GeCoEvo · Genomic characterization of co-evolutionary dynamics along elevation gradients

Species partnerships that have shaped life on Earth for millions of years are now under unprecedented threat from climate change, yet we lack fundamental knowledge about how these relationships evolve and adapt. This project addresses a critical gap in evolutionary biology by investigating the genomic basis of coevolution—the reciprocal evolutionary changes between interacting species—and how environmental variation affects these dynamics across landscapes. I will uncover how coevolutionary partnerships respond to environmental gradients and climate change by combining cutting-edge genomics with field ecology, using the moth Hadena compta and its host plant Dianthus sylvestris as a model system in the Swiss Alps. While ecological theory predicts that coevolution varies spatially, creating ""hotspots"" of intense interaction and ""coldspots"" of weak interaction, the genomic mechanisms underlying this variation remain unknown. This knowledge gap severely limits our ability to predict how species partnerships will respond to rapid environmental change. I will (1) map coevolutionary hotspots and coldspots along Alpine elevation gradients, (2) quantify the relative contributions of environmental adaptation versus species interactions using population genomics, and (3) predict future coevolutionary dynamics under climate change scenarios. The study integrates field samples, environmental and genomics data with population and ecological genomics across multiple elevational sites, plus ecological experiments with the secondment lab. This fellowship will establish me as a leader in coevolutionary genomics while providing critical insights for predicting ecosystem responses to climate change. The project will advance fundamental evolutionary theory and inform conservation strategies for protecting species partnerships in rapidly changing Alpine environments. Results will be directly applicable to understanding the vulnerability and resilience of mutualistic systems worldwide.""