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Project

Genetic adaptation in common sole (Solea solea L.) under natural and artificial selection.

The management of commercial marine fish species requires a thorough understanding of natural and anthropogenic selective influences, which impact natural populations. During my PhD I study the level of adaptive genetic variation in natural sole populations, to assess the geographical distribution and the influence of overfishing on functional diversity. Itmight provide indications for genetic adaptations. As well historical time series (otoliths) as contemporary populations will be analysed usinggene-linked markers (microsatellites and SNPs). My PhD consists of fourmain objectives: (1) the bioinformatic analysis of sole transcriptome sequences (based on Next-Generation Sequencing) to develop markers linkedto candidate genes and potentially involved in life-history traits likegrowth, maturation and temperature adaptation; the high-throughput screening of (2) contemporary and (3) historical sole populations using bothneutral and targeted SNPs to assess jointly the connectivity and potential local adaptation in sole; and (4) the experimental validation of genetic adaptations in a controlled breeding population of sole to assess genotype by environment interactions. This project is highly relevant forsole management by mapping genetic management units and by pinpointing potential irreversible anthropogenic effects on adaptive genetic variation. The PhD project is integrated into the EU projects FishPopTrace and FinE, studying the traceability/connectivity and evolutionary impact of fisheries in marine populations.
Date:1 Oct 2009 →  26 Jun 2014
Keywords:Sole solea L., Genetic adaptation, Next-generation sequencing, Aquaculture, Fisheries induced evolution, Connectivity, Management, SNPs
Disciplines:Animal biology, Fisheries sciences, Geology, Aquatic sciences, challenges and pollution
Project type:PhD project