Gene expression in lichen symbioses

Tolerance of stressful conditions and of environmental variability is a precondition for the long-term persistence of populations and species, and all the more important in the light of ongoing global climatic changes. One important way of how organisms can adjust to environmental variation is by modifying gene expression. Using the example of the model lichen Lobaria pulmonaria (tree lungwort), the planned research investigates how gene expression responses to environmental variation can be partitioned into genetic, acclimatory, and biotic components. Growth is the best proxy for fitness in lichens because it reflects the overall carbon balance of this mutualistic symbiotic association. Growth responses will be measured and partitioned into genetic, acclimatory and biotic effects. The planned project will substantially improve the understanding of how symbiotic organisms respond to environmental variation.

No additional funding sources recorded.