The effects of host genetic architecture on the gut microbiome composition of Chinook salmon

The goal of this project is to determine the effects of the host genetic architecture on the microbiome composition and diversity in Chinook salmon. The microbiome is a community of microbes living in or on an organism, and has recently emerged as a critical factor in host fitness. Studies in fish and other animals have shown that while both the environment and host factors play a role in driving the microbiome composition, the role of host genetic architecture is not well understood. These include factors that act among families (within a population), and among population of origin. This project uses Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) to partition the roles of population-of-origin (through hybrid crosses) and additive genetic variance (through half-sibs nested within each cross) in driving the composition of the gut microbiome.