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The Aquatic Research Consortium — FY04 (Year 2): A genomic and proteomic approach for detection of environmental stress responses in small fish models.
FY 2004 Abstract (Year 2)
This proposal requests the second phase of funding for the Aquatic Research Consortium (ARC), a collaboration of scientists from the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory of The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and from Texas State University (TSU). The first phase of the program, now underway, focused on the use of the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) and Xiphophorus spp. by researchers at USM and TSU, respectively, for a toxicogenomic approach to investigating gene expression for understanding responses to hazardous environmental chemicals and establishing dose/response profiles in those aquatic animal models. In the second phase, we will use the sheepshead minnow (Cyprindon variegates), an estuarine fish model, and Xiphophorus to investigate genomic and proteomic responses, respectively, to hypoxia and co-occurring compounding stressors such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, endocrine disrupting chemicals, metals and herbicides. We will attempt to link gene and protein expression profiles to biologically relevant endpoints such as reproduction and immune function and scale individual level responses to population level responses through the use of physiological/statistical, individual-based and matrix projection models.
Aquatic organisms are exposed to multiple natural and anthropogenic stressors in the environment. The intensity, frequency and extent of these stressors is rapidly increasing due to population growth in coastal regions and their watersheds, accompanied by agricultural, industrial and urban development, which has led to an unprecedented acceleration of contaminant and nutrient inputs into estuaries. These declines in habitat quality threaten function and sustainability of estuarine ecosystems with potential serious consequences for recreationally and commercially important fisheries. The main objective of our proposal is to develop the next generation of molecular indicators, based on a genomics and proteomics approach, for detection of environmental stress responses in fish, to determine population differences in stress responses and to link these indicators in individuals to responses at the population level.
Chronic stressors can cause cumulative effects that result in reduced fitness, culminating in effects at the population level. By the time such effects are observed, conditions may have deteriorated to levels that are difficult or expensive to remedy. We expect that the stressor-specific diagnostic tools developed in this research project will provide resource managers with sensitive early-warning indicators of potential population effects and incipient ecological change due to decreased water quality. Such indicators are of vital importance for effective management of ecological systems because they will allow proactive rather than reactive strategies for restoring ecosystem health. The indicators will be critical for rapidly evaluating the success of environmental remediation efforts.