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Monday, May 26, 2008 - 3:00 PM
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Ecological genetics and running waters: Role in ecological/evolutionary theory
Christopher T. Robinson, Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland, Jane Hughes, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan Qld 4111, Australia, and Helmut Buergmann, Department of Surface Waters, Eawag, 6047 Kanstanienbaum, Switzerland.
Ecological genetics plays an important role in aquatic ecology and has contributed in the development of ecological/evolutionary theory. Recent novel additions in the molecular toolbox will facilitate even more rapid information flow for a better understanding of organisms, and their interactions, in the environment. Novel molecular techniques have already caused a paradigm shift in microbial ecology that extends to theoretical constructs of biogeography and species concepts. Ecological genetics has been used to better understand distribution patterns of macroinvertebrates and fishes from meso-scale dynamics within floodplains to biogeographic patterns across global landscapes. Ecological genetics has contributed to life history theory, metapopulation dynamics, dispersal paradigms, and disturbance theory. Ecological genetics have been used to understand species range shifts in relation to environmental change. Recent efforts have extended the role of ecological genetics into conservation biology, ecosystem function, and even predator prey and host parasite interactions. Lastly, ecological genetics has contributed greatly towards bridging ecological and evolutionary theory. Freshwaters are highly valuable environments for making novel rigorous contributions to ecological/evolutionary theory, and we argue that integrating ecological genetics into research programs is imperative for sustaining this status in the fields of ecology and evolution.
Web Page: genetics, evolution, ecological theory