Conservation Genomics and the significance of adaptive variation in the Koala
Summary
The Reprogen Animal Bioscience group in the Faculty of Veterinary Science in collaboration with James Cook University, Australian Ecosystems and San Diego Zoo is offering 3 exciting PhD opportunities in Koala conservation management, genetics and genomics. PhD number 2 is outlined below along with the overall scope of the project.
Supervisor(s)
Research Location
Program Type
PHD
Synopsis
One of Australia's most iconic species, the koala, is under threat. Factors responsible for significant population decreases are multifactorial in nature. Underpinning this is a lack of understanding of the genetic diversity of populations across the species range, resulting in an inability to identify populations most at risk of local extinction. This information is needed for effective management of population viability, and for the setting of conservation management units. In order to develop sound management strategies and prioritise active intervention and management of populations at greatest risk three unique PhD opportunities offer you the opportunity to participate in frontline scientific discovery and ensure survival of this iconic species. You will be working with a team of researchers and industry partners to develop new tools for the scientific management of the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) which will assist the Koala Species Survival Plan (SSP)Furthermore you will engage with wildlife conservation biologists at the Australian Ecosystems Foundation, national and statewide conservation groups and visit the frontline research unit in Koala genetics at San Diego Zoo. The Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research was established in 1975 and has a worldwide reputation for research and conservation of biodiversity. Their contributions in koala conservation are complemented by extensive ex-situ breeding programs, species recovery programs and reintroductions, and field conservation programs many of which are achieved through partnerships and collaborations. Their vision includes an emphasis on utilising the latest advances in science and technology to help conserve species worldwide and the work of the Institute for Conservation Research already incorporates an emphasis on the management of populations based on sound genetic information. San Diego Zoo holds the largest ex-situ collection of koalas outside of Australia and this collection has generated funds for in-situ conservation and research in Queensland Australia for the last 30 years through the Koala Ecology Group. The research group at The University of Sydney and James Cook University hold world edge capability in molecular genetics, animal genomics and molecular diversity and ecology across a wide range of species. You will be well supported with access to leading technologies and research capability. The three projects on offer are briefly described below.
Additional Information
Conservation Genomics and the significance of adaptive variation in the Koala
Aims:
a) Use a conservation genomics approach to identify regions of the genome which may have been under selective pressure and thus may represent functional adaptive variation amongst populations.b) Based on molecular data calculate molecular inbreeding coefficients and for animals with known pedigree, degree of relatedness can be calculated as well as conventional inbreeding coefficients.c) Develop a simple identity and parentage testing SNP panel of the 96 most informative markers. Using SNPs that have been identified as neutral and adaptive we will develop a highly informative SNP array for continued use and evaluation on new koala populations. Despite a general decline in the range of koalas across Australia since European settlement there is great variation in population dynamics such as growth and mortality rates, and in morphological traits such as animal size and fur length across the species range. These ecological and morphological differences may represent an adaptation to climate over an extensive range and with further contraction of the species range predicted due to a reduction in the climate envelope; the consequences will be reflected in the ability of individuals and populations to adapt to changed environments.In addition to many direct applications to conservation of the koala, comparative population genomics can now reveal information about selective forces which determine divergence between populations. Using new technologies it is possible to isolate genomic regions which may have been under diversifying or stabilising selection pressure by identifying regions with significantly increased or decreased differentiation among populations. These areas of the genome may code for functional variation in life-history traits. Increasing our understanding of genomic variation within and between populations and across the species range will assist us to better manage this functional variation and help us to better define conservation management units.The koala is listed for whole genome sequencing in the Genome 10K project and, once complete, the RAD tag genomic maps created in this project can be aligned with the sequence to determine the marker locations on the genome. Downstream applications of this project therefore include subsequent assessments of the functional aspects for any candidate genes and alleles which this project identifies as having been under selection pressure.Using information on SNP important for adaptive fitness, and those neutral loci with high polymorphic content, a sub-panel of 96 SNP will be identified for low cost identity and parentage testing. Such SNP will allow tracking/verification of captive and wild animals, as well as pedigree ascertainment for pedigree relationships and management of captive populations. FURTHER DETAILS
For further details and initial discussion of project opportunities
Contact:
Prof Herman Raadsma Reprogen Animal Bio-Science group, Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Sydney. Tel 02 9351 1603 e:raadsma@camden.usyd.edu.au
Dr Kyall Zenger, Senior Lecturer James Cook University, Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, Townsville, 4811 QLD, Australia. Ph: +61-7-4781 6532 e: kyall.zenger@jcu.edu.au
Dr Kellie Leigh, Executive Officer, Australian Ecosystems Foundation, www.ausecosystems.org.au Ph: 02 6351 4515 35 Crane Road Lithgow NSW 2790 Australia
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Keywords
Genetics, conservation genomics, wildlife conservation, conservation biology, whole-genome research, SNP, ecological modeling, Geographic Information Systems, GIS, Koala, phascolarctos cinereus
Opportunity ID
The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is: 1643
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- Koala Conservation management and integrated ecological modelling
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