UNIL main applicant
Claus Wedekind, Faculté de biologie et de médecine
Université Laval main applicant
Louis Bernatchez, Faculté des sciences et génie
Topic
Use of 3D image analysis and omics science to better understand the diversity of trout (salmo trutta) migration types
Activities
Analyzing fish through photography, 3D scanning and geometric morphometrics; tissue sampling; bioinformatic processing and analysis of data; organizing a workshop
Description
Migration is a complex phenotype whose frequency and timing vary between and within populations. Migrating and non-migrating animals usually differ in behavior, morphology and physiology. These differences need to be understood to better predict, for example, the demographic and evolutionary consequences of different management options. By using 3D image analysis and omics approaches, we will examine how gene expression and DNA methylation determine alternative migration morphotypes in a fish, the brown trout (salmo trutta). This species is an excellent candidate to address this issue as it displays a remarkable diversity of migration strategies and is socio-economically and scientifically important in both Switzerland and Canada. Our project requires recognition of migration-related morphotypes via digital analysis of body shape and skin patterns and colorations. The use of high-dimensional data-analysis methods will allow the development of machine learning algorithms for classification of fish based on images, for example, to aid species management and conservation.
Schedule
- Mid 2020 : analysis of 1000 fish and selection of 48 fish showing typical phenotypes
- Autumn/Winter 2020: sequencing and data processing
- Spring/Summer 2021: data analysis; UNIL PhD student to visit Laval lab
- Autumn 2021/Summer 2022: paper submitted for publication; organization of the workshop
