Project number: P506 15-066325
Project title: The significance of climate and history population for expansion species
Programme: GAČR, standard projects
Project leader: doc. RNDr. Bohumil Mandák, Ph.D.
Project schedule: 2015-2017
Total project budget of FES CZU: 9 849 ths. CZK
Abstract:
In climatically driven species expansion two alternative scenarios may be expected about the critical processes influencing species potential for range shift. (1) Species characteristics such as dispersal, fitness related traits and mating system do not limit potential for further expansion. Thus, after the climate becomes more favorable in front of the range margin, species capacity to shift its range depends on species ability to colonize new areas and establish viable populations after arrival. (2) Potential for further expansion is limited by dispersal traits, mating system or fitness related traits. In this case, population history and processes such as genetic admixture may ameliorate species traits related to dispersal and fitness ensuring further expansion. In this project, we will provide insight into processes influencing expansion of annual species Atriplex tatarica at the leading edge of its European distribution. Specifically, we will study if expansion processes are driven simply via centre-abundant model or whether knowledge on specific population history is needed.