Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Despite the fact a theory of evolution by natural selection was first proposed over 150 years ago, we know very little about how adaptation occurs at the genome level. Particularly in some environments such as the world's oceans, how common local adaptation is and the degree to which human activities may drive rapid evolution remain mysteries. As many aquatic species can swim or drift large distances, it's traditionally been assumed that dispersal may constrain or prevent local adaptation. Increasingly evidence is mounting to the contrary. This program of research examines how genomic variation associated with adaptation varies biologically and geographically in aquatic organisms, and explores causes and consequences of this variation. Technological breakthroughs in DNA sequencing technology allow us to examine thousands of sites across the genomes in two marine invertebrate species (Atlantic Sea Scallop, Placopecten magellanicus and European Green Crab, Carcinus maenas) and one anadromous fish (Atlantic Salmon, Salmo salar) and focus on individuals spanning gradients of climate, life history, and human influence. Individuals genomes will be scanned for signatures of natural selection allowing us to reconstruct the architecture of adaptation and pinpoint selective forces driving evolution. Themes explored include (1) effect of climate change on latitudinal genomic variation (2) what makes some aquatic invasions more successful than other, and (3) how local adaptation, recombination, and dispersal interact to drive evolution. The ability of species to adapt and the presence of a diverse adaptive portfolio is central to the health and persistence of species and populations. This work will enhance our understanding of the scale of adaptation, and highlight the roles selection, both natural and human induced play in shaping aquatic populations.