Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Biology
Date of Award
5-2014
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Lev Y. Yampolsky
Committee Members
Thomas C. Jones, Thomas F. Laughlin
Abstract
The future of Lake Baikal’s biodiversity is uncertain in response to climate change. Unlike its diverse benthos, Lake Baikal’s zooplankton is species poor, with up to 96% of its biomass being composed of a single Calanoid copepod species, Epischura baikalensis. This study characterizes the genetic differentiation and differential gene expression of E. baikalensis. Using partial-transcriptome sequences obtained by 454 Rosche and Illumina sequencing technologies, the genetic differentiation at inferred single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites and differential gene expression in populations sampled from various parts of the lake were analyzed. The functional genomics of genes showed significant differential expression among the lake’s regions with some genes being highly up-or down-regulated. High genetic differentiation among regions suggests isolated subpopulations. Moreover, significantly differentially expressed transcripts were significantly more genetically differentiated than transcripts exhibiting no differential expression. These results suggest high potential phenotypic plasticity and adaptability in response to climate change, e.g., temperature.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Bowman, Larry L. Jr, "Inter-and Intra-Population Variability across the Transcriptome of Lake Baikal’s Endemic Copepod with Ramifications for Adapting to Climate Change" (2014). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2361. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2361
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
Biodiversity Commons, Climate Commons, Evolution Commons, Fresh Water Studies Commons, Population Biology Commons