Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve

19 Sep, 01 PM - 22 Sep, 01 PM

The digestive tract of marine organisms is home to a complex microbial ecosystem that could be affected by diet. Although fishes comprise the majority of taxonomic and ecological diversity of vertebrates, the gut microbial ecosystem of marine fishes is relatively unknown compared to humans and domesticated animals. To address this research gap and to further our knowledge of marine fishes intestinal ecosystem, I am studying the intestinal microbial ecosystem of prickleback fishes. Animals that consume different diets have guts that vary in structure and function, ranging from gut size, to enzyme biochemistry, to their enteric microbial communities. How the intestinal microbiome changes in response to dietary shifts is dependent on the animals diet and phylogenetic history, thus suggesting that closely related, sympatric animals with different natural diets should be investigated to further our understanding of how changes in diet affect an animals intestinal microbial community and gut function. By studying closely related prickleback fishes, we can make insights into how diet affects the intestinal microbiomes of animals, with the phylogenetic control of fishes that vary in natural diets. Thus, we aim to examine the distinct bacterial taxonomic compositions in the distal intestines of four closely-related prickleback fishes that naturally vary in diet: Xiphister mucosus (herbivore), X. atropurpureus (omnivore), Phytichthys chirus (omnivore), and Anoplarchus purpurescens (carnivore). We are comparing enteric microbial diversity amongst wild-caught individuals of the four species. Therefore, I plan to collect prickleback fish and dissect them.

Visit #58964 @Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 41475 | Research

Digestive Specialization of Prickleback Fish (Family Stichaeidae)

graduate_student - University of California, Irvine

Reservation Members(s)

Michelle Herrera Sep 19 - 22, 2018 (4 days)

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Meeting area with kitchen 1 Sep 19 - 22, 2018