The ecological genomics of range expansion under climate change in the speckled wood butterfly

Climate change and habitat fragmentation are driving change in the distribution and abundance of many species. Butterflies and moths are particularly sensitive to these changes, with most species declining, but a few having expanded their ranges as climate conditions ‘improve’ for them. The speckled wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria) is expanding its range in Britain and provides an excellent means for studying the environmental, demographic, life-history and genetic conditions that promote range expansion. The main aim of this project is to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning species’ responses to climate change to help determine the evolutionary and ecological limits to adaptation and develop actions to conserve species in future.
This is an inter-disciplinary project that integrates population genomics with metapopulation modelling and analysis of long-term monitoring data. Approaches that are envisaged include: genome scans of recently colonized and core populations (requiring field work to collect samples); parameterizing metapopulation models using extensive records (e.g. UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme transects data); rearing experiments to examine candidate genotype-phenotype associations; and analysis of long-term records to make inferences about phenological responses.
The student will benefit from close association with a larger NERC-funded research programme that is examining adaptive responses over the past 100 years across 30 species of Lepidoptera.
Interests and skills should include one or more of: population ecology, evolutionary genetics, statistical modelling, bioinformatics, conservation of species under climate change.