NHRP Project Proposal
Title: Lamprey ecology & genetics PhD
Project code: QU13-01
NHRP student:
A.N. Other (to be advertised)
NHRP Manager:
Dr Neil Reid
NHRP Project Manager:
Emma Dorman
NHRP Client Officer(s):
Tony Waterman
QUB academic supervisor(s):
Dr Chris Harrod (1st)
Prof Paulo Prodöhl (2nd)
Dr Neil Reid (3rd)
pFACT: 12198
Project Outline (100 words max):
This 3 year studentship aims to assess the distribution and abundance of sea, brook and river
lamprey in Northern Ireland whilst resolving the taxonomic and phylogenetic difficulties in
differentiating the brook and river lamprey. Trophic ecology approaches including Stable
Isotope Analysis will be used to determine the ecology of the river lamprey.
What question(s) may be answered by this project?
1. What is the current conservation status of lamprey in NI including distribution and
abundance?
2. Are brook and river lamprey separate species?
3. Are river lamprey in NI entirely non-anadromous?
4. What are the impacts of physical barriers to lamprey migration?
To which of the NHRP research theme(s) does this project apply?
i) NIEA statutory duties
 Species distribution, abundance and habitat requirements
ii) Biodiversity in the wider countryside
 Northern Ireland Priority Species
 Ecological genetics
To which NIEA policy driver(s) does this project apply?
EU Habitats Directive
Convention of Biological Diversity
All-Ireland Species Action Plan
Irish Red Data Book
Type (Please tick):
Full project
Starting date: 01/07/2013
Bern Convention
NI Irish hare Species Action Plan
Northern Ireland Priority Species List
Short Contract
End date: 15/09/2016
Studentship
Other
Duration: 3.2 years
Background:
There are three species of lampreys (Agnatha or jawless fish) in Ireland belonging to
two genera found throughout Europe and the British Isles; the sea lamprey
(Petromyzon marinus), the river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) and the brook lamprey
(Lampetra planeri).
The river lamprey is primarily an anadromous species that spawns in accessible rivers,
but feeds as adults in coastal waters and estuaries. However, some non-migratory
populations have been reported that do not make the migration to coastal habitats but
migrate downriver into lakes to feed, for example at Loch Lomond in Scotland as well
as in some lakes in Finland and Russia (Maitland 2003). Recently, freshwater feeding
in a non-anadromous population of river lampreys has been reported from the largest
lake in the British Isles, Lough Neagh (Goodwin et al. 2006; Inger et al. 2010). The
brook lamprey is a purely freshwater species occurring in streams and lakes. River and
brook lamprey populations are generally in decline across Europe and are currently
protected under the European Union Habitats Directive, Annexes IIa and Va, Appendix
III of the Bern Convention and as a ‘Long List Species’ in the UK Biodiversity Action
Plan. The sea lamprey is listed as ‘near threatened’ on the current Irish Red List (King
et al. 2011). Consequently, Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) have been
established for these species.
Whilst the basics of their distribution and abundance (Goodwin et al. 2009) and ecology
(Goodwin et al. 2006; Goodwin et al. 2008; Inger et al. 2010) are roughly known in
Ireland this information is now out-of-date and not relevant as a basis for Conservation
Assessments under the Habitats Directive during the current reporting period (20132019).
More generally, relatively little is still known regarding population and evolutionary
genetics of lampreys; most notably the brook and river species. Lampreys are among
the most primitive freshwater species in the British Isles. Like other endemic freshwater
fish species (e.g. brown trout, arctic charr, coregonids, sticklebacks), their evolutionary
history is closely associated with the retreat of the ice following the last ice age. Thus,
current day populations are most likely derived from several genetically distinct
lineages of anadromous forms that reached newly formed rivers and Loughs. Change
from anadromous forms to freshwater (e.g. resident river lamprey and/or brook
lamprey) in Britain and Ireland has occurred more or less independently in each river
system within the past 18,000 years. It is most likely that, adaptive and non-adaptive
changes have taken place among populations within and among water catchments.
Indeed, this has been clearly demonstrated for other anadromous fish species (e.g. sea
trout vs. brown trout) where substantial genetic heterogeneity among populations within
and among water systems has been observed. Similar genetic differences are
expected to occur in lampreys. Furthermore, in parallel to what has been observed in
salmonid species, it is likely that freshwater lampreys have arisen, in some river
systems, from lineages that colonized at different times, post-glacially giving rise to
sympatric reproductively isolated populations.
This anadromous origin has important implications for the study/conservation of
Lampetra species. In particular, it means that it is not possible to generalize on the
relationship between these forms, as freshwater types could have evolved
independently in each catchment under distinct environmental pressures. Thus, what
may apply in one catchment may not be the case in others.
For instance, one current hypothesis is that river and brook lampreys may represent a
‘paired species’, where river lampreys continue the ancestral anadromous migration to
estuarine or marine habitats to feed, whilst brook lampreys represent a recent
evolutionary adaptation and are non-parasitic. These arguments have obvious
implications for the identification of meaningful conservation units including the
designation of appropriate SACs for these species.
Objectives and Methods:
1. Determine the current distribution and abundance of sea, brook and river lamprey in NI
[NIEA Priority]
Two techniques will be used; i) an electrofishing survey of ammocoetes and ii) a
trapping survey of adults. The distribution of survey sites will depend on existing
information. Water Management Unit (WMU), Rivers Agency (RI) and the Agri-Food
and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) conduct electrofishing for salmonids and kick-sample
monitoring at regular stations which contribute incidental data on the abundance of
lamprey in riffle (not the ideal habitat) or their presence/absence at kick-sampling sites.
Ideally, we will select sites that do not occur within the same 10km squares as existing
monitoring sites so that at the end of the PhD all sources of data can be combined so
as not to duplicate records but fill in as many 10km squares as possible. Moreover, we
would want this survey to have a reasonably uniform distribution of survey effort, for
example, each 20km square (n=36). Sea lamprey ammocoetes can be easily
distinguished from brook and river lamprey ammocoetes but the latter cannot be
distinguished. See genetics objective below. Estimates of density (fish.m-2) and total
abundance will be estimated.
2. Verify the taxonomic status of brook and river lamprey using molecular genetics
techniques [NIEA Priority]
The phenotype of adult brook and river lamprey caught during trapping will be recorded
using morphology (length, weight, eye diameter and mouth shape), taxonomic
approaches (oocyte counts) and molecular analysis (using mitochondrial DNA
sequencing). Genetic analysis will be used to determine whether brook and river
lamprey are discrete species or genetically indistinguishable morphs of the same
species. If they prove to be discrete species that can be distinguished the successful
molecular markers will be used to analyse tissue samples taken from the ammocoetes
collected during the electrofishing survey so that there distribution can be accurately
mapped.
3. Determine the phylogenetic history of brook and river lamprey [NIEA Priority]
A comparative phylogeographical analysis of brook and river lamprey will be carried out
using both mitochondrial (mtDNA) and nuclear sequencing data. It is anticipated that
additional nuclear markers from putative coding regions will also be available for
screening. This will become available from ongoing whole genome shotgun sequencing
for both species currently being developed as part of parallel ongoing project within the
supervisor research group. This will necessitate sourcing additional samples from
elsewhere in Ireland, the Great Britain and Europe for comparison.
4. Population structure and trophic ecology of river and brook lamprey.
Assessment of levels of genetic variation and the degree of population structuring of
both brook and river lamprey within Lough Neagh will be carried out using both
available microsatellites and mtDNA markers. Sample processing and screening will be
carried out with the help of a Robotic DNA workstation and an ABl96 capillary system.
Data analyses will be carried out using modem statistical genetic approaches in
particular those based on Coalescent Genealogical Samplers. In parallel to genetic
analysis, as part of the same study variation in morphology and life-history
characteristics (mass-length relationships, size at metamorphosis, fecundity) of both
brook and river lamprey will be compared. Using a trophic ecological approach (see
below), the possible driving mechanisms leading to feeding preferences will be
examined (molecular approaches will used to define these differences). Samples from
other geographical areas will be used for comparison. An examination will be carried
out to determine whether all river lamprey populations in Lough Neigh are exclusively
freshwater feeding, or are there some, which are anadromous. If anadromous lampreys
are found, the relative contribution of each migratory component will be determined.
Comparisons with genetic data will be carried out. Sexing of adult lampreys will be
carried out in order to assess population sex ratios. Furthermore, a comparative study
on the fecundity and gonad development between anadromous and non-anadromous
populations.
5. Assessment of lamprey trophic ecology.
Inger et al. (2010) used stable isotopes to characterise seasonal differences in the dietof freshwater feeding river lampreys in Lough Neagh. This will be developed further
through analysis of carbon(δC), nitrogen (δN) and sulphur (δS) stable isotopes to
identify the migration and feeding history origin of adult lampreys due to the large
isotopic differences between fresh, brackish and marine habiats (Harrod et al. 2005;
Adams et al. 2008; Inger et al. 2010). Stable isotopes will also be utilised to quantify
and compare the trophic ecology of river and brook lamprey ammocoetes. Genetics
methods (mtDNA 12S rDNA marker) will be used to confirm adult trophic ecology.
Analysis of data will be carried out using a range of statistical approaches (e.g. isotope
mixing models, univariate and bivariate approaches)
6. Determine the impact that physical barriers have on fish movements and/or population
structure [NIEA Priority]
Pairs of sites will be selected for survey during electrofishing and trapping with one
above and one below a potential barrier to movement (e.g. weir). Species occurrence
and abundance will be compared above and below such barriers to infer their potential
impact on sea verses brook/river lamprey (where the former are believed to be impeded
by barriers whilst the latter appear less affected). Genetic sampling might also reveal
population structure between- and within- rivers that may also highlight the impact of
barriers to movement. It might also be desirable to conduct some fish tracking work
using radio-tags or pingers to track lamprey migration.
NB: These are indicative research chapters only. Developments may inform the degree of
investment of time and resources in any one theme. The final PhD thesis will have a
minimum of 5 research chapters; thus not all ideas may come to fruition within the
lifetime of the project. Should there be any shortfall we will endeavour to obtain MSc
students to make up the missing components but this cannot be guaranteed.
Outcomes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Brief monthly update on progress presented to the Project Board
Quarterly report on progress
Annual report once every 12 months
Final thesis submitted by 15/09/2016
Timeframe:
Tasks
Literature review
Electrofishing & trapping
Molecular development
Stable Isotope Analysis
Taxonomy
Phylogeography
Population structure
Manuscript writing
PhD submission
S
Year 1
A
W
S
S
Year 2
A
W
S
S
Year 3
A
W
S
Year 4
S
A