FIBR: Ecological Genomics and Heritability: Consequences of Extended Phenotypes

FIBR：生态基因组学和遗传力：扩展表型的后果

• 批准号: 0425908
• 负责人: Thomas Whitham
• 金额: $ 498.1万
• 依托单位: Northern Arizona University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-09-15 至 2011-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0425908&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: FIBR; Ecological; Genomics; Heritability; Consequences

Ecological genomics is a new emerging field of biology that studies the genetic basis for formation of an ecological community. It is a frontier in biology because it provides an evolutionary framework for understanding communities and ecosystems. Studies of cottonwoods (a dominant tree of a threatened habitat type) show that genes have phenotypes that extend beyond the individual to have community and ecosystem consequences (i.e., extended phenotypes). Based upon this concept three major hypotheses will be addressed: 1) Biodiversity is an emergent property of extended phenotypes. 2) Community structure, biodiversity and ecosystem processes are heritable. 3) Ecological feedback loops result in genetic covariance and community evolution. The ability to address these issues is enhanced by four major factors: 1) Established collaborations among geneticists, phytochemists, modelers, community and ecosystem ecologists on two continents. 2) Studies in the wild combined with large experimental forests of known pedigree. 3) Cottonwood is the first tree genome to be sequenced, providing the genetic background necessary for these studies. 4) A new genomics center that will dramatically facilitate genetic analyses. Broader impacts: This project will contribute new insights and information for establishing the genetic foundations of communities and ecosystems, for quantifying the impacts of newly introduced organisms on the rest of the community, and for making informed decisions about environmental management. The participating institutions have a rich tradition in training graduate and undergraduate students in interdisciplinary studies and in mentoring minorities. Planned outreach through the various nature centers including those operated by federal, state and Native American organizations will reach thousands of visitors. See http://www.poplar.nau.edu for further information.

生态基因组学是研究生态群落形成的遗传基础的新兴生物学领域。它是生物学的前沿，因为它为理解群落和生态系统提供了一个进化框架。对白杨（一种受威胁生境类型的优势树种）的研究表明，基因具有超越个体的表型，从而对群落和生态系统产生影响（即扩展表型）。基于这一概念，将提出三个主要假设：1)生物多样性是扩展表型的一种涌现特性。2)群落结构、生物多样性和生态系统过程具有遗传性。3)生态反馈循环导致遗传协方差和群落进化。解决这些问题的能力是由四个主要因素增强的：1)在两个大陆的遗传学家、植物化学家、建模者、社区和生态系统生态学家之间建立的合作。2)野外研究与已知谱系的大型实验森林相结合。3)棉杨是第一个被测序的树木基因组，为这些研究提供了必要的遗传背景。4)一个新的基因组学中心，将极大地促进基因分析。更广泛的影响：该项目将为建立群落和生态系统的遗传基础，量化新引入的生物对群落其他部分的影响，以及做出有关环境管理的明智决策提供新的见解和信息。参与院校在培训研究生和本科生进行跨学科研究以及指导少数民族方面有着丰富的传统。计划通过各种自然中心，包括由联邦、州和印第安人组织运营的自然中心，将吸引数千名游客。更多信息请参见http://www.poplar.nau.edu。