Regions: South Slave Region
Tags: biology, fish sampling, fish population, molecular genetics, stickleback, biological evolution, genetic diversity, morphology
| Principal Investigator: | Kingsley, David M. (4) |
| Licence Number: | 13197 |
| Organization: | Stanford University |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2010
2008
2007
2005
2004
2002
2001
2000
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| Issued: | May 22, 2001 |
| Project Team: | Katie Piechel, Kirsten Nereng, Pamala Colosimo, Bonnie Cole |
Objective(s): The purpose of the proposed 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 varies dramatically 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. The research team will attempt to determine if the same genes are controlling pelvic reduction in all three species of sticklebacks. In order to do this, the research team will collect sticklebacks from the populations with pelvic reduction and cross 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 Hole 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 the research team to map the genes responsible for pelvic reduction in this unique population of Pungitius.
Project Description: The research team is using sticklebacks for this study because there are many morphological differences between freshwater populations of sticklebacks. The research team of 2 will access Fox Hole Lake by car and then by hiking approximately 3 miles in to the lake from the road. Minnow traps will be used to collect no more than 20 gravid adult ninespine sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) and 20 gravid adult brook sticklebacks (Culaea inconstans). 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.
