Biologists have begun sequencing the DNA of the Brown Trout (Salmo Trutta) in an effort to gain more knowledge about the species as a whole. Brown Trout are one of the most genetically diverse vertebrates on the planet with around 50 identified sub-species. Researchers hope by sequencing the brownies’ genome, they can develop plans for better conservation of the species as a whole, hoping to identify genetic markers that help the species cope so successfully with changing environments.

Historically, brown trout were some of the first fish to recolonize freshwater after the last ice age, and as many of us know, can thrive in waters that normally should not be conducive to successful trout populations. Their adaptations, for example, helped “different populations to exploit particular biological niches, with some living their whole lives within a 200-meter stretch of a freshwater stream while others migrate from the stream to the open sea,” the researchers said.

Some of the identified markers have been credited with giving the brown trout the ability to adapt relatively well to more acidic waters, and researchers hope that these new developments will help guide conservation efforts tackling acidity levels in rivers and oceans due to climate change.

To read more about the research, check out this article from DowntoEarth.org!

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