22 May
Rick Taylor
Professor, University of British Columbia, Zoology Department; Associate Director, Biodiversity Research Centre, and Curator, UBC Fish Museum
The Evolution, Biogeography, and Ecology of Contact Zones in Char (Salvelinus)
Abstract
Various regions of the North Pacific Basin been implicated as centres of origin or centres of interaction of biodiversity. Fishes of the genus Salvelinus ("char") are Holarctic in distribution and have been the focus of many studies of the biogeography, evolution, and ecology of divergence and speciation including across the North Pacific. Areas where species come into contact with one another have provided clues to the origin of species and the processes that maintain genetic distinction in the face of gene flow. Across much of the Coast-Cascade Mountain crest in northwestern North America, Dolly Varden (S. malma) and bull trout (S. confluentus) have come into secondary contact and hybridized both historically and in contemporary times. Biomodal hybrid zones appear to be structured largely by consistent life-history differences, pre-mating isolation and, as yet unknown, post-mating ecological selection. Similarly, across much of western Alaska and Siberia, Dolly Varden and Arctic char (S. alpinus) are sympatric. Phylogeographic and coalescent analyses of mitochondrial DNA suggests the species have experienced bouts of historical hybridization across this area. By contrast, microsatellite DNA analyses of char from two lakes where the species are sympatric indicate low levels of contemporary hybridization. As with sympatric populations of Dolly Varden and bull trout, co-existing populations of Arctic char and Dolly Varden exhibit life-history differences that appear to minimize opportunities for hybridization. Our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among char, as well as the population genetic interactions between sympatric species, is improving steadily. By contrast, the specific ecological and genetic processes that maintain genetic distinction in the face of contemporary gene flow remain largely unknown.
Bio
- PhD, UBC, 1981, supervisor PA Larkin, thesis on evolution, ecology and biogeography of juvenile Chinook salmon life histories
- Postdoc 1991-93, Dalhousie University, Marine Gene Probe Lab, Halifax Nova Scotia: biogeography and evolution of sympatric smelt populations.
- Visiting scientist, DFO, Nanaimo: stock id of chum salmon and biogeography of sympatric sockeye salmon and kokanee.
- Return to UBC, 1993, Assist Professor
- Associate Professor, 2000
- Full professor, 2005.
General research interests are in the ecology, genetic, and biogeography of divergence and its relevance to speciation and conservation, particular with respect to freshwater fishes. Teach in area of fish evolution; zoogeography.
Co-chair, Freshwater Fishes Specialist Subcommitee of Canada’s Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, advises Gov’t on Species at Risk Act.
Somewhat delinquent, but strong moral supporter of the Gilbert Ichthyological Society
Otter tidbits can be gleaned (if interested) from http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~etaylor
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