Genetic mechanisms for plant adaptation to metal rich rock outcrops

• Grant number: 15/10778-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2016
• End date: June 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Marina Corrêa Côrtes
• Grantee: Bruno Pereira Leles
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract:The spatial heterogeneity and the natural fragmentation of montane environments may drive divergent selective pressures across the landscape. Contrasting selective pressures associated with low gene flow is able to trigger adaptive responses such as local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity. Both adaptive mechanisms play an important role in the evolutionary trend of populations, however, little is known about its role in the formation and maintenance of Neotropical montane species diversity. This project aims to evaluate the adaptive process that allows the plant growing in different types of rock outcrops with contrasting physic and chemical proprieties using a combination of reciprocal transplants and population genomics. The results of this project may clarify the role of rock outcrop for plat adaptive divergence in montane environments and suggest the genetic mechanism responsible for plant adaptation to heavy metal tolerance. This knowledge may improve the conservation of endangered montane species and may set a new approach for biotechnology development for restoration of degraded habitat by mining activities.

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)

NERI, JORDANA; WENDT, TANIA; LELES, BRUNO; DOS SANTOS, MANOEL FRANCISCO; PALMA-SILVA, CLARISSE. Variation in reproductive systems facilitates species boundaries of sympatric Vriesea (Bromeliaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 184, n. 2, p. 272-279, JUN 1 2017. (15/10778-4, 09/52725-3)

LELES, BRUNO; XIAO, XUE; PASION, BONIFACIO O.; NAKAMURA, AKIHIRO; TOMLINSON, KYLE W.. Does plant diversity increase top-down control of herbivorous insects in tropical forest?. OIKOS, v. 126, n. 8, p. 1142-1149, AUG 2017. (15/10778-4)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

LELES, Bruno Pereira. Conservation and evolution: from population ecology to public policy. 2019. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências. Rio Claro Rio Claro.