Mikilvægi vistfræðilegra þátta, svipgerðar og erfða fyrir lífræðilega fjölbreytni hjá hellableikju á Íslandi / The importance of ecology, phenotype and genetic structure for biological diversity in Icelandic cave charr - verkefni lokið
Fréttatilkynning verkefnisstjóra
In this project the Arctic charr found in 20 lava caves in two areas around Lake Mývatn in NE-Iceland were studied.
The
project: The importance of ecology, phenotype and genetic structure for
biological diversity in Icelandic cave charr, was conducted from 2012 - 2015.
Arctic charr found in 20 lava caves in two areas around Lake Mývatn in
NE-Iceland were studied. A genetic analysis identified 16 populations in
separate caves and considerable genetic isolation across populations was
confirmed, as well as genetic differentiation from the charr populations found
in Lake Mývatn. Fst values (indicators of genetic similarity) were among the
highest seen in Arctic charr. In each cave, charr larger than 45 mm were
individually tagged and followed over time, representing 70-90% of the fish
found in each cave. There was high survival of charr across caves. Survival and
growth can be related to important ecological factors, such as temperature and
to the area where the cave is found.
Heiti verkefnis: Mikilvægi vistfræðilegra
þátta, svipgerðar og erfða fyrir lífræðilega fjölbreytni hjá hellableikju á
Íslandi / The importance of ecology, phenotype and genetic structure for biological
diversity in Icelandic cave charr
Verkefnisstjóri: Skúli Skúlason, Háskólanum á Hólum
Tegund styrks: Verkefnisstyrkur
Styrkár: 2012-2014
Fjárhæð styrks: 19,819 millj. kr.
Tilvísunarnúmer Rannís: 12022702
Gathering
individual-level phenotypic and genetic data in natural conditions remains
extremely challenging. Furthermore, studies on fish in this respect are
extremely rare. The 16 populations of small benthic Arctic charr identified in
the caves around Mývatn provide a degree of spatial replication that is not
obtained in any other taxonomic groups. This allows for powerful studies aiming
at understanding the interaction of stochastic events and selection, e.g.
sexual selection and adaptation, in shaping biodiversity in wild populations.
Such studies are extremely important for future conservation and harvest of
natural populations.
The results of the study have been presented at a number of international scientific meetings. A post-doctoral fellow and three graduate students have worked on the project, and a number of scientific publications are forthcoming.
A study of Benthic Arctic Charr - Video.
