Ortego Lab

Specifically, we will use as study system oak (Quercus sp.) communities from California to i) infer the demographic history of the different species within the community and determine how different taxa have experienced similar or distinct responses to past climate changes (e.g. Pleistocene glaciations); ii) We will employ genomic data to test different models of gene flow that integrate both abiotic factors (climate, topography) and inter-specific interactions (competition, facilitation); iii) Finally, we will infer demographic parameters (carrying capacities, dispersal rates) for a representative number of species forming the different oak communities from California and use them to forecast their population trends in response to future climate change, which will help to predict potential processes of population fragmentation/connection and loss/gain of genetic diversity. Overall, this project aims to address the study of different demographic aspects to get more robust predictions about the consequences of global change at the level of genetic diversity, species and communities.