ParaCharr: Adaptation of charr to a changing polar environment.

The ParaCharr project proposes to investigate the adaptation of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), to the extreme polar environment through a multidisciplinary study of population biology, parasitology, physiology and genetics, with parasites and clock g enes selected as core study mechanisms. As the only Arctic polar freshwater fish species, Arctic charr serve as an important model with which to investigate adaptation to Arctic lacustrine environments where the open water season is short and the light re gime variable; a crucial need under current changing climatic conditions.To achieve this goal, a collaboration between the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oregon State University (OSU), Akvaplan-niva and University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) has been initiated . This international cooperation will involve open data and sample sharing to maximise use of the samples collected and minimise environmental impact.