Lost at sea? Understanding adaptation and dispersal in spiny lobsters (Old ID 23173)

Principal Investigator

Continual recruitment of young is fundamental to the replenishment of populations, especially when a stock is fished. Existing theory suggests that species with very long planktonic larval stages disperse widely, ensuring their genes are well mixed. However recently identified genetic differences between populations of rock l;obster challenge this paradigm and demonstrate that despite larvae mixing in the ocean for years, local recruitment and/or adaptation are at play. Recent developments in genomics and bioinformatics will allow this project to understand the ecological processes underpinning these genetic signatures and determine their evolutionary implications. Such findings would direct targeted rebuilding of depleted fisheries stocks.1/1/5

17 Feb 2015 - 31 Dec 2018

N/A