Spatio-temporal dynamics of genome-wide diversity of Fagus sylvatica

欧洲山毛榉(Fagus sylvatica L.)是中欧重要的森林树种。然而，尽管科学界做出了广泛的努力，人们对该物种在空间和时间上的基因组变异知之甚少。关于这种变异如何帮助该物种应对气候变化，或者面对未来气候变化时的适应潜力，我们知道的更少。这些限制部分是由于山毛榉基因组资源不足造成的。然而，最近，联合提交这项提案的团队公布了第一个高质量的西弗兰参考基因组。有了这一互利合作的经验，我们提交了继续我们的合作研究的项目提案，以便协同结合我们在基因组学和人口遗传学方面的专业知识，努力弥合上述知识差距。利用全基因组测序(WGS)方法，我们将在我们早期研究(基于ddRADseq)的基础上，研究代表该物种三个主要谱系(参考种群)的树种自然种群之间的遗传多样性和分化。我们将研究中性和非中性遗传多样性是如何在空间上转移的，也是在时间上转移的。为此，我们将研究三个不同的树龄类别(老树200年、树苗40-60年和树苗5年)，以追踪目前在物种分布的气候不同部分的种群中正在进行的任何选择的特征。这些发现对于理解驱动中性和适应性基因组区域变化的潜在机制具有重要意义，这将对在遗传保护和林业实践中管理树种遗传资源具有重要意义。提交这项建议的研究团队在科学卓越方面各有不同和互补的领域。德国团队对比较基因组学和功能基因组学以及基因组进化有着长期的兴趣。波兰团队在种群遗传学和林木基因组学方面有经验。该项目期间的联合合作将对两个研究小组都有利，并可能导致专注于种群基因组研究的长期合作。

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is an important forest tree species in Central Europe. However, despite extensive efforts of the scientific community little is known about the spatial and temporal genome-wide variation of this species. Even less is known regarding how this variation has helped the species to cope with climate change or what the adaptive potential may be in the face of future climate changes. These limitations are partly due to insufficient genomic resources of beech. However, recently the teams jointly submitting this proposal have published the first high quality reference genome of F. sylvatica. With the experience of this mutually beneficial collaboration, we submit the project proposal for continuing our collaborative research for synergistically combining our expertise in genomics and population genetics, working towards closing the knowledge gaps outlined above. Using the whole genome sequencing (WGS) approach, we will investigate genetic diversity and differentiation among natural populations of F. sylvatica representing the three major lineages of this species (reference populations) defined in Central Europe based on our earlier studies (based on ddRADseq). We will investigate how the neutral and non-neutral genetic diversity is transferred in a spatial, but also in a temporal manner. For this, we will study three different age classes (old trees > 200 y, saplings 40-60 y, and seedlings < 5 yrs) to trace any signatures of selection currently ongoing within the populations located in climatically different parts of the species distribution. These findings will have high importance for understanding the underlying mechanisms driving changes in neutral and adaptive genomic regions, which will be relevant for managing of genetic resources of tree species in the context of genetic conservation but also forestry practices. The research teams submitting this proposal have distinct and complementary areas of scientific excellence. The German team has long lasting interests in comparative and functional genomics, and genome evolution. The Polish team has experience on population genetics and genomics of forest trees. Joint collaboration during this project will be beneficial for both research groups, and will likely lead to long-term cooperation focused on population genomic studies.