Range shifts and adaption – using genetics to better understand patterns and processes
Jan M. Strugnell
La Trobe University, Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora, Vic 3086, J.Strugnell@latrobe.edu.au, @JanStrugnell
Scientists and the general public are documenting shifts in species distributions. These shifting distributions are occurring in accordance with climatic change. Locally, the East Australian Current has strengthened over the last 50 years bringing warmer, saltier water hundreds of kilometres further south. In contrast, the Leeuwin Current appears to have weakened. Globally, the story is similar with marked changes in oceanic currents being documented. Increasingly powerful genetic tools are allowing us to investigate the genetic processes that underpin range shifts. These include the application of next generation sequencing methods such as reduced representation genomic methods to better understand population genetic processes and speciation and also transcriptomics to interrogate function and adaptation -‐ including how species are adapted to differing conditions. We can also investigate genetic signatures that persist from times of past climatic change to help us make predictions about the future. Insights from investigation of genetic signatures of marine species that are currently on the move will be explored along with signatures of past range shifts. Examples will be drawn from a diversity of species including some with commercial importance including octopus, abalone and lobsters.