The combination of a big population, good genes and luck helps explain how a species of fish in Texas’ Houston Ship Channel was able to adapt to what normally would be lethal levels of toxins for most other species, according to a study to be published May 3 in the journal Science.
The combination of a big population, good genes and luck helps explain how a species of fish in Texas’ Houston Ship Channel was able to adapt to what normally would be lethal levels of toxins for most other species, according to a study to be published May 3 in the journal Science.
The exceptional survivor story of the Gulf killifish was one scientist at the University of California, Davis, Baylor University and their co-authoring colleagues wanted to unveil so they could learn more about what other species may need to adapt to drastically changed environments.
The minnowlike Gulf killifish are an important part of the food web for a number of larger fish species in coastal marsh habitats.
“Most species don’t survive radically altered environments,” said corresponding author Andrew Whitehead, a UC Davis professor of environmental toxicology. “By studying the survivors, we get insight into what it takes to be successful. In the case of the killifish, it came down to huge population sizes and luck.”
Read more at University of California – Davis
Photo: Atlantic killifish contributed key adaptive genetic variation to the Gulf killifish, which amounted to an evolutionary rescue from toxic pollutants. (CREDIT: Andrew Whitehead/UC Davis)
