Local adaptation and population differentiation in amphibian populations

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Project objective

Research objectives and content Genetic variation within a species is essential for survival and adaptation to a changing environment. The main objective of my research is to identify local adaptations and enhance the understanding on mechanisms which underlie the evolution and maintenance of biological diversity. As many amphibians have wide distribution, limited dispersal ability and external fertilization (the last allowing crossbreeding experiments) they appear extremely suitable for the research in question. The basis of this research will be documentation of phenotypic and and genetic variation in developmental, morphological and life history traits (especially in larvae) of common frog (Rana temporaria) populations along a south-north gradient through Sweden. Detection of countergradient variation in egg and larval development and its genetic maintenance is one of the major research themes as well as local variation in phenotypic plasticity in relation to local food and predation regimes. A further promising research theme is local variation in sensitivity to UV-B radiation linking the project even more tightly to global amphibian declines and offering good prospects for high-profile research. Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact) This research will be conducted in Asssitant Prof. Juha Merila's research group in Department of Zoology, Uppsala University, Sweden. The excellent knowledge of evolutionary biology, especially in ecological and evolutionary genetics, mastered by the Uppsala team and its external co-operators is invaluable for my progress as a scientist. Both these research fields are minor in Finland but offer promising research possibilities in future (for instance, in aquaculture). Furthermore, Department of Zoology is one of the major research centers in evolutionary ecology, allowing good possibilities to establish contacts with other scientists. Links with industry / industrial relevance (22)

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Participants

• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki · ThessalonikiCoordinatorGreece

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