Sofie Vranken1, Kenny Bogaert2, Olivier De Clerck1
1Ghent University, Belgium - 2Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Germany
The life cycle of an organism plays a crucial role in ecological and evolutionary processes, affecting reproduction, survival, and genetic diversity. Organisms can display a wide range of life cycle variations. For instance, phenology—the timing of reproductive events—may differ among populations, and some populations may even (partly) shift their mode of reproduction from sexual to asexual. These variations can impact reproductive success, gene flow, genetic diversity, and, ultimately, the evolutionary trajectory of populations. Understanding the factors that influence life cycle variation is essential for grasping the biology and ecological roles of species. This study investigates the variation in life cycles and its effects on the genetic diversity of the brown seaweed Dictyota dichotoma across its European range. We monitored phenology and reproductive states in different populations and used microsatellite markers and whole genome sequencing to assess how these factors influence genetic diversity and structure. Our results reveal significant differences in phenology, reproductive strategies, and genetic diversity among populations. These findings enhance our understanding of the genetic diversity and reproductive strategies of Dictyota, contributing valuable insights into its ecological and evolutionary dynamics.
Biography
Sofie Vranken is a postdoctoral researcher interested in the ecological genomics of seaweed. She completed her PhD at the University of Western Australia, focusing on genomic patterns supporting climate change resilience of kelp forests. Currently, she works at Ghent University in Belgium, where she is involved in projects exploring lifecycle variation in seaweeds and how this variation influences genetic diversity. Her pet seaweeds include Laminaria, Dictyota, and Porphyra.