Marine Science Schweppe Seminars

Friday, December 4, 11:00, Zoom

"Intraspecific Variation in Response Environmental Stressors: A Window Into Climate Change-Resilience in Fish"

Patricia Schulte, Ph.D.
Full Professor
Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia

Abstract: Current models of global warming predict increases in both mean temperatures and the frequency of extreme warming events. In aquatic habitats, these temperature increases are associated with decreases in water oxygenation (hypoxia), and together these two stressors present a threat to fish biodiversity. Intraspecific variation in key physiological traits such as tolerance of warming and hypoxia can have profound effects on ecological and evolutionary processes, including responses to climate change, and thus understanding the extent and basis of this variation will be critical in making predictions of how fish species will cope with these unprecedented challenges. In this talk, I will review some of our ongoing studies of the basis of intraspecific variation in thermal and hypoxia tolerance in fish through processes such as phenotypic plasticity, epigenetic effects, and genetic variation within and among populations, and show how this information can be useful for managers and policy makers as we attempt to conserve fish biodiversity.

Research interests: Comparative Physiology, Evolution

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