Molecular adaptation and thermal plasticity in a cold-adapted Antarctic fish

Abstract

Evolutionary adaptation and the connected acclimation capacity of species to changing environmental conditions represents one of the key factors in the composition and dynamics of any ecosystem. In marine environments temperature is one of the major factors defining the aquatic fauna. In respect to progressing climate change the question arises how individual species react to higher temperatures and how this affects the entire ecosystem. Species that are highly specialized on stable environmental conditions seem to be especially vulnerable. This thesis characterizes the Antarctic eelpout Pachycara brachycephalum (Pappenheim, 1912) in regards to its adaptation to low habitat temperatures as well as its capacity to acclimate to higher temperatures at the molecular level.