Submitted by Ian Wang on
Within freshwater fish species, variation in environmental conditions and species interactions can generate substantial intraspecific diversity. For example, populations of species occupying both lake and stream environments demonstrate morphological, behavioral, physiological, and genetic differentiation. Of these, morphological differences are particularly well studied due to their functional importance and relation to life history traits. This proposal looks at rainbow darters, a widespread, stream-inhabiting fish found throughout the Mississippi and Great Lake drainages. Despite being obligatory stream inhabitants, a rare lake population has been documented in Gull Lake at the Kellogg Biological Station in Michigan, with recent work showing phenotypic and genetic differentiation when compared to neighboring streams (Oliveira et al., 2020). This project will build on existing research within this system to examine whether additional morphological variation exists. Specifically, the student researcher will generate and answer their hypotheses after reading about the system, after which they will collect and analyze data from already photographed contemporary and historical specimens to test if their predictions of spatiotemporal differentiation hold. The project will also involve a review of existing museum records to identify previously unknown collections of lake rainbow darters, communicating results with collaborators at Michigan State University, and, if interested, an opportunity to learn photographic data collection techniques at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology.
The principal task for the student researcher involved in this project will be to partake in the scientific research process by collecting and analyzing data obtained from photographic images of rainbow darters, including both contemporary and historical individuals. Specifically, the responsibilities of the student researcher include the following: 1) Digitize homologous landmarks using morphometrics to assay body shape variation, 2) Measure morphological traits from images, 3) Analyze variation in both body shape and morphological traits using R software, 4) Query existing museum databases to identify if any other records exist for lake individuals of rainbow darters. All the responsibilities outlined above will be completed after mentoring and training from the graduate student leading the project, with a weekly check-in for technical support and guidance. There are no qualifications or expectations that the student researcher has these skills before beginning the project, as they will all be taught. If interested, there are also opportunities for the student researcher to gain experience and training under the graduate student in collecting photographic data from specimens at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology.
There are no qualifications or technical skills that the student researcher must have to partake in this project, although a willingness to learn coding and statistical analysis software is required. The student researcher is expected to have excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.