ConserVar · New strategies to characterise genomic diversity for biodiversity conservation
Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2023-09-15 → 2025-09-14
- EU contribution
- €222,728
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
New strategies to characterise genomic diversity for biodiversity conservation
Given the current state of events with climate change and other causes of biodiversity loss, it is crucial to understand the genetic variation of many species, as well as its structure across populations and the way it allows populations to survive. This knowledge is indispensable for the effective conservation of wild – potentially endangered – species. In the last decade, technological advances have made it possible to scan the entire genetic codes of many species (their genomes) and to check how this information varies between individuals and populations of the same species. However, the analytical methods that are routinely used cannot take full advantage of all types of variation contained in the whole genomes of wild species. In contrast, highly efficient tools have been developed to study this variation in human populations and other well-studied organisms. In this project, we have developed new analysis strategies to study different types of genomic variation that remain largely unexplored in wild animals and non-model organisms. Using the Arctic fox as a model species we are using genomic data to uncover new details about how their populations and individuals relate to each other. We are also using genomes from museum specimens to detect how these types of variation have changed through time. Finally, we are also assessing how these new sources of information can give us new insights about how the Arctic fox is adapting to current environmental changes.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Genetic diversity is one of the three basic elements of biodiversity. Understanding the full extent of this diversity within species is fundamental for their conservation. However, despite the ongoing advances in DNA sequencing technologies, conservation genomics is lagging behind in using whole-genome data efficiently. In contrast, other fields, such as human genomics, have developed theoretical and computational approaches to tackle this. If applied to endangered species, these approaches will provide a better understanding of their genetic diversity, particularly regarding the structure of this diversity across populations and its effect on adaptation to changing environments.By leveraging two types of genetic data currently overlooked in conservation genomics haplotype information and structural genomic variation, I will develop new analysis strategies to characterise genomic variation in endangered species. Using the Arctic fox as a model species, I will use whole-genome data from both present-day and historical samples to: 1) infer subtle patterns of population structure and gene flow, 2) quantify temporal changes in genomic structural variation and 3) assess the ability of these types of genetic data to inform on adaptation to local environments.This research programme will provide not only a comprehensive characterisation of genomic diversity in Arctic foxes with a direct impact on the Swedish Arctic fox conservation programme, but also new analytical tools for conservation genomics, unlocking the full potential of whole-genome data for biodiversity conservation.Combining my solid track record on both human and biodiversity population genomics, and the hosts extensive expertise on conservation genomics and palaeogenomics, this fellowship will allow me to obtain the key scientific and transferrable skills to establish myself as a research leader in the field and make substantial contributions to biodiversity conservation.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/101111414
- https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e51a8bc946&appId=PPGMS
- https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e52356d92d&appId=PPGMS
Data: CORDIS, © European Union