种群遗传变动模式和演化历史、特征种群(如边缘种群)的适应与进化潜力是海洋分子生态和进化地理研究的热门主题，其结果可为潮间带海洋生物资源修复、多样性保护和生态功能维持提供重要决策指导。本项目以西北太平洋地区潮间带重要建群海藻真江蓠为研究对象，以Restriction Site-Associated DNA测序、生态位模拟、室内Common Garden和比较转录组为技术主线，整合种群基因组学、进化遗传学和实验生态学的研究方法与结果，目的在于：1）系统揭示真江蓠在西北太平洋的谱系多样性格局、成因和过程；2）澄清栖息地适宜性的历史变动如何塑造真江蓠遗传动力模式和在纬度梯度的遗传组成（即论证中心-边缘模式）；3）揭示边缘种群和中心种群对温度变动响应差异的生态适应与分子遗传学基础。本项目的实施可从微进化尺度阐释海藻物种多样性形成机制和适应性进化过程，对真江蓠资源保护监管和生态功能维持亦具有重要意义。

Seaweeds (marine macroalgae) are widely recognized as ecologically important autogenic "ecosystem engineers" and "foundation species" for costal marine ecosystems by supporting diverse niches and structuring complex habitats for many marine fishes and invertebrates. However, in the past few decades global climate warming and anthropogenic inferences have imposed considerable impacts on coastal seaweeds, leading to high risk of local extinction or disappearance of some evolutionarily important populations and/or genetic lineages. Thus, popualtion genetic dynamics and phylogeographic history, adaptation and evolutionary potential of peripheral populations have become research hotspots in recent years to guide marine biodiversity conservation, maintain ecosystem function and restore marine resources..In this project, we will focus on the habitat-forming seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla in Asia-Northwest Pacific. By using research methods such as Restriction Site-Associated DNA sequencing, ecological niche modeling, common garden experiments in laboratory and comparative transcriptome sequencing, we plan to integrate approaches and results generated by population genomics, evolutionary genetics and experimental ecology. Our main goals are to i) reveal phylogeographic diversification in G. vermiculophylla, including historical and contemporary factors and associated processes invoved in lineage diversity and genetic isolation of this species; 2) reveal how dynamic range shifts of habitat suitability shaped and structured latitudinal genetic characteristics in G. vermiculophylla, including test the central-marginal mode proposed in other Atlantic seaweeds; 3) reveal the differences of ecological adaptation and evolutionary capability between central and peripheral populations in G. vermiculophylla responding to temperature shifts. This project can not only help us to understand diversification and specaition processes in coastal seaweeds at a micro-evolutionary scale, but also provide theoretically important insights into seaweed biodiversity conservation and restoration of marine biological resources in face of ongoing global climate warming.