The genome sequence of Daphnia for ecology and evolutionary studies

The zooplankton Daphnia is the first crustacean to have its genome sequenced.  Daphnia has fascinated biologists for centuries because of its importance in aquatic ecosystems, its amenability to both field and laboratory study, and because of its remarkable ability and flexibility to cope with environmental challenges.  These new genomic data will enhance studies in the wide variety of disciplines that make use of Daphnia for research - including crustacean biology, ecology, physiology, toxicology, population genetics, and evolution - and will promote greater understanding of the complex interplay between genome structure, gene expression, individual fitness, and population-level responses to environmental change.  The availability of a Daphnia genome sequence will help create a new model system for ecological and evolutionary genomics.
Here, we present an overview of the genome structure, the gene inventory and comparative data that shed light into the animal's unique biology and how the genome is reflective of Daphnia's ecology.  This genome sequence is supported by an international research community that is building additional resources for its annotation and functional characterization.  The Daphnia Genomics Consortium with the Joint Genome Institute are coordinating a community-wide analysis of the data.  Ecological genomic enthusiasts are called to participate.