Project description
Genomics and AI for predicting species extinction risk
Understanding why species become extinct is a central question in evolutionary biology and for preservation of biodiversity. The red list of threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature uses factors like population size and external threats to predict the rate of decline and extinction risk for each species. However, it overlooks genetic factors which can provide insight into genetic diversity and harmful mutations that may influence extinction risk. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the REVEAL project will combine large-scale bird genomic data, computer simulations, and artificial intelligence to uncover genetic signatures linked to extinction risk. Researchers will evaluate the strengths and limitations of reference genomes in predicting extinction risk to guide conservation strategies.
Objective
Understanding species extinction risk is a crucial goal in Evolutionary Biology and a contemporary societal challenge. The standard
method for assessing extinction risk, the IUCN Red List, focuses on external threats and overlooks genetic factors. Despite some weak
and variable correlations, genetic diversity offers insights beyond the Red List, potentially resulting in an underestimation of
extinction risk. Genomic data, generated rapidly through initiatives like the Bird 10,000 Genomes Project, has the potential to
enhance assessments by revealing historical population demography, genetic diversity, and the genetic load of deleterious
mutations. Recently, there has been excitement about the potential of reference genomes in conservation genomics. However, the
actual potential and limitations of single reference genomes in informing conservation strategies remain unexplored. To address this
gap, I propose a comprehensive approach, REVEAL, which integrates comparative genomics and individual-based simulations within
a robust Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework. The proposal comprises three steps: (i) simulating extinction risk using a broad
parameter space with a dataset of at least 3,825 bird genomes generated by the B10K consortium, (ii) training AI models to recognise
genomic signatures associated with extinction risk, based on the previous simulations, and (iii) evaluating the potential and
limitations of single reference genomes for extinction risk assessment, using the trained AI models. In particular, I will focus on avian
species with diverse geographic ranges and ancestral population sizes in order to compare extinction risk predictions, considering
both spatial dynamics and temporal dynamics. REVEAL seeks to move beyond conventional assessments and improve our
understanding of extinction risk evaluation using genomic data, ultimately enhancing our ability to formulate effective species
recovery strategies.
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.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence
- social sciences sociology demography
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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)
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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
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-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
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