Submitted by: Shannan May-McNally
I believe that the DNA of two closely related Alaskan fish (which once had bounties on their heads) can give us clues about our own origin as a species. I’m interested in how small differences between habitats can influence the early evolution of two species. Global warming is predicted to cause severe environmental change, especially in Arctic regions. Understanding how subtle differences between microhabitats impact speciation can help us determine the kinds of environmental features which are important during evolution. My work may also help us predict how climate change will affect native fish.