Séminaire Ecobio - Katarina Stuart (University of Auckland, New Zealand)

Diversity across all biological scales is under threat as Earth faces its sixth mass extinction event, driven by a complex assortment of anthropogenically induced selection. Linking genomic patterns to environmental factors can help us to understand evolutionary responses in organisms facing these shifts in selection regimes and improve conservation strategies. Invasive species are primed to provide answers in this research space, because they represent a group of organisms that have very rapidly (and successfully) responded to novel selection regimes within invasive ranges. By studying the genomes of successful invasive species, we can identify, for example, which components of the genome play disproportionate roles in facilitating rapid evolution in response to altered selection regimes in novel environments. My research investigates several vital themes within this research space, of which I will present two. First, I will focus on the application of natural history collections in investigating selection across contemporary timescales, and the utility of incorporating historical written records into genomic studies to contextualize patterns in present day invasive species genetic diversity. Second, I will discuss how different components of genetic variation, which include single nucleotide polymorphisms, structural variants, and transposable elements, may contribute uniquely to the adaptive potential present within a population. Ultimately these research themes seek to explore the fundamental molecular mechanisms and patterns that underly rapid evolution, with application in invasive species management and forecasting, and in conservation efforts focused on managing vulnerable native species.