Evolution in spatially heterogeneous populations

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Most organisms must interact with heterogeneous environments, with some areas suitable for habitation separated by less welcoming habitat. Even among habitable areas, the environment can vary, changing the pattern of natural selection over space. In this grant, we will investigate the effects of heterogeneous habitats on the evolution of a species. We focus on four main questions: (1) How does maintaining the ability to develop differently in different environments change the nature of genetic variation in a species? (2) How does cooperation and altruism evolve in a spatially structured species? (3) How can we best identify the genes responsible for local adaptation, using genomic and environmental data from individuals across the range of a species? and (4) How much potential is there for compensatory change at other genes in response to deleterious mutations in one part of the genome?