Multi-trait plasticity in response to a changing climate

该项目旨在了解气候变化对自然人口的影响。表型可塑性(随环境改变表型的能力)决定了自然种群对环境变化的直接反应。然而，对可塑性的研究往往依赖于简化假设，而对可塑性背后的基因组和表观基因组机制的了解才刚刚开始。这个项目将结合一个精细的温度操纵实验，以及对一种澳大利亚本土高山植物的基因组和多元统计分析。预期的结果是对多性状表型可塑性是否适应性、它是否可以进化以及驱动它的表观基因组机制进行全面分析。该项目将预测温度变化对高山植物的可能影响，从而产生国际上与适应气候变化的种群管理相关的信息，以及与澳大利亚山地植物保护有关的地方信息。

This project aims to understand the effect of climate change on natural populations. Phenotypic plasticity (the ability to change phenotype with environment) determines natural populations’ immediate response to environmental change. However, studies of plasticity frequently rely on simplifying assumptions, and understanding the genomic and epigenomic mechanisms underlying plasticity is only just emerging. This project will combine a fine-scale temperature-manipulation experiment with genomic and multivariate statistical analyses of a native Australian alpine plant. The intended outcome is a comprehensive analysis of whether multi-trait phenotypic plasticity is adaptive; whether it can evolve; and the epigenomic mechanisms that drive it. The project will predict the likely effect of temperature change on alpine plants, and so generate information internationally relevant to the management of populations adapting to climate change and locally relevant to the conservation of Australian montane flora.