Long and short-term species response to aridification using the true Rose of Jericho as a model
Zuzana Münzbergová, Igor Bartish, Tomáš Dostálek
Understanding consequences of aridification is fundamental to predict evolutionary responses of species to ongoing climate change. We aim to identify evolutionary patterns and processes in response to aridification in annual extremophyte Anastatica hierochuntica. Its macro-continental disjunction, ecological requirements and genome features point it out as a unique opportunity to understand species ability to cope with aridification at both long and short spatio-temporal scales. We will perform whole genome and transcriptome sequencing to study long-term phylogeographical patterns and transcriptome sequencing to understand potential for adaptation within manipulative experiment. We will obtain multiple pieces of novel evidence on consequences of adaptation to aridification, including specific molecular mechanisms of adaptation. Such study over two contrasting scales has not been done before. This will help us to extend the existing knowledge on species response to the impact of past and present climate changes and use it to predict responses to future aridification.