Project description
A lifeline for endangered species
Dramatic biodiversity declines are pushing our planet into a sixth mass extinction, jeopardising countless species. Proposed solutions, like genetic rescue, offer hope by introducing variation through interbreeding closely related populations. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ResQ project now aims to harness advanced genomics and computational techniques to guide successful genetic rescue strategies, with European grey wolves as their crucial case study. Their unique history, with a significant population bottleneck followed by a recent recovery, makes them a perfect model for genetic rescue dynamics. With over 1 000 wolf genomes collected across Eurasia, spanning pre-decline, decline and recovery periods, ResQ assembles an unparalleled resource.
Objective
Dramatic biodiversity declines are driving Earth into a Sixth Mass Extinction. Drastic conservation plans such as genetic rescue have been proposed to mitigate the loss of genetic diversity, by introducing variation through admixture with closely related populations. However, the influx of new variation can also lead to an increase in genetic load, which can further compromise the survival of species. Since current studies of genetic rescue are based on few regions of the genome and lack a population genetics model, assessing the impact of these initiatives on the levels of genetic diversity and genetic load remains elusive. I propose to tackle this by studying the natural populations of European gray wolves in a temporal and spatial model, as their recent demographic history (strong bottleneck followed by a recovery in last decades) renders them an ideal case for exploring the dynamics of genetic rescue. In particular, I propose to leverage on an unprecedented dataset including >1,000 wolves genomes sampled across Eurasia at multiple time points (before and after population decline and the subsequent recovery) to generate the most comprehensive catalog of genomic diversity in European wolves to date. Taking advantage of recent developments in population genomics, computational biology, palaeogenomic sequencing and evolutionary modeling, I will reconstruct their recent demographic history, migrations patterns and adaptive potential, and determine the demographic parameters that predict a successful genetic rescue. This predictive modeling tool will be capable of guiding conservation management in wolves and applicable to other endangered populations. The combination of my hosts extensive experience in canid evolution, statistical methods and modeling, together with my background on population genomics ensures the successful implementation of this action and will enhance my set of essential skills on genomics methods for conservation.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.