HybOakAdapt – Genomics of hybridization in white oaks for climate-adapted Austrian forests
The project, funded by the Climate Energy Fund, investigates white oak species complexes as a model system and the role of hybridization in climate adaptation. A particular focus is on Austria and south-eastern Europe.
Genetic introgression between white oak species (Quercus sect. Quercus) occurs frequently and may represent an effective mechanism to increase intraspecific adaptive genetic variation, especially in intermediate habitats, on marginal sites and under changing environmental conditions. We hypothesize that the high genetic and taxonomic diversity of white oaks in southeastern Europe results from the alternation of gene flow and isolation events in the recent geological past, starting from different glacial refugia in southern and eastern Europe and probably involving gene flow between species distributed in Western Europe as well as in the Near East and the Caucasus. Our aim is to investigate the role of hybridization in climate adaptation using the white oak species complex as a study system, with a special focus on Austria and Southeastern Europe. We test whether the transmission of adaptive traits is facilitated by hybridization under specific climatic conditions.
With this aim, we produce a population genomic dataset that includes the most widespread species, their hybrids and local subspecies and varieties along a climatic gradient – from relatively humid and cold conditions in Austria to dry and hot sites on the Black Sea coast. This allows us to quantify the extent of introgression, track its evolutionary dynamics over time and identify introgression hotspots in the genome with potentially adaptive functions. The findings from our approach will provide essential information for the management of forest genetic resources in the context of climate change in Austria.
Research focus
- The largest white oak sampling in Southeast Europe to date, including the identification of climate-appropriate seed resources; the collection of genomic, morphological and climatic data in a wide range of site conditions
- Improved understanding of the taxonomic complexity and genetic diversity of white oaks, which can be used for subsequent forest management concepts in Austria
- Quantification of gene flow between species, as well as definition of genomic hotspots of introgression with adaptation-relevant function
Projektinfos
Project title: HybOakAdapt
Long project title: Genomics of hybridization in white oaks for climate-adapted Austrian forests
Duration: 01.11.2024 – 31.10.2027
Funding agency: Austrian Climate Research Programme (ACRP), FFG
Project leader: BFW – Ökologische Genetik, Aglaia Szukala
Project postdoc: BFW – Ökologische Genetik, Clara Groot Crego
Project partner: WSL – Ökologische Genetik, Christian Rellstab
Contact
Aglaia Szukala, Bundesforschungszentrum für Wald, Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg 8, 1131 Wien, aglaia.szukala@bfw.gv.at
