Using in-depth genomic knowledge to understand and Using in-depth genomic knowledge to understand and predict short- and long-term responses to climate change in a commercially targeted marine species

Descrizione del progetto

Orizzonti genomici: studiare la risposta dei polpi ai cambiamenti climatici

Il polpo comune (Octopus vulgaris) è aumentato notevolmente di numero nell’Atlantico settentrionale; ciononostante, non ne conosciamo ancora il motivo, né sappiamo quanto le sue popolazioni siano stabili. Sostenuto dal programma di azioni Marie Skłodowska-Curie, il progetto EVOLOCT studierà il passato, il presente e il futuro di queste popolazioni analizzando la loro genetica e utilizzando modelli computazionali avanzati e dati ambientali. A differenza degli studi precedenti, questa ricerca esplorerà cambiamenti genetici complessi, noti come varianti strutturali, per comprendere il flusso genico tra le popolazioni e ricostruire le storie demografiche, oltre a prevedere le distribuzioni, l’abbondanza e la vulnerabilità nel futuro. Le informazioni ricercate sono fondamentali per la gestione scientifica della pesca e per approfondire la nostra comprensione del modo in cui la vita marina risponde ai cambiamenti climatici.

Obiettivo

Making the most of genomic tools to understand and predict species response to global change is increasingly important, especially in exploited marine species. In EVOLOCT, I aim to determine the genomic basis of local adaptation, while understanding the past, present, and future population dynamics of Octopus vulgaris. This ecologically and economically significant species has recently expanded northwards in the northeast Atlantic, possibly due to climate change or human exploitation, yet the exact causes and the population stability remain unknown. Moreover, while the importance of structural variants (SVs) has been increasingly recognised in underlying ecotypes and cryptic population structures, SVs remain poorly represented in eco-evolutionary studies. To address these gaps, I will integrate modelling, genomics, and environmental data to characterise present population structure and dynamics, reconstruct their demographic history, and predict their future distribution, abundance, and vulnerability. Pushing the boundaries of current genomics studies, I will incorporate SVs beyond the classic SNPs while combining simulated data with empirical data, as a powerful and comprehensive technique in predicting short- and long-term responses to climate change. I will hone my skills at the host lab of Dr Mérot alongside Prof Charrier and Dr Le Luyer, French experts in evolutionary biology and ecology. My secondment with Asst Prof Oomen in Sweden will expand my skills in modelling and SV analyses. Through these collaborations, I will learn new multidisciplinary approaches and techniques in modelling and genomics. EVOLOCT will undoubtedly enable me to gain a competitive advantage in establishing my career in the dynamic and critical field of evolutionary ecology. Finally, EVOLOCT will greatly advance our understanding of the genomic and evolutionary basis underlying local adaptation while allowing scientifically-informed management of exploited marine species like octopuses.