Sperm adaptation and plasticity

In aquatic habitats, salinity has a strong effect on successful reproduction in species with external fertilization. In this project, focusing on salinity effects on gametes, we study how environmental effects on reproduction act as driver of local adaptation and geographical distribution. The study system consists of several species of gobiid fish that with their contrasting ecologies and evolutionary histories complement each other.

Intolerance of gametes to non-native salinities limit gene flow between areas that differ in salinity, facilitating local adaptations to arise. Together with collaborators, we use sand gobies (native in marine and brackish waters, ranging 3-35 ppt) and round gobies (invasive fresh and brackish waters, ranging 0-15 ppt) as our main model systems.

Testing sperm performance in different salinities, combined with cross-breeding experiments and genetic profiling, this evolutionary ecological project aims to answer fundamental questions regarding the how a spatially and temporally variable environment affects genetic adaptation of reproductive traits.

Dr Leon Green did his PhD within this CeMEB and VR-funded project and he continues to work on it. Several Bachelor and Master students (Andy Holmes, Felix Englund Örn, and Martina Griful), and many collaborators are or have been involved (for example, Erica Leder and Jon Havenhand, Univ of Gothenburg, Sweden; Ola Svensson, University of Borås; Jane Behrens, DTU-Aqua, Denmark; Axel Temming and Jens-Peter Herrman, Univ of Hamburg, Germany; Ann-Britt Florin, SLU-Aqua, Sweden, Elisabet Forsgren, NINA, Norway, Gunilla Rosenqvist NTNU, Norway and Hans Lindqwist, Sportfiskarna, Sweden).