Project description
Genetic mechanisms of fish behavioural variation
The role marine ecosystems play in human life is instrumental. Healthy ecosystems result in major benefits for human populations. Traditionally, the management of marine ecosystem preservation has taken into consideration only the morphological characteristics of fish. However, fish behaviour is important in biodiversity conservation due to the role of pivotal behavioural characteristics in reproductive success. The EU-funded WildFishGenes project intends to study the basic genetic mechanisms underlying fish behavioural types. It will combine a pioneering behavioural data set based on fish tracking data collected in situ for hundreds of wild fish at groundbreaking spatio-temporal resolution, with advanced genomic techniques. The project will give rise to new fields of research in behavioural molecular ecology, thus enhancing fisheries management and behavioural biology research.
Objective
Humans depend on great measure on the welfare of marine ecosystems, not only from the retribution obtained directly from resource harvesting but also from the benefits derived from healthy ecosystems (i.e. quality of natural resources, biodiversity maintenance, and ecosystem resilience to anthropogenic challenges). Traditionally, management efforts to preserve marine resources only contemplated morphological traits of the individuals (e.g. body size). However, more evidence is piling up on the importance of behaviour on biodiversity conservation. Traits such as exploration, boldness, and activity have a strong impact on the individual`s reproductive success, thus determining species survival. As other phenotypical traits, fish behaviour is determined in great measure by its genetic basis. In this project, we propose studying the genetic mechanisms underlying fish behavioural types. We will use a unique dataset based on state-of-the-art fish-tracking data that provides long-term behavioural data in situ for hundreds of free-living fish at unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution. We will complement the behavioural data set with advanced genetic and genomic techniques to find phenotype-genotype associations by: i) studying the sequence variants of candidate genes, ii) studying the location and abundance of target proteins in fish brain structures, iii) obtaining multiple brain transcriptomes from individuals showing distinct behavioural types. The multidisciplinary nature of the project, combining novel behavioural data collection with next generation genomic techniques, will provide a broad overview of the molecular basis of behavioural characterization. The proposed activities will open a new line of research in behavioural molecular ecology unprecedented in marine ecosystems. Our results will provide insight into the molecular basis of behaviour in marine fish, thus leading to a qualitative jump forward in fisheries management and behavioural biology.
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Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
28006 Madrid
Spain