Evolutionary bursts — varying selection and rapid adaptation in the wild

Why do some populations evolve rapidly while others stagnate and even go extinct in a changing environment? The rate of evolution is determined by the amount of genetic variation and strength of selection.

Furthermore, the environment can cause a correlation in how strength of selection and amount of genetic variation fluctuates, which could explain why populations vary in evolutionary rates.

We know very little about natural variation in selection and genetic variation in wild populations and even less about their covariation, although these parameters are fundamental for the understanding of evolutionary dynamics.

To investigate this topic, I will use an insect system (Cassida viridis) which enables studies of selection and adaptation both in the lab and in the field, in multiple populations along environmental gradients.

My project is multidisciplinary and combines quantitative genetics, molecular ecology and genomics as well as experimental approaches.

The purpose is to study opportunities for rapid evolution, to increase our capacity to predict evolution and to understand how species respond when encountering a changing or novel environment. The latter is of utmost importance in scenarios of climate change or biological invasions.

The results will be of significance for our fundamental understanding of evolutionary dynamics in wild populations and the interaction between ecology and evolution.