NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: South Slave Region

Tags: biology, fish sampling, fish population, molecular genetics, stickleback, biological evolution, genetic diversity, morphology

Objective(s): The purpose of this study is to understand the genetic and molecular basis of morphological changes during evolution. Sticklebacks will be used as there are many morphological differences between freshwater populations of sticklebacks. One trait that that varies dreamatically is the presence or absence of the pelvic spines. Populations of three different species of sticklebacks: the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), ninespine stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) and brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) have been identified which have no pelvic spines. We would like to determine if the same genes are controlling pelvic reduction in all three species of sticklebacks. In order to do this, we are collecting sticklebacks from the populations with pelvic reduction and crossing them in the laboratory to populations with normal pelvic spines. This will allow us to map and eventually identify the genes responsible for these differences. Fox Holes Lake is unique because the Ninespine sticklebacks found there are one of only a few populations of ninespine sticklebacks in the world with complete reduction of the pelvic spines. Therefore, setting up crosses with fish from this lake will allow us to map the genes responsible for pelvic reduction in this unique population of Pungitius.

Project Description: The purpose of this study is to understand the genetic and molecular basis of morphological changes during evolution. The researchers are using sticklebacks for this study because there are many morphological differences between freshwater populations of sticklebacks. The research team of 2 will access Fox Holes Lake by car and then by hiking approximately 3 miles in to the lake from the road. They will use minnow traps to collect no more than 10 gravid adult Ninespine sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius). Traps will be left on July 15th and retrieved on July 16th. The fish will then be transported live to the laboratory at Stanford to establish genetic crosses. For more information on the fish collection methods please consult the permit issued by DFO.