Climate Change Impact on Cisco (Coregonus artedi) Egg + Larva Development at the Molecular Level

Session: 08a. - Restoration of Native Fishes

Hannah Lachance, University of Vermont, [email protected]
Taylor Stewart, University of Vermont, [email protected]
Melissa Pespeni, University of Vermont, [email protected]
Jason Stockwell, University of Vermont, Rubenstein Ecosystem Sci. Lab., [email protected]

Abstract

Climate change is expected to increase winter temperatures and reduce ice and snow cover on lakes. Such changes could impact the development and hatch time for fish species that incubate over winter, such as cisco (Coregonus artedi). Warmer winter temperatures are expected to result in earlier hatch dates, but impacts of an increased light environment through reduced ice/snow cover remain unclear. To test if changes in the light environment could influence cisco egg and larval development, a pilot experiment was conducted during the winter of 2016-2017.  Fertilized eggs were exposed to three light treatments: continuous light, regular photoperiod, continuous dark.  To understand how these conditions may impact cisco development the transcriptomes of eggs and larvae from the extreme light treatments (continuous light, continuous dark) were sequenced. Analyzing a transcriptome will allow us to understand which genes are being expressed in each treatment, allowing us to compare how the presence and absence of light effects the eggs and larvae. The transcriptome data coupled with survival and hatch data will shed light on the physiological and developmental impacts of changing ice coverage on cisco.

1. Keyword
climate change

2. Keyword
genetics

3. Keyword
fish

4. Additional Keyword
Transcriptomics

5. Additional Keyword
Cisco

6. Additional Keyword
Egg development