Seascape genetics and comparative genomics: an integrative evolutionary approach in marine invertebrates

• Grant number: 21/06738-8
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Young Investigators - Phase 2
• Start date: May 01, 2022
• End date: April 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Sónia Cristina da Silva Andrade
• Grantee: Sónia Cristina da Silva Andrade
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Gonzalo Giribet ; Hugo Benitez ; Maikon Di Domenico ; Marcelo Dottori
• Associated research grant: 15/20139-9 - Seascape genetics and evaluation of expression profiles on marine invertebrates on Brazilian Southeast coast, AP.JP
• Associated research grant(s): 23/01413-9 - Investigation of the Vitória Trindade chain as a barrier to gene flow in Colpomenia sinuosa Ectocarpales, Phaeophyceae), AP.R
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/20492-0 - Morphological and molecular analysis of the species Bellactis ilkalyseae (Cnidaria: Actiniaria) from brazilian coast, with species (re)description, BP.IC; 24/21688-5 - Genomic diversity of Ozobranchus (Ozobranchidae: Hirudinida): gene flow patterns and kinship relationships of the species Ozobranchus margoi, a parasite of sea turtles on the Brazilian coast, BP.IC; 24/16456-8 - Regenerative capabilities in Spiralia: an integrative approach towards the understanding of regenerative processes, BP.IC; + associated scholarships 21/12924-9 - Investigation of the Vitória-Trindade chain as a barrier to gene flow in Colpomenia sinuosa (Ectocarpales, Phaeophyceae), BP.PD; 22/14490-9 - Coronula diadema and Xenobalanus globicipitis genomics and the identification of genes related to the ecological association between barnacles and cetaceans, BP.PD; 22/13979-4 - The evolutionary history of Whale Lice: from species adaptations to family phylogeny, BP.PD; 22/12534-9 - Phylogeography and genetic diversity pattern in meiofauna species, BP.IC; 22/10285-1 - Community diversity in Brazilian Southeast soft-bodied meiofauna, BP.IC - associated scholarships

Abstract

Inferring how the historical relationships between populations are reflected on the genetic variability is one of the main challenges on the landscape genetics field. This approach allows the understanding of the relationships between geographic distribution and gene flow with the cumulative environmental and bionomics data. One of the main possibilities on the landscape/seascape approaches is relating the adaptive role of the markers used to phenotypic and functional evolution in genotype-environment associations (GEA). However, it hits a wall as the data available is not enough to make an accurate annotation of the genes under selection or with a functional role. To circumvent that, one can apply statistical comparative genomic approaches to study the genetic basis of phenotypic/functional trait evolution. In this context, the present proposal aims to explore three aspects potentially fundamentals to establish a bridge between genetic diversity and adaptive habits in two restrictive and understudied marine environments. First, understand and characterize at the genomic/transcriptomic level the interspecies differences in response to environmental constraints. Secondly, evaluate the genetic variability distribution accompanied by the screening of biotic and abiotic data in the collection location and compared to the results obtained by ocean circulation models. Finally, using phylogenetic approaches comparative genomics tools, such as PhyloG2P, and markers as UCEs and entire genomes and transcriptomes, we intend to test for evolutionary associations between functional traits and lineage diversification, untying similarity due to convergent evolution from the similarity caused by shared common ancestry. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SONODA, GABRIEL GONZALEZ; TOBARUELA, ERIC DE CASTRO; NORENBURG, JON; FABI, JOAO PAULO; ANDRADE, SONIA C. S.. Venomous Noodles: The Evolution of Toxins in Nemertea through Positive Selection and Gene Duplication. TOXINS, v. 15, n. 11, p. 27-pg., 2023-11-01. (15/20139-9, 18/12502-4, 21/06738-8, 20/06467-1)