Co-evolution between parasites and their hosts result in extremely well-orchestrated and intimate relationships that are characterized by remarkable adaptations in the attack response of the parasite and the defense response of the host. To fully understand host-parasite interactions, these adaptations must be considered in the context of the ecological constraints in which they evolved. As a serious pest to salmon mariculture, Lepeophtheirus salmonis has been extensively studied; however, there are still several areas that require further research. Of utmost importance, and the topic of this thesis, is molecular basis for resistance to sea lice. The following chapters investigate this phenomena under the umbrella of ecological immunology using combined modern technologies of transcriptomics, proteomics and functional immunology with a focus on the primary interaction site. In the first chapter, I describe the key players involved in this host-parasite relationship with a focus on the primary interaction site, the louse-salmon interface, where there are responses by the louse (attack) and the salmon host (defense). Previous research indicated that an early aggressive inflammatory response at the louse-skin interface contributes to resistance in coho salmon; however, there are no data characterizing a site-specific response in resistant (pink and coho) and susceptible (Atlantic, chum) species. Accordingly in Chapter 2, I define site-specific cutaneous responses in Atlantic, pink and chum salmon to establish genetic biomarkers of resistance. Chapter 3 focuses on identification of cellular effectors using histochemical localization of biomarkers to characterize cellular populations activated at the louse-attachment site, while broadening the gene targets. Our notion of pink salmon as a resistant species is challenged by the common observation of migrating pink salmon supporting large populations of L. salmonis in the field. Thus the purpose of chapter 4 was to investigate potential mechanisms to explain variations in susceptibility as a function of life history. Host-parasite relationships are a product of both host and parasite responses; therefore, in chapters 5 and 6, I shift focus to the level of the parasite. In chapter 5 I present the first documented large-scale transcriptomic profiling of L. salmonis during feeding on both resistant (coho) and susceptible (Atlantic, sockeye) salmon. This was followed (chapter 6) by describing the proteomic profile of L. salmonis secretions after feeding on Atlantic salmon. In the seventh and final chapter, I present my conclusions on the molecular mechanisms for resistance to sea lice and discuss potential applications of this information for future louse control strategies. / Graduate

<p>  </p> <p>Evolution is the foundation for all of biology. However, our approaches and understanding of evolution—simply, the change of allele frequencies from one generation to the next—have themselves evolved over time. In this dissertation I explore multiple approaches to understand evolution and the consequences of evolution across variable scales and study organisms. First, I use meta-analytic techniques and Bayesian hierarchical models to investigate the phenotypic consequences of two forms of cryptic local adaptation, co- and countergradient variation, by leveraging a decades-old quantitative genetics approach (Chapter 1). I find large effects for both co- and countergradient variation, however they are obscured in natural settings by concurrent large environmental effects. I also show that these large effects are ubiquitous across phenotypic traits, organisms, and environmental gradients, suggesting that while similar phenotypes may be the evolutionary end point, the mechanisms to achieve those phenotypes likely vary. In the following chapter I explore the rapid evolution of a unique and understudied species introduction, pink salmon (<em>Oncorhynchus gorbuscha</em>) in the Great Lakes. Pink salmon were introduced into Lake Superior in a single introduction event and have broken two obligate life histories, anadromy (though they treat the Great Lakes like surrogate oceans) and their fixed two-year life cycle, making them ripe subjects for contemporary evolution. Using whole-genome sequence data, I first investigate the effects of a genetic drift in the form of a bottleneck at introduction and characterize the subsequent loss of genetic diversity (Chapter 2). I show that despite a large loss of genetic diversity, pink salmon also rapidly adapted to their novel environment based on signals of putative selection across numerous regions of the genome, particularly in a period gene associated with their daily circadian clock (<em>per2</em>). Next, I explore how genome structure likely aided adaptation by pink salmon to the Great Lakes, providing evidence that a supergene (~29 Mbp) containing an inversion on chromosome 10 swept to near fixation in the Great Lakes (Chapter 3) and likely aided in osmoregulatory adaptation to this novel environment. Finally, I end with a short perspective chapter (Chapter 4) where I highlight potential future research directions for each of the previous chapters. Together, this research investigates the drivers and consequences of evolution across multiple scales and shows the powerful effect of genetic drift and genetic adaptation in shaping the genomic and phenotypic attributes of populations.</p>