Elucidating the evolutionary history of ciscoes (genus: Coregonus) using genomic approaches

Session: Application of Genomic Tools to Inform Management of the Great Lakes (3)

Moises Bernal, SUNY Buffalo, [email protected]
Daniel Yule, U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center, [email protected]
Wendylee Stott, Michigan State University, USGS Great Lakes Science Center, [email protected]
Gerald Smith, University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology, [email protected]
Thomas Dowling, Wayne State University , [email protected]
Trevor Krabbenhoft, University at Buffalo, [email protected]

Abstract

Ciscoes from the genus Coregonus are a commercially and ecologically-important group of fishes from the Great Lakes. However, overfishing and habitat degradation over the past two centuries have led to drastic population declines, shifts in community composition and extinctions for species of the group. Interestingly, ciscoes show morphological and ecological differences between sympatric species, but they are very similar in their genetic composition. Genomic approaches have allowed us to detect areas of high divergence in coding sequences between closely related species. This approach suggests there are genes that are highly differentiated between species, corresponding to traits such as body shape, lipid metabolism and cartilage formation. To better understand these areas of elevated divergence, we have generated long read sequences and assembled genomes of four species of Coregonus from Lake Superior: C. artedi, C. hoyi, C. kiyi and C. zenithicus. This genomic approach will be complemented with data on the diet of the different species, to examine the relationship between genetics and ecology. The ultimate goal of this project is to apply our genomic understanding of ciscoes to conservation strategies in the Great Lakes region.

Twitter handle of presenter
@evo_fish