[Enviro-lunch] Enviro-lunch (9/21): Lucy Tran, "Links between genomic and environmental variation in a mammalian geographic range expansion"

[Lixia Jin]

Dear all,

Please support our community in Earth and environmental sciences by attending our weekly events. This week’s speaker in our Enviro-lunch brown bag seminar series will be:

 

Lucy A. P. Tran

Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, UC Berkeley


Links between genomic and environmental variation in a mammalian geographic range expansion

 

Abstract: Both genetic drift and natural selection contribute to variation in genes and morphology across a geographic range expansion. During the course of an expansion novel ecological conditions encountered by organisms can result in selection on traits, while the contribution of genetic drift is important when founder events occur. Evidence of the myriad neutral and selective forces acting on geographic range expansions may be recorded in the genome. Here, we look at genomic variation in the range-expanding nine-banded armadillo to uncover links between niche differences and genetic changes. In the last 3 mya the species has dispersed northward from its tropical origins in South America to first reach Texas in 1849 and then from there to the South, Southeast, Great Plains, and Midwest U.S. We use high-throughput genomic data to estimate phylogenetic relationships of populations across the species' expansion gradient and to infer its demographic history. We sampled historical museum specimens as well as individuals at the expansion edge, which allows for an analysis of genomic divergence across the species' broad range over a 127-year period. Preliminary findings suggest that patterns of genomic variation differ between core and edge populations, with genomic divergence tracking differences in climatic niche. Studying the relationship between genomic and niche divergence will provide clues for understanding whether and how the species has evolved as it expanded its range northward into uncharted territory.

 

When: Sep. 21st, Thursday, 12pm – 1pm

Where: SE2-302

 

Coffee will be provided and please bring your own mugs.

We look forward to seeing you,

 

Organizers for 2017-18: Nate Bogie and Lixia Jin

Faculty coordinator: Asmeret Asefaw Berhe    
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