Monitoring genetic diversity in aquatic environments

The genetic variation within species enables them to adapt to changing environmental conditions and thus survive and remain in the long term. Only so can important ecosystem functions such as fish production be maintained. Today's environmental monitoring programs cover the development of many species but not their genetic variation. As an assignment from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SWAM) we develop genetic monitoring programs for a handful of marine and freshwater species. The longterm goal for this project is to establish a monitoring program for a number of key aquatic species present in Swedish waters.