Collaborative Research: BEE: Bridging the ecology and evolution of East African Acacias across time and space: genomics, ecosystem, and diversification

合作研究：BEE：跨越时间和空间连接东非金合欢的生态和进化：基因组学、生态系统和多样化

• 批准号: 2106070
• 负责人: Stephen Smith
• 金额: $ 31.44万
• 依托单位: Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-09-01 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2106070&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; BEE; Bridging; ecology

The physical attributes and behaviors of species are shaped by evolution. These traits determine how individuals interact with their environment (ecology) which then influences the course of evolution. Thus, ecology and evolution are inextricably intertwined. Bridging the fields of evolution and ecology is challenging because the processes involved can operate on similar, or very different, time scales. African savanna acacia trees have evolved to survive and reproduce under harsh conditions not tolerated by many other tree species. Acacias can tolerate fires, droughts, herbivory by giraffes and elephants, and competition from other plants. But how acacias have adapted to these conditions in the past will influence their response to the current changing environment on the African continent. The goal of this study is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary history and ecological distribution of African acacias and to explore how species traits and distributions changed over time in response to change in the savanna climate. Ultimately, this knowledge will inform predictions about how acacia habitats will be affected by ongoing climate change. This project not only has broader societal benefit but also it will train undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in evolutionary biology, ecology, plant physiology, and molecular genomics. In addition, the project will expand the content and reach of a successful undergraduate teaching module of ecology and evolution featuring Serengeti National Park and will begin a new bioinformatics training course in partnership with universities in Africa.This project will bridge phylogenetic approaches to diversification with direct ecological field measurement of trait responses and gene expression. The activities include: (1) constructing new, detailed models of the phylogenetic history and ecological distribution of species and traits in the African Acacia Clade, (2) using phylogenomic analyses to study selection, introgression, and gene family expansion in relation to the Savanna Syndrome, (3) measuring acacia trait responses to Savanna Syndrome components (drought, fire, herbivory, grass competition) in a common garden experiment in Arusha, Tanzania, and (4) analyzing the molecular aspects of the phenotypic response through analysis of acacia transcriptomic profiles collected both on site in Tanzania and in controlled greenhouse experiments. Collectively, these linked lines of evidence will provide crucial information about the past evolution of the savanna community, the rapid rise of savannas across Africa that occurred in the Miocene, and its likely response to present ecological change.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

物种的物理属性和行为是由进化塑造的。这些特征决定了个体如何与环境（生态）相互作用，从而影响进化过程。因此，生态学和进化论是密不可分的。连接进化论和生态学领域具有挑战性，因为所涉及的过程可以在相似或非常不同的时间尺度上运行。非洲稀树草原金合欢树已经进化到能够在许多其他树种无法忍受的恶劣条件下生存和繁殖。金合欢树可以耐受火灾、干旱、长颈鹿和大象的食草以及其他植物的竞争。但金合欢树过去如何适应这些条件将影响它们对非洲大陆当前不断变化的环境的反应。本研究的目的是全面了解非洲金合欢树的进化历史和生态分布，并探索物种特征和分布如何随着时间的推移而变化以应对稀树草原气候的变化。最终，这些知识将有助于预测金合欢栖息地将如何受到持续的气候变化的影响。该项目不仅具有更广泛的社会效益，还将培养进化生物学、生态学、植物生理学和分子基因组学方面的本科生、研究生和博士后。此外，该项目还将扩大以塞伦盖蒂国家公园为特色的生态学和进化论本科生教学模块的内容和范围，并将与非洲大学合作开设新的生物信息学培训课程。该项目将在系统发育方法与直接多样化之间架起桥梁。性状反应和基因表达的生态场测量。这些活动包括：(1) 构建非洲金合欢分支物种和性状的系统发育历史和生态分布的新的详细模型，(2) 使用系统发育分析来研究与稀树草原相关的选择、基因渗入和基因家族扩展综合症，(3) 在坦桑尼亚阿鲁沙的一个常见花园实验中测量金合欢特性对稀树草原综合症成分（干旱、火灾、食草、草竞争）的反应， (4) 通过分析在坦桑尼亚现场和受控温室实验中收集的金合欢转录组图谱，分析表型反应的分子方面。总的来说，这些相互关联的证据将提供有关稀树草原群落过去演化、中新世非洲稀树草原迅速崛起及其对当前生态变化的可能反应的重要信息。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并已通过使用基金会的智力优点和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。