Buffering climate-driven extinctions in montane butterflies: are there genetic refuges?

气候变化正在改变物种的分布，导致适应寒冷的物种在其目前分布范围的许多地方消失。然而，有历史证据表明，一些物种在冰川后的避难所中生存下来，那里的气候条件得到了缓冲，这就提出了这些避难所种群可能具有遗传多样性，包含独特的基因型的可能性。这些地点的当地适应可能使这些种群对当前的变暖更具适应力，该项目将研究英国山地/北方蝴蝶撤退种群的遗传学，以确定避难种群在多大程度上适应当地并缓冲气候变化。该项目将研究三种北方蝴蝶的遗传多样性（山小环鱼，苏格兰乌鳢，大石南），测试是否：（1）人口包含独特的遗传变异不存在于欧洲大陆;（2）预测研究物种在未来变暖中生存的避难所位置具有最高水平的遗传和表型多样性该项目建立在约克大学、自然英格兰（NE）和苏格兰自然遗产（SNH）之间的现有合作基础上，为气候变化下的英国生物多样性保护提供新的科学研究。学生将通过大学和CASE合作伙伴提供的补充培训活动接受实地工作，基因组分析，定量技能和知识交流的多学科培训。学生将花费至少3个月的时间与CASE合作伙伴（NE，SNH）一起获得将其研究成果转化为政策制定和保护管理的经验。

Climate change is shifting species' distributions, leading to extinctions of cold-adapted species in many parts of their current ranges. However, there is historical evidence that some species survived in post-glacial refuges where climate conditions were buffered, which raises the possibility that these refugial populations may be genetically diverse containing unique genotypes. Local adaptation in these sites might make these populations more resilient to current warming, and this project will study the genetics of retreating populations of montane/northern butterflies in Britain to determine the extent to which refugial populations are locally adapted and buffered from climate change.The project will examine genetic diversity of three northern butterfly species (mountain ringlet, scotch argus, large heath), testing whether: (1) populations contain unique genetic variation not present in mainland Europe; (2) refugial locations where the study species are predicted to survive future warming contain the highest levels of genetic and phenotypic diversity (e.g. wing colour), indicating local adaptation and greater resilience.The project builds on existing collaborations between the University of York, Natural England (NE) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), to deliver novel scientific research for the protection of UK biodiversity under climate change. The student will receive multi-disciplinary training in field work, genome analyses, quantitative skills, and knowledge exchange through complementary training activities provided by the University and CASE partners. The student will spend a minimum of 3 months with the CASE partners (NE, SNH) gaining experience of translating their research findings into policy development and conservation management.