Spatio-temporal dynamics of genome-wide diversity of Fagus sylvatica

欧洲山毛榉（Fagus sylvatica L.）是中欧重要的森林树种。然而，尽管科学界做出了广泛的努力，但对该物种的时空全基因组变异知之甚少。关于这种变异如何帮助物种应对气候变化，以及面对未来气候变化的适应潜力，人们所知的就更少了。这些限制部分是由于山毛榉的基因组资源不足。然而，最近联合提交这一提案的团队已经发表了第一个高质量的森林木参考基因组。凭借这种互利合作的经验，我们提交了继续合作研究的项目提案，以协同结合我们在基因组学和群体遗传学方面的专业知识，努力缩小上述知识差距。利用全基因组测序（WGS）方法，我们将研究代表该物种在中欧的三个主要谱系（参考种群）的F. sylvatica自然种群的遗传多样性和分化。我们将研究中性和非中性遗传多样性是如何在空间和时间上转移的。为此，我们将研究三种不同的树龄（树龄100 ~ 200年，树龄40 ~ 60年，树龄< 5年），以追踪位于物种分布的气候不同地区的种群中正在进行的任何选择特征。这些发现将对理解中性和适应性基因组区域变化的潜在机制具有重要意义，这将对遗传保护背景下树种遗传资源的管理以及林业实践具有重要意义。提交此提案的研究团队在科学卓越方面具有独特和互补的领域。这个德国团队长期以来一直对比较和功能基因组学以及基因组进化感兴趣。波兰团队在森林树木的种群遗传学和基因组学方面有经验。该项目的联合合作将有利于两个研究小组，并可能导致长期合作，重点是群体基因组研究。

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is an important forest tree species in Central Europe. However, despite extensive efforts of the scientific community little is known about the spatial and temporal genome-wide variation of this species. Even less is known regarding how this variation has helped the species to cope with climate change or what the adaptive potential may be in the face of future climate changes. These limitations are partly due to insufficient genomic resources of beech. However, recently the teams jointly submitting this proposal have published the first high quality reference genome of F. sylvatica. With the experience of this mutually beneficial collaboration, we submit the project proposal for continuing our collaborative research for synergistically combining our expertise in genomics and population genetics, working towards closing the knowledge gaps outlined above. Using the whole genome sequencing (WGS) approach, we will investigate genetic diversity and differentiation among natural populations of F. sylvatica representing the three major lineages of this species (reference populations) defined in Central Europe based on our earlier studies (based on ddRADseq). We will investigate how the neutral and non-neutral genetic diversity is transferred in a spatial, but also in a temporal manner. For this, we will study three different age classes (old trees > 200 y, saplings 40-60 y, and seedlings < 5 yrs) to trace any signatures of selection currently ongoing within the populations located in climatically different parts of the species distribution. These findings will have high importance for understanding the underlying mechanisms driving changes in neutral and adaptive genomic regions, which will be relevant for managing of genetic resources of tree species in the context of genetic conservation but also forestry practices. The research teams submitting this proposal have distinct and complementary areas of scientific excellence. The German team has long lasting interests in comparative and functional genomics, and genome evolution. The Polish team has experience on population genetics and genomics of forest trees. Joint collaboration during this project will be beneficial for both research groups, and will likely lead to long-term cooperation focused on population genomic studies.