major economic importance in Europe, this ALH project has helped train the next generation of young researchers, has aspired to enhance the wider societal impacts of evolutionary ecology research and has generated results that will be of practical utility to fisheries managers and conservation biologists.