Stránka botanických doktorandů - Czech Botany PhDs Newsletter

At the Division of Landscape Ecology and Landscape Planning, Institute of Landscape Ecology
and Resources Management, Faculty of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences and Environmental
Management at the University in Giessen for a project on “Local adaptation and gene flow in Empetrum
hermaphroditum, a keystone species of boreal-arctic ecosystems, along an altitudinal stress gradient” a position (65%) for a research assistant is available for 3 years from 01.04.2012.

Project summary: To understand and predict the potential response of plant species to rapidly changing
envirnmental conditions it is necessary to analyse factors controlling adaptation, distribution and
abundance. However, there is a lack of empirical studies concerning the influence of interactions between
divergent selection and gene flow on local adaptation, especially for species in large continuous
populations. In arctic areas, snow cover represents a complex but very strong selection gradient. The
research project will address the effects of selection, gene flow and genetic drift on local adaptation and
genetic structure of Empetrum hermaphroditum Hagerup, an important driver of boreal and arctic
ecosystems. The main aim will be to understand how selection and gene flow in this windpollinated plant
affect its adaptation to habitat types with deep and shallow snow cover in continuous populations.
More in attached PDF.