CAREER: An integrated approach to understanding evolution in heterogeneous environments

在生存斗争中，生物体相互作用，并与环境相互作用。气候、天气和物种相互作用的变化会导致自然选择的方向和强度发生变化。空间选择的差异导致局部适应。然而，选择的季节性、年度性或长期性波动是否对进化同样重要，还不得而知。随着时间的推移而变化的选择可以导致快速进化。它也可以侵蚀或维持个体特征或基因的变异，但可能是也可能不是更广泛的进化动力学的重要因素。需要对自然种群的全基因组变异进行研究，以填补这一知识空白。在这个项目中，科学家们将使用计算机模拟，实验和蝴蝶的基因组测序来理解波动的选择。这项研究将集中在降水，温度和其他因素的变化如何导致毛虫的选择在空间和时间上发生变化。重要的是，还将开发新的方法。这些方法将帮助其他科学家研究自然选择在生态时间尺度上的后果。该项目将包括本科生的研究机会和公民科学计划。这项研究使用了几十年来收集的蝴蝶样本（7500个标本），并结合了科学方法来促进对波动选择的理解。此外，各种方法的结合将包括新开发的分析工具。这种综合框架将允许研究人员测试中性与选择论的分子进化理论。一个关键的成果将是对波动选择的基因组后果进行更精确的预测。这包括检测波动选择的新方法和软件。第二个成果将是一系列波动选择的经验测试，使用自19世纪末以来多次采样的蝴蝶种群。这些测试将侧重于了解波动选择的普遍性和原因。他们还将探索波动选择的目标和后果。重要的是，这项工作将结合联合收割机实验室实验和性状图谱研究与人口基因组分析。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

In the struggle for existence, organisms interact with each other and with their environment. Variation in climate, weather, and species interactions can cause variation in the direction and strength of natural selection. Differences in selection across space cause local adaptation. However, whether seasonal, yearly or longer-term fluctuations in selection are equally important for evolution is unknown. Selection that varies over time can cause rapid evolution. It can also erode or maintain variation for individual traits or genes, but may or may not be an important factor in evolutionary dynamics more broadly. Studies of genome-wide variation in natural populations are needed to fill this knowledge gap. In this project, scientists will use computer simulations, experiments, and genome sequencing of butterflies to understand fluctuating selection. The research will focus on how variation in precipitation, temperature, and other factors causes selection on caterpillars to change across space and time. Importantly, new methods will also be developed. These methods will help other scientists investigate the consequences of natural selection on ecological time scales. The project will include undergraduate research opportunities and a citizen science program. The research uses samples of butterflies (7500 specimens) collected over many decades and a combination of scientific approaches to advance understanding of fluctuating selection. Furthermore, the combination of approaches will include newly developed analytical tools. This integrative framework will allow the researcher to test neutral vs. selectionist theories of molecular evolution. One key outcome will be more refined predictions for the genomic consequences of fluctuating selection. This includes new methods and software for detecting fluctuating selection. A second outcome will be a series of empirical tests of fluctuating selection using populations of butterflies sampled multiple times since the late 1800s. These tests will focus on understanding the prevalence and causes of fluctuating selection. They will also explore the targets and consequences of fluctuating selection. Importantly, this work will combine lab experiments and trait mapping studies with population genomic analyses.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.