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Eco-evolutionary dynamics of biological invasions reconstructed from ancient DNA

Project description

Evolution and adaptation modelled using ancient DNA of Japanese knotweed

Invasive species can act as models for studying rapid evolution and adaptation, species colonisation and climate change. Many questions remain concerning the eco-evolutionary dynamics of invasive species and the evolutionary processes operating at different stages of species spread and invasion. The EU-funded CloneInvasion project will study the invasive Japanese knotweed species complex to better understand species colonisation and range expansion. By combining ancient DNA from herbarium collections with high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies and bioinformatics, the initiative will investigate key transitions and drivers of plant colonisation, range expansion and invasion abilities across space and time. CloneInvasion will also study the role and implications of hybridisation and ploidy variation in plant colonisation and invasion and identify the presence of genomic regions.

Objective

Invasive species are one of the major threats to the biodiversity on Earth but despite their bad reputation, they are also essential models for studying rapid evolution and adaptation, species colonization and climate change. Although great progress has been made in many areas of invasion ecology, there are still many open questions about the eco-evolutionary dynamics of invasive species and the evolutionary processes operating at different stages of species spread and invasion. I propose to study the invasive Japanese knotweed species complex to understand species colonization and range expansion by combining museomic (ancient DNA) from herbarium collections with high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies and bioinformatics. Specifically, I will compare data from historical and contemporary individuals to study (1) key transitions and drivers of plant colonization, range expansion, and invasion abilities, across space and time, (2) the role and implications of hybridization and ploidy variation in plant colonization and invasion and (3) identify the presence of genomic regions under selection.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020

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Coordinator

EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITAET TUEBINGEN
Net EU contribution
€ 162 806,40
Address
GESCHWISTER-SCHOLL-PLATZ
72074 Tuebingen
Germany
Region
Baden-Württemberg Tübingen Tübingen, Landkreis
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 162 806,40