Abstract Detail

Population Genetics/Genomics

Lopez Perez, Lua [1], Lang, Patricia [2], Marciniak, Stephanie [3], Kistler, Logan [4], McKay, John [5], Burbano, Hernan [6], Perry, George [3], Lasky, Jesse [7].

Herbarium accessions for temporal studies of adaptation to climate in Arabidopsis thaliana.

When faced with environmental changes plant populations must migrate or adapt or they will go extinct. Thus, elucidating which features may confer adaptive potential is of great interest. In the actual climate change context, longstanding experiments tracking adaptive genetic and phenotypic changes are a pivotal element. However, these are almost non-existent because of the intrinsic challenge of maintaining a natural continuous long-term experiment. Therefore, inferences about past events are usually based on current patterns of genetic variation. Plant historical records archived in herbaria offer a perfect alternative to carry out this type of study but obtaining genetic information from ancient and/or historical specimens has proven to be, at best, challenging. Because of recent advances in ancient DNA (aDNA) retrieval techniques, aDNA genomics are experiencing an unprecedented attention allowing us the direct observation of past events and its evolution until present time. In this regard, we are currently investigating genetic and phenotypic changes in native populations of Arabidopsis thaliana during the last 200 years across its native range. Using a combination of genomic and phenotypic data we aim to elucidate how these populations evolved in response to climate changes and more specifically, to anthropogenic-caused climate change. Here we present our workflow and discuss our results.

1 - California State University, San Bernardino, Biology, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA, 92407, United States
2 - Stanford University, Department of Biology, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
3 - Pennsylvania State University, Department of Anthropology, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
4 - Smithsonian Institution, Anthropology Department , Washington, DC, 20002, USA
5 - Colorado State University , Department of Agricultural Biology, Fort Collins , CO, 80523, USA
6 - University College London, Department Genetics, Evolution & Environment , London, WC1E 6BT, UK
7 - 408 Life Science Building, University Park, PA, 16802, United States

Keywords:
adaptation
genomics
herbaria
climate change.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Number: PGG2005
Abstract ID:545
Candidate for Awards:Margaret Menzel Award