Surviving extremes: genomics of plant adaptations to diverse environments PhD offered at the University of Edinburgh Summary Investigating the ecological genetics of adaptation to contrasting environments, focusing on sea thrift (Armeria maritima), a species adapted to coastal and inland montane areas. Project background How plant species expand their ecological niche and colonise novel environments remains poorly known. While many species have limited ecological tolerances and distribution ranges, others have expanded their ranges and now thrive under novel conditions. This project investigates the ecological genetics of species that have colonised contrasting environments. The initial focus is on studying dispersal and migration of sea thrift, Armeria maritima, which possesses notable adaptations to coastal habitats, and is prevalent on sea-cliffs and saltmarshes, but also occurs at high elevations inland, and has spread along roads treated with salt. This work may also be expanded to genomic comparisons of other species such as the sea plantain (Plantago maritima) and roseroot (Rhodiola rosea), or to growth experiments assessing population performance under different environmental stressors. Overall, this work will lead to new knowledge that may inform predicted responses to changing climates and habitats. The project will involve a placement with CASE partners the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI). This placement at the Scottish office of the BSBI will provide key training in botanical skills such as the use of species distribution databases and the opportunity to engage with plant conservation work. Research questions 1. What is the extent of gene flow between coastal and inland populations of sea thrift? 2. Do coastal and inland populations show contrasting genomic signatures of adaptation? Requirements An enthusiasm and interest in evolutionary biology and a working knowledge (or interest in building skills) in bioinformatics. A driving license would be useful for fieldwork. CASE partner: Botanical Society of Scotland For more details please see the advert here: https://e4-dtp.ed.ac.uk/e5-dtp/supervisor-led-projects/project?item=1707 The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. Is e buidheann carthannais a th' ann an Oilthigh Dh?n ?ideann, cl?raichte an Alba, ?ireamh cl?raidh SC005336. ---- Whole genome duplication and the polyploidy continuum PhD offered at the University of Edinburgh Polyploidy-whole genome duplication-is a major mutation that leads to a doubling of the chromosome number. This process has attracted the interest of biologists for over a century because of its critical role in generating diversity, influencing genes, species, and communities. Most commonly, polyploids are separate into two categories, autopolyploidy where whole genome duplication occurs within species, and allopolyploidy where whole genome duplication occurs following cross-species hybridisation. However, polyploid diversity may be better described as a continuum, with a wide range of variation not least due to the varying effects of hybridisation in allopolyploids. This project aims to investigate the diversity of plant genomes across the polyploidy continuum. Comparative genomics will be performed on reference genomes for plants from the Darwin Tree of Life project, which is generating high quality chromosome level genome assemblies for all British and Irish eukaryotic species. This large-scale analysis will identify the degree of divergence between polyploid subgenomes, and provide a first descriptor of polyploid genomic diversity across taxa. Further work within the project will be tailored to the interests of the applicant. This may include either: (1) bioinformatics tool development to characterise polyploid genome diversity, (2) fieldwork to sample wild populations of polyploid species for genomic characterisation. Overall, this project will lead to important new insights into the evolutionary outcomes of polyploidy. For more details please see the advert here: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/eastbio-whole-genome-duplication-and-the-polyploidy-continuum/?p179539 The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. Is e buidheann carthannais a th' ann an Oilthigh Dh?n ?ideann, cl?raichte an Alba, ?ireamh cl?raidh SC005336. Alex Twyford (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)