The influence of propagule banks on demography and genetic diversity in freshwater invertebrates and plants.
Lead Research Organisation:
Natural History Museum
Department Name: Zoology
Abstract
We aim to understand how propagule banks contribute to demography and genetic diversity through a combined empirical and modelling approach. The genetic structure of sediment bound propagules and of populations from different years will be characterized in bryozoan and plant systems. Models will predict temporal changes in genotype frequencies and the proportions deriving from propagule banks. Stage structured model simulations will identify key parameters that influence demography. Our study would have broad implications regarding the ecological significance of temporal gene flow in taxa ranging from zooplankton and plants to microbes, and a mechanistic basis for characterizing demographic contributions from propagule banks.
Organisations
| Description | Bryozoans are colonial invertebrates that are common residents of freshwater habitats. Our previously funded NERC research has demonstrated the influence of waterfowl in linking bryozoan populations by acting as dispersal agents of dormant propagules called statoblasts. Evidence that populations of bryozoans undergo local extinction has highlighted the importance of such dispersal in space. This project examined temporal changes in bryozoan populations using genetic approaches and aimed to determine whether dispersal over time is effected by the recolonisation of sites by statoblasts that have been deposited in sediments. We thus generated unique temporal data on the population genetic structure of freshwater bryozoans in 3 sites in the UK and 2 sites in Finland. Our work suggests that statoblasts in sediments may occasionally contribute to genetic diversity within sites although this will be rare since most statoblasts were non-viable. Our study provides a rare picture of temporal change within populations of organisms that incorporate a high degree of clonal reproduction in their life history. Our dataset also provides a benchmark, allowing for e.g. future investigations of genetic change in one or more of the populations studied. Unfortunately publication has been greatly delayed due to a series of circumstances beyond our control. During the second year of the project, the research was interrupted by maternity leave by the PDRA. This in itself did not inhibit progress. However, within a year of the child's birth, the PDRA took on the role of a single parent as a result of a break-up with the child's father. Acting as a single parent inevitably slowed progress. Then, during the last year of the project, personal tragedy struck (sudden death of PDRA's mother). The PDRA is an only child and this created extraordinary circumstances for the PDRA and her father which entailed unavoidable delays to project progress. Finally, the PDRA took on subsequent postdoctoral research abroad and this again has delayed publication. Nevertheless, we remain in communication and expect submission of manuscripts in the near future. |
| Exploitation Route | Freshwater bryozoans are hosts to a parasite that causes the devastating Proliferative Kidney Disease of salmon and trout. Our findings are relevant to understanding the ecology of the invertebrate host in the life cycle of the causative agent of fish disease and thus help to interpret drivers of disease outbreaks in farmed and wild fish with relevance to industry and quality of life issues. The research has relevance for understanding the general importance of temporal gene flow and the population biology of highly clonal organisms (i.e. those that emphasis asexual reproduction in their life cycles). It is thus of potential relevance for understanding the ecology of organisms such as aquatic invertebrates and plants that build up propagule banks (such as seeds in soils) and many of which are similarly highly clonal. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
| Description | The larger understanding of the ecology of freshwater invertebrates enabled by the project has contributed to the PI's interactions with the general public on how the ecology of freshwater bryozoans is linked with outbreaks of fish disease caused by a parasite that has a complex life cycle that involves both bryozoans and fish. These public engagement activities have been particularly promoted by participation of the PI in the Natural HIstory Museum's Science Uncovered events in 2011 and 2013. The project has also led to training in the form of an MSc student project thus providing research-related knowledge and skills benefit to an individual. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
| Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | : Directed PROPOSAL - Strategic Highlight Topics APR15 |
| Amount | £445,145 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SRC15009 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2015 |
| End | 11/2019 |
| Title | Tissue collections |
| Description | Populations of freshwater bryozoans collected during this project are stored for potential future use. Eventually we anticipate they will become part of the Natural History Museum's molecular collections, forming a source of data for e.g. baseline studies in the future. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2011 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | None yet |
| Description | Science Uncovered - public engagement |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We had long queues of people observing freshwater bryozoans with a microscope and discussed the importance of understanding the ecological roles of what are regarded as obscure organisms. In particular, how freshwater bryozoans and their parasites contribute to a devastating disease of fish that impacts trout farms in the UK. A request to make a schools presentation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2013 |