Project groups

• 8-1 | Microevolutionary adaptation to a changing climate
• 8-2 | Climate Change and Genetic Diversity
• 8-3 | Responses to climate change in interaction with other stressors
• 8-4 | Reaction of forest ecosystems to climate change

8-3.2 | IMPORTANCE OF GENETIC DIVERSITY IN POPULATIONS UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE

Maintaining high levels of genetic variation within species and populations is a central aim in conservation biology. The main reasons for this are the facts that genetic diversity holds the adaptation potential for populations to novel environments, such as climate change conditions. Moreover, several heterozygosity-fitness correlations have shown that high levels of genetic diversity within populations support population survival, in particular under stressful conditions.
In this project we perform experimental common garden experiments with populations of various origins and different levels of genetic diversity in order to test the role of genetic variation under climate change conditions. Several model species, such as Chironomus and Arabidopsis will be used.

Publications

Ernst, A., Sauer, J., Wittig, R. & C. Nowak (2013) : Local genetic structure of a montane herb among isolated grassland patches: implications for the preservation of genetic diversity under climate change. - Population Ecology 55: 417-431.

Sauer, J., Domisch, S., Nowak, C. & P. Haase (2011) : Low mountain ranges – summit traps for montane freshwater species under climate change. - Biodiversity and Conservation 20: 3133-3146.