Genetic variation in light of ecological interactions

• Applicant: Dr. Max Schmid
• Subject Area: Evolution, Anthropology ; Bioinformatics and Theoretical Biology ; Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 544907376

Species show ample of variation in morphological, phenological, or behavioral traits. A part of such trait variation usually has a genetic basis, is heritable, and transmitted to the next generation. The test for whether heritable trait variation has evolved from neutral (stochastic) processes or as an adaptive response to natural selection, however, is non-trivial. To this end, the additive genetic differentiation Qst is compared to differentiation at neutral genomic sites Fst. Such a comparison indicates neutral trait variation when Qst=Fst, selection that favors spatial trait variation with Qst>Fst, and selection that acts against spatial trait variation with QstFst to QstFst), or whether it leads to neutral-like outcomes despite disruptive selection operating at the community level (Qst=Fst). To investigate these questions, I suggest to run individual-based simulations, a widespread tool to test empirical methods and evolutionary scenarios. Such simulations allow to create ground-truth data with known selection regimes, compute differentiation from the simulation data (Qst and Fst), and investigate the link between Qst/Fst signals and its causal evolutionary agents.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants