Obiettivo
Human-induced land use changes are causing extensive habitat fragmentation. As a result, many species are not able to shift their ranges in response to climate change, and will need to adapt to changing conditions. A prudent strategy to maximize the evolutionary potential of populations is to focus conservation efforts on areas where levels of intraspecific variation are high. Recently, I proposed a novel approach to integrate evolutionary processes with traditional prioritization strategies, using spatially explicit models of intraspecific genetic and phenotypic variation. The next crucial step in the further development and refinement of the framework is to understand its general utility. The objectives of this project are to: 1) measure morphological characteristics and genotype 10 common species each in Bulgaria/Romania and Cameroon; 2) map the spatial patterns of intraspecific variation in these regions; 3) prioritize areas for conservation based on intraspecific variation versus species richness; 4) measure the effectiveness of intraspecific variation in one species as a surrogate; 5) compare the overlap in reserves based on either intraspecific variation or species richness; 6) compare the utility of coding versus non-coding genetic markers. The deliverables will be: 1) maps identifying areas with high amounts of intraspecific variation, 2) insight into the general applicability of our approach, 3) a better understanding of the relationship between biotic and abiotic diversity, 4) insight into the effects of neutral and selective processes on population divergence, 5) further understanding of how environmental variation shapes divergence in neutral and adaptive loci, 6) a toolbox of methods for use by conservation planners. This project will greatly enhance the implementation in conservation prioritization of the framework developed, as well as our ability to make recommendations on its usage.
Campo scientifico
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FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG
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Meccanismo di finanziamento
MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG)Coordinatore
72074 Tuebingen
Germania