Comparing Micro- and Macro-Organismal Diversity Across Idaho Ecosystems
Faculty Mentor Information
Jacob Bledsoe, University of Idaho
Presentation Date
7-2023
Abstract
Rising global temperatures present a significant threat to coldwater fish species. It is well known that elevated temperatures can exert selective pressures on redband rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdnerii) genetic traits, with varying levels of adaptation across populations and ecotypes. Modern holobiont theory suggests selective pressures do not simply act upon individual organisms, but instead act upon the holobiont, or the combination of the individual organism and the collection of microorganisms that live in, on, and around the animal (i.e. its microbiome). Although very little is known about the microbiome of redband trout and its potential to also influence thermal adaptive capacity. To test the impact of thermal stress on the adaptive potential of trout, we collected environmental and host-associated samples from trout populations across disparate ecotypes, namely desert and cold montane sites in the field, as well as conducted common-garden studies where fish from different sites are reared in a common environment. At each sampling, environmental DNA (water and sediment samples), host DNA (redband trout fin clips), and host-associated microbiome samples of the trout gill, skin, and digesta were collected. By analyzing DNA samples from the environment, the redband trout host, as well as its associated microbiomes, we will gain holistic insights on the role of the environment, host genetics, and the microbiome on the thermal adaptive potential of trout. Here we present work to characterize and compare the host-genetic component which will be used to bolster microbiome analysis with host-genetic covariates. Neutral genetic markers (SNPs) were analyzed to determine host-genetic differentiation across sampling sites and will be further used to correlate host-genetic variance with host-microbiome variation. In addition, genetic data on putative adaptive SNP markers tied to thermal adaptation in trout, as well as sex identification markers, were generated to further evaluate host-associated influences on microbiome composition. Current genetics results reveal similarities between trout population found in similar ecotypes, as well as genetic variance within and between population and ecotypes. Analyses of the host and environment microbiome-related samples are still ongoing and will be used to better understand genetic versus environmental regulation of trout microbiomes and the potential for adaptive microbiome trait.
Comparing Micro- and Macro-Organismal Diversity Across Idaho Ecosystems
Rising global temperatures present a significant threat to coldwater fish species. It is well known that elevated temperatures can exert selective pressures on redband rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdnerii) genetic traits, with varying levels of adaptation across populations and ecotypes. Modern holobiont theory suggests selective pressures do not simply act upon individual organisms, but instead act upon the holobiont, or the combination of the individual organism and the collection of microorganisms that live in, on, and around the animal (i.e. its microbiome). Although very little is known about the microbiome of redband trout and its potential to also influence thermal adaptive capacity. To test the impact of thermal stress on the adaptive potential of trout, we collected environmental and host-associated samples from trout populations across disparate ecotypes, namely desert and cold montane sites in the field, as well as conducted common-garden studies where fish from different sites are reared in a common environment. At each sampling, environmental DNA (water and sediment samples), host DNA (redband trout fin clips), and host-associated microbiome samples of the trout gill, skin, and digesta were collected. By analyzing DNA samples from the environment, the redband trout host, as well as its associated microbiomes, we will gain holistic insights on the role of the environment, host genetics, and the microbiome on the thermal adaptive potential of trout. Here we present work to characterize and compare the host-genetic component which will be used to bolster microbiome analysis with host-genetic covariates. Neutral genetic markers (SNPs) were analyzed to determine host-genetic differentiation across sampling sites and will be further used to correlate host-genetic variance with host-microbiome variation. In addition, genetic data on putative adaptive SNP markers tied to thermal adaptation in trout, as well as sex identification markers, were generated to further evaluate host-associated influences on microbiome composition. Current genetics results reveal similarities between trout population found in similar ecotypes, as well as genetic variance within and between population and ecotypes. Analyses of the host and environment microbiome-related samples are still ongoing and will be used to better understand genetic versus environmental regulation of trout microbiomes and the potential for adaptive microbiome trait.