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mrc squid
Laboratory of Gabriele Gerlach

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MRC 321
7 MBL Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543
Tel: (001) 508 289-7120 Office | (001) 508 289-7391 Lab
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Research goals

The results of my former and ongoing population genetic and dispersal project on squid, perch, cod, and several species of coral reef fishes show that the spatial distribution of these aquatic organisms is far from being random despite long larval dispersal stages of several weeks. Apparently, these larvae – small as they are – use elaborate sensory mechanisms to orientate and find their way to appropriate habitats or express successful homing behavior to their natal spawning sites. In behavioral studies we could show that olfactory guidance is essential. Apparently larvae become imprinted on odor cues from either conspecifics or their natal environment and use this for later social preferences and homing behavior. This might play a major role in processes of population separation and – finally – of speciation.

As a second focus of my projects I examine these processes of olfactory imprinting in the zebrafish as model organism with well known genetic background. Zebrafish are excellent candidates because they imprint on olfactory cues of kin and use these for later preferences for shoaling with relatives and to avoid mating with relatives later in life. Both behavioral patterns are based on the same olfactory imprinting mechanism. Further we could show that olfactory experience during early development shape the expression of olfactory receptor genes. This is an exciting example of how the environment can affect gene expression.

Associate Scientist Gabriele Gerlach

Gabriele Gerlach Education:

1990   Ph.D. University of Konstanz, Germany


Publications:

Weiss E, Bennie M, Hodgins-Davis A, Roberts G, Gerlach G Characterization of new SSR-EST markers in cod, Gadus morhua. Molecular Ecology Notes, in press.

Hodgins-Davis, A., Cowan, D., Roberts, S., Atema , J., Gerlach, G. Characterization of EST derived SSRs from the American lobster, Homarus americanus. Molecular Ecology Notes, in press.

Gerlach, G., Atema, J., Kingsford M.K., Black, K.P., Miller-Sims, V. 2007 Smelling home can prevent dispersal of reef fish larvae. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA, 104, 858-863.

Gerlach, G. 2006 Pheromonal regulation of reproductive success in female zebrafish: male enhancement and female suppression. Animal Behaviour, 72, 1119-1124.

Gerlach G. Lysiak N. 2006. Kin recognition in zebrafish based on phenotype matching. Animal Behaviour, 71, 1371 – 1377.

Klemme, I.; Eccard, J. A.; Gerlach, G.; Horne, T. and Ylönen, H. 2006. Multiple paternity in bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus): the role of male dominance. Annales Zoologici Fennici, 43, 248 – 257.

Buresch K. C., Gerlach G., Hanlon R. T. 2006. Multiple genetic stocks segregate during the spring inshore migration of the longfinned squid, Loligo pealeii, in the NW Atlantic. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 310, 263 – 270.

Behrmann-Godel J., Gerlach G., and Eckmann R., 2006. Kin- and Population recognition in sympatric Lake Constance perch (Perca fluviatilis): can assortative shoaling drive population divergence? Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 59, 461 – 468

Roberts, S. Romano C., and Gerlach G., 2005. Characterization of EST derived SSRs from the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians. Molecular Ecology Notes, 5, 567 – 568.

Miller-Sims V., Atema J., Kingsford M. J., and Gerlach G., 2005. DNA microsatellite primers in the spiny damselfish Acanthochromis polyacanthus. Molecular Ecology Notes, 5, 841 – 843.

Miller-Sims V., Atema J., Kingsford M. J., and Gerlach G., 2005. DNA microsatellite primers in the neon damselfish (Pomacentrus coelestis). Molecular Ecology Notes 5, 424 – 426.

Gerlach G., 2005. Die Hausmaus (Mus musculus), in: Wildlebende Säugetiere Baden-Württembergs. Verlag Eugen Ulmer Stuttgart.

Miller-Sims V., Atema J., Kingsford M. J., and Gerlach G., 2004. Characterization and isolation of DNA microsatellite primers in the cardinalfish (Apogon doederleini). Molecular Ecology Notes 4, 336 – 338.

McCauley L., Goecker C., Parker P., Rudolph T., Goetz F., and Gerlach G., 2004. Characterization and isolation of DNA microsatellite primers in the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias). Molecular Ecology Notes 4, 494 – 496.

Behrmann-Godel J., Gerlach G., and Eckmann R., 2004. Postglacial colonization shows evidence for sympatric population splitting of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) in Lake Constance. Molecular Ecology 13, 491 – 497.

Mann K.D., Turnell E.R., Atema J., and Gerlach G., 2003. Kin recognition in juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio) based on olfactory cues. The Biological Bulletin 205, 224 – 225.

Turnell E.R., Mann K. D., Rosenthal G. G., and Gerlach G., 2003. Mate Choice in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) analyzed with video-stimulus techniques. The Biological Bulletin 205, 225 – 226.

Gerlach G., Duelli P., Gonseth Y, and Capt S., 2003. Priorities in Species Conservation in Switzerland. Ministry of Environment, Switzerland.

Gerlach G., and Bartmann S., 2002. Reproductive skew, costs and benefits of cooperative breeding in female wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Behavioral Ecology 13, 408 – 418.

Atema, J., Kingsford, M., and Gerlach G., 2002. Larval reef fish can use lagoon odor for detection and orientation to reefs. Marine Ecological Progress Series 241, 151 – 160.

Delaney M., Follet C., Ryan N., Hanney N., Lusk-Yablick J., and Gerlach G., 2002. Social interaction and distribution of female zebrafish (Danio rerio) in a large aquaria. The Biological Bulletin 203, 240 – 241.

Gerlach G., Schardt U., Eckmann R., and Meyer A., 2001. Kin structured subpopulations of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis). Heredity 86, 213 – 221.

Bartmann S. and Gerlach G., 2001. Multiple paternity and similar variance in reproductive success of male and female wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) housed in an enclosure. Ethology 107, 889 – 899.

Gerlach G. and Hoeck H., 2001. Islands on the plains: metapopulation dynamics and female biased dispersal in hyraxes (Hyracoidea) in the Serengeti National Park. Molecular Ecology 10, 2307 – 2317.

Gerlach G. and Musolf K., 2000. Fragmentation of landscape as a cause for genetic segregation of bank vole populations. Conservation Biology 14, 1 – 10.

Martin Y., Gerlach G., Schlötterer C., and Meyer A., 2000. Molecular phylogeny of European muroid rodents based on complete cytochrome b sequence. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 16, 37 – 47.

Harr B., Musolf K., and Gerlach G., 2000. Isolation of DNA microsatellite primers in wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus, Rodentia). Molecular Ecology 9, 1664 – 1665.

Gerlach G., Derschum H.S., Martin Y., and Brinkmann, H., 2000. Characterization and isolation of DNA microsatellite primers in hyrax (Hyracoidea). Molecular Ecology 9, 1675 – 1677.

Garner T.W.J., Brinkmann H., Gerlach G., Meyer A., Ward P.I., Spörri M., and Hosken D.J., 2000. Polymorphic DNA microsatellites identified in the yellow dung fly (Scathophaga stercoraria). Molecular Ecology 9, 2207 – 2209.

Gerlach G., 1998. Impact of social ties on dispersal, reproduction and dominance in feral house mice (Mus musculus domesticus). Ethology 104, 487 – 499.

Gockel J., Harr B., Arnold W., Gerlach G., Schlötterer C., and Tautz D., 1997. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from Apodemus flavicollis (rodentia, muridae) and Clethrionomys glareolus (rodentia, cricetidae). Molecular Ecology 6, 597 – 599.

Gerlach G., 1996. Emigration mechanisms in house mice – a laboratory investigation of the influence of social structure, population density, and aggression. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 39, 159 – 170.

Gerlach G., 1996. Kleinsäuger auf Sturmschadenflächen. Wildbiologie 6/27, 1 – 11.

Gerlach G., Musolf K., and Bally, A., 1996. Genetische Isolation von Klein-säugerpopulationen durch Fragmentierung der Landschaft. Veröffentlichungen Projekte Angewandte Ökologie 16, 195 – 204.

Gerlach G., and Bally, A., 1992. Decline in populations of amphibians. Das Grasfroschsterben in der Nord-Schweiz. Schriftenreihe Umwelt, Bern, Schweiz.

Gerlach G., 1990. Dispersal mechanisms in a captive wild house mice population (Mus domesticus Rutty). Biological Journal of Linnean Society 41, 271 – 277.

Hofer H.W., Gerlach G., Birkel G., and Kirschenlohr H.L., 1987. The possible significance of interactions between soluble proteins in skeletal muscle. Biochemical Society Transactions 15, 982 – 985.

Gerlach G., and Hofer, H.W., 1986. Interactions of immobilized phosphofructokinase with soluble muscle proteins. Biochemical Biophysical Acta 881, 398 – 404.