Little fish makes a big splash in genomic studies; discovery may help manage an invasive species

14th July 2014

2 hours ago by Tiffany L Trent

(Phys.org) —A little fish may once again be making a big splash, if Pawel Michalak, a researcher at Virginia Tech's Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, has anything to say about it.

In a paper featured on the cover of the Journal of Experimental Zoology, Michalak and a team of nationally recognized fishery scientists uncovered genetic factors contributing to the alewife's (Alosa pseudoharengus) ability to populate freshwater habitats.

The alewife in recent years made history when it invaded the Great Lakes, surmounting the natural barrier of Niagara Falls, and established a purely freshwater population. As if that weren't enough, the fish favored as bait by lobster fishermen quickly edged out native fish and began wreaking havoc with lake trout and other native fishes.

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'Spineless' animals under threat of extinction

A fifth of animals without backbones could be at risk of extinction, say scientists.

Almost 80% of the world's species are invertebrates, meaning they lack a spinal column.

Reviewing over 12,000 species known to be threatened, biologists found that freshwater ones are most at risk.

Researchers urged for comprehensive studies of those vulnerable, to help inform conservation and protect species.

Human pressures, ranging from habitat disruption to increased temperatures, were key concerns according to the report published by the Zoological Society of London.

"We knew that roughly one fifth of vertebrates and plants were threatened with extinction, but it was not clear if this was representative of the small spineless creatures that make up the majority of life on the planet," said Professor Jonathan Baillie, ZSL's director of conservation.

Continued:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19422097