Abstract
Adaptation is necessary for species living in polluted environments. This is the case in the teleostfish Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) found near the Atlantic Wood superfund site in the Elizabeth River. At this site the sediments are polluted with a variety of pollutants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), a group of molecules that has adverse effects on fish as well as many other species. To understand how F. heteroclitus has adapted to live in these polluted sites, fish were collected from five sites along the Elizabeth River with different PAH concentrations, and their genomes were sequenced. Analyses between sites with different PAH concentrations identified six genes that differ based on pollutant level. These genes are ahr2, eya1, kmt2cb, lrrc49, tshz1and rftn2 are involved in detoxification, development of early life stages, and response to pollutants. The fact that F. heteroclitus has been able to adapt to inhospitable conditions suggests that other species may also be adapting, and the ecosystem as a whole could be recovering.