Local Adaptation and Evolutionary and Adaptive Genetic Potential of Marginal Populations of Northern Forest Trees under Climate Change

气候变化下北方林木边缘种群的局部适应及进化和适应性遗传潜力

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-04589
• 负责人: Rajora, Om
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: University of New Brunswick
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=679825
• 关键词: Local; Adaptation; Evolutionary; Adaptive; Genetic

Climate change has become a prominent driving force of evolution in northern boreal and temperate ecosystems in which trees are normally the dominant keystone species as it is subjecting them to significant evolutionary and adaptive pressures. Impacts of climate change across natural ecosystems are evident from pole-ward shift of many species' range. Thus, populations at the species' range margins are expected to provide the frontiers for adaptation, evolution and range shifts of plants under climate change.These issues have ignited a debate on assisted migration. The potential of marginal populations to adapt and expand to new areas depends upon their local adaptation, genetic make-up and genetic diversity, especially in genes underlying responses and adaption to climate change. Hence, it is critical to understand the genic responses of a species to climate change, genetic basis of local adaptation of marginal populations, and their evolutionary and adaptive genetic potential under climate change in order to develop mitigation measures. Forest trees populations are usually locally adapted but knowledge of genetic architecture of their local adaptation remains elusive.*******The objectives of my research are to understand genetic characteristics of central and leading-edge and rear-edge marginal populations of eastern white pine (EWP) and its genetic responses to climate change; understand genetic architecture and mechanisms underlying local adaptation of marginal and central populations; and infer evolutionary and adaptive genetic potential of marginal populations under climate change. Eastern white pine provides an ideal model for the proposed research. It is of high ecological and economic importance, widely distributed across a variety of climate and ecological conditions, is a long-lived keystone species of the North American temperate white pine forest ecosystems, has its northern range margins in Canada, and is expected to extend its range northwards under climate change. It is also a target species for assisted migration. EWP populations from its central range and northern and southern range margins will be studied. Genes responsive to climate change conditions will be identified and functionally annotated. Genome-wide scans will be used to determine genetic characteristics of populations, genetic architecture of local adaptation, and evolutionary and adaptive genetic potential of EWP populations.*******My research will advance our knowledge of genetic responses of forest trees to climate change, local adaptation, conservation value and adaptive genetic potential of marginal populations, vulnerability of rear-edge populations, and evolution of species' range under climate change. It has major significance for long-term adaptation, sustainable management, and conservation of forest resources, and will address mitigation measure issues, such as assisted migration.***

气候变化已成为北方寒带和温带生态系统进化的一个突出驱动力，在这些生态系统中，树木通常是主要的关键物种，因为气候变化使它们受到重大的进化和适应压力。气候变化对整个自然生态系统的影响从许多物种的分布范围向极地转移中显而易见。因此，物种分布区边缘的种群有望为植物在气候变化下的适应、进化和分布区转移提供边界，这些问题引发了关于协助迁移的辩论。边缘种群适应和扩展到新地区的潜力取决于它们对当地的适应、遗传组成和遗传多样性，特别是在应对和适应气候变化的基因方面。因此，了解物种对气候变化的基因响应、边缘种群局部适应的遗传基础以及它们在气候变化下的进化和适应遗传潜力，对于制定减缓气候变化的措施至关重要。森林树木种群通常是当地适应的，但对它们当地适应的遗传结构的了解仍然是难以捉摸的。本研究的目的是了解东部白松（EWP）中央、前缘和后缘边缘种群的遗传特征及其对气候变化的遗传响应;了解边缘种群和中央种群局部适应的遗传结构和机制;推断边缘种群在气候变化下的进化和适应遗传潜力。东部白松为该研究提供了理想的模式。它具有很高的生态和经济重要性，广泛分布在各种气候和生态条件下，是北美温带白松森林生态系统的长寿关键物种，其北方山脉边缘位于加拿大，预计在气候变化下将向北扩展其分布范围。它也是协助迁移的目标物种。将研究来自其中央范围和北方和南方范围边缘的EWP种群。对气候变化条件作出反应的基因将得到鉴定和功能注释。全基因组扫描将用于确定种群的遗传特征、当地适应的遗传结构以及EWP种群的进化和适应遗传潜力。我的研究将推进我们对林木对气候变化的遗传反应，局部适应，边缘种群的保护价值和适应性遗传潜力，后缘种群的脆弱性以及气候变化下物种范围的演变的认识。它对长期适应、可持续管理和森林资源养护具有重大意义，并将处理缓解措施问题，如协助移徙。