Ecology ---- Evolution ---- Genetics
We study the ecology, evolution and genetics of local adaptation in natural plant populations. As sessile organisms, terrestrial plants
are exposed to all extremes of local conditions throughout all stages
of their life-history, often resulting in episodes of strong selection.
This sessile nature also makes them particularly amenable to reciprocal
transplant and common garden experiments - the basic tools for assessing
local adaptation. Thus it is not surprising that the first studies
of natural variation in adaptive traits began with plants (over 250
years ago!). Since then hundreds of studies have found evidence for
local adaptation in plants.
What
is missing is the knowledge of the traits and genes that confer adaptation
to specific environments. An understanding of the traits involved
in adaptation to particular stresses (e.g. drought) is needed for
both applied (crop breeding, conservation, invasive species) and
theoretical questions in ecology and evolution. In addition, once
traits are identified, genetic data are needed to answer whether
adaptations are due to:
1. Many genetic changes or only a few?
2. New
mutations or older alleles that persist at some frequency throughout
the species range and history?
Understanding the ecology and genetics
of local adaptation is fundamental to our understanding of evolution and biodiversity.
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