Elmer Lab

"Parallelism in eco-morphology and gene expression despite variable evolutionary and genomic backgrounds in a Holarctic fish" is in press with PLoS Genetics . data available on Enlighten.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1008658 Abstract Understanding the extent to which ecological divergence is repeatable is essential for predicting responses of biodiversity to environmental change. Here we test the predictability of evolution, from genotype to phenotype, by studying parallel evolution in a salmonid fish, Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), across eleven replicate sympatric ecotype pairs (benthivorous-planktivorous and planktivorous-piscivorous) and two evolutionary lineages. We found considerable variability in eco-morphological divergence, with several traits related to foraging (eye diameter, pectoral fin length) being highly parallel even across lineages. This suggests repeated and predictable adaptation to environment. Consistent with ancestral genetic variation, ...

Burgon, J.D., Vieites, D.R., Jacobs, A., Weidt, S.K., Gunter, H.M., Steinfartz, S., Burgess, K., Mable, B.K. and Elmer, K.R., 2020. Functional colour genes and signals of selection in colour polymorphic salamanders. Molecular Ecology. in press  online early Led by PhD student James Burgon, this paper is a favourite! a project started with colleagues in Scotland, Germany and Spain, coming from plans that were long in the pipeline. A new set of colour candidate genes for amphibians. Abstract Colouration has been associated with multiple biologically relevant traits that drive adaptation and diversification in many taxa. However, despite the great diversity of colour patterns present in amphibians the underlying molecular basis is largely unknown. Here, we leverage insight from a highly colour‐variable lineage of the European fire salamander ( Salamandra salamandra bernardezi ) to identify functional associations with striking variation in colour morph and pattern. The thr...

Work from Li Chao's research visit with us: Li, C., Wang, J., Chen, J., Schneider, K., Veettil, R.K., Elmer, K.R. and Zhao, J., 2020. Native bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix populations in the Pearl River are threatened by Yangtze River introductions as revealed by mitochondrial DNA. Journal of Fish Biology. in press online early Culturally and economically important fishes with conservation challenges due to people stocking fry and building dams. Abstract Bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix have been two economically important aquaculture species in China for centuries. In the past decades, bighead and silver carp have been introduced from the Yangtze River to many river systems in China, including the Pearl River, in annual, large‐scale, stocking activities to enhance wild fisheries. Nonetheless, few studies have assessed the ecological or genetic impacts of such introducti...

Paper led by PhD Student Kevin Schneider analysed all available transcriptome data for salmonids, to ask: at the molecular evolution level, what is similar about rapidly diversifying lake salmonids? Schneider, K., Adams, C.E. and Elmer, K.R., 2019. Parallel selection on ecologically relevant gene functions in the transcriptomes of highly diversifying salmonids. BMC genomics, 20(1), pp.1-23. open access paper available here Abstract Background Salmonid fishes are characterised by a very high level of variation in trophic, ecological, physiological, and life history adaptations. Some salmonid taxa show exceptional potential for fast, within-lake diversification into morphologically and ecologically distinct variants, often in parallel; these are the lake-resident charr and whitefish (several species in the genera Salvelinus and Coregonus ). To identify selection on genes and gene categories associated with such predictable diversifications, we analysed 2702 orthogroups (4.82 Mbp...

We have a new collaborative paper out with Pat Monaghan and the telomeres lab. The dynamics of telomeres in lizards are really poorly understood. Here we brought together an evolutionary perspective, genetic and pedigree information, and an analysis of telomeres. Also cover image, a beautiful oviparous female and her clutch. McLennan, D., Recknagel, H., Elmer, K.R. and Monaghan, P., 2019. Distinct telomere differences within a reproductively bimodal common lizard population.  Functional Ecology ,  33 (10), pp.1917-1927. Open access full article  here   ABSTRACT Different strategies of reproductive mode, either oviparity (egg‐laying) or viviparity (live‐bearing), will be associated with a range of other life‐history differences that are expected to affect patterns of ageing and longevity. It is usually difficult to compare the effects of alternative reproductive modes because of evolutionary and ecological divergence. However, the very rare...

A competitive fully-funded PhD studentship is be available to study adaptation and population genomics of Scotland's most variable fish the Arctic charr -- with Colin Adams and Kathryn Elmer at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. We are looking for an enthusiastic evolutionary biologist to join our team! Project: The lake-dwelling salmonid fish, the Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) is highly diverse both in phenotype and genotype. This takes the form of substantial variation within and between lakes; in some places the latter being expressed as eco-morphologically distinct and reproductively isolated sympatric polymorphisms. In addition the species is of high conservation value in the UK. This project will use high-resolution population genomic techniques to resolve questions about the phylogenetic similarities between allopatric and sympatric populations to inform the taxonomic position of the species and to help identify units that may require conservation protection. Sampl...

We welcome our new summer interns! Magdalena Butowska has just finished first year and will be working on molecular lab work of fish mtDNAs, morphometrics and plasticity; Robbie Hussein has just finished second year and will be working on analysing whether pregnancy affects the running speed of lizards; Giuditta Magian won a School of Life Sciences Undergraduate Vacation Scholarship after her third year and is busy working on Team Lizard-catching down in the Alps; Tie Caribe just finished fourth year (whoop!) and was awarded an FSBI internship with Colin Adams. He will be doing some of his lab work up in the roof labs; John Smout finished his Masters in Biotech last year, having done a project with us in the field then, and is also busy with Team Lizard this summer before he starts his PhD with MVLS in the autumn.