Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP150103414 [ 2015 - 2017 ]

Research Grant

Researchers Prof Andrew Lowe; Dr Martin Breed; Dr Margaret Byrne; Prof Martin Lascoux; Dr John Stephen; Dr Giovanni Vendramin

Brief description Using the Australian flora as our model, we will tackle a central issue of evolution and conservation – what drives species adaptation? Since dispersal should override selection in populations, we predict that plants that are good dispersers will display weak signals of adaptation, but a higher capacity to adapt, than poorer dispersers. From these expectations we develop a new adaptation guild classification, and test predictions using ecological genomics and functional genetics at a continental and multi-species scale. In addition to progressing a central tenet of evolutionary biology, this project will improve seed sourcing and biodiversity management, readily applicable to plants that can be quickly classified by life history traits.

Funding Amount 373300

Funding Scheme Discovery Projects