Hodgins Honours Projects
A/Professor Kay Hodgins
Plant Ecological Genomics Research Group
kathryn.hodgins@monash.edu
Projects
Developing climate resilient grassland restoration strategies Full time or Part time Background: Australian grasslands are unique ecosystems harbouring many endemic species. In south-eastern Australia less than 1% of the original grasslands remain, in dwindling remnant patches. Land use changes, invasive species, and climate change are all threats to these already fragile ecosystems. Ecological restoration seeks to reverse this historic tide of degradation, but there are many challenges. One major question has been - which seeds should we plant and where? Local seed sourcing has been a popular practice because many plant species have a "home court" advantage, where locally sourced seeds are more successful than non-local ones. However, with changing climates, small local populations, and limited seed supplies, there is a question as to whether this is still the best option. Project Aims: The aim of this research is to provide an evolutionary framework to optimise seed sourcing for grassland restoration efforts. To do this we will grow seeds of two Australian native grass species collected from a wide range of climates in a common garden and measure fitness related traits. Techniques: Field research, experimental design, and data analysis ***** Climate adaptation in Australian wild sorghum Background: Studying crop wild relatives (CWR) holds immense importance for agricultural sustainability and food security. Sorghum, a vital cereal crop globally, faces numerous challenges such as climate change, emerging pests and diseases, and limited genetic diversity. Sorghum CWRs possess valuable genetic traits such as resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, tolerance to drought, heat, and salinity, as well as superior nutritional qualities. These traits can be introgressed into cultivated sorghum varieties through breeding programs to enhance their resilience and productivity. Additionally, wild relatives serve as genetic reservoirs for novel genes and alleles that can be utilized for future crop improvement efforts. Understanding and conserving the genetic diversity within sorghum's wild relatives not only ensures the preservation of valuable genetic resources but also provides a crucial foundation for sustainable agricultural practices and the development of resilient crop varieties capable of meeting the growing demands of a changing world. Project Aims: This research will investigate the genes involved in climate adaptation in three CWR of sorghum Techniques: This project would involve population genomic data analysis. ***** Museumoics and the evolution of supergenes Background: Some invasive species have the remarkable ability to rapidly adapt to the local climatic conditions that they encounter as they expand their range. One such species is common ragweed, which has expanded its range across Australia and Europe over the past 160-100 years. We have identified large supergenes (chromosomal inversions) that have been used to rapidly adapt ragweed to local climate conditions in Europe and North America. However, we have yet to explore the involvement of those supergenes in adaptation of ragweed to the unique climate of Australia. We will use museum specimens sampled over 100 years in Australia as well as modern specimens to identify changes in the supergenes over time and over the landscape in response to local climates. Project Aims: Identify genomic signals of selection on supergenes in historic and modern samples of ragweed in Australia. Techniques: This project would involve population genomic data analysis. ***** |     |