Linking genetic population differences with physiological tolerance differences; identifying resilient populations

Hannah Louise Wood

To: University of Agder, Norway

From: University of Gothenburg

Project abstract

Multiple climate drivers such as ocean acidification and warming (OWA) from increased atmospheric CO2, are placing pressure on marine species. OWA research has focused at the species level, but many species occur within a range of conditions, and local adaptations may be advantageous under OWA. There is a real need to consider the relevance of population variation with respect to OWA resilience. The overall goal of this project is to investigate the potential and importance of inter-population variation to the climate (OWA) resilience of the Northern Shrimp Pandalus borealis. Population comparison experiments, measurement of physiological parameters, and interpretation of results together with genetic data will achieve this. This project will provide the applicant with the opportunity to diversify their skills combining physiology with molecular genetics.

The specific objectives of this project are:

1. Compare the physiological repsonse of Northern Shrimp from genetically different populations to OWA using classical and cutting edge methodologies and a macrophysiology approach.

2. Investigate the genetic basis for better climate resilience by evaluating correlations between population-specific physiological and genetic data using existing genetic data to identify candidate genes by comparison of gene expression profiles between greater and lesser climate resilient populations.