Ecological genomics of insects' phase 2: climate adaptations and evolution of ecological interactions

Abstract

Recent developments in genomics opened unprecedented opportunities to study the interface among ecology, evolution, and genetics, and made possible to understand adaptations of organisms in detail. We use natural populations of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster and its relatives and combine modern next-generation sequencing technologies integrated with laboratory and field studies to understand natural selection and adaptations. The main goal of this project is to consolidate my research group on ecological genomics of insects. We will expand our studies on climate adaptations and adaptations to ecological interactions. First, we will use historical samples to study genome wide long-term stability of clines, response to global warming, and the relative importance of natural selection versus admixture. Second, we will use a highly integrative approach to study clinal variation in South American D. melanogaster populations. Third, we will develop a mapping panel with high statistical power and fine resolution to dissect the genetic architecture of climate adaptation. Forth, we will use an integrative approach to study climate adaptation in Neotropical drosophilid species collected in the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado. Finally, we will test other factors, beyond climate adaptation, that affect the interaction between Neotropical drosophilid species and the endosymbiont Wolbachia, including virus protection, cytoplasmatic incompatibility, and phylogenetic origins. We will train postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate students in a modern theme, consolidate a network of nine associated researchers from eight universities in four different countries, and address broad interest questions that will result in publications with high potential impact. (AU)