Genetic structure of fairy shrimp metapopulations in island habitats along a large scale climate gra

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Genetic structure of fairy shrimp metapopulations
in island habitats along a large scale climate
gradient
Promotor Prof. Dr. Luc Brendonck (Luc.brendon
ck_at_bio.kuleuven.be, 016 32 37 14) Begeleider
Bram Vanschoenwinkel (Bram.Vanschoenwinkel_at_bio.k
uleuven.be, 016 32 12 34) Doel Goal of
this research is to unravel genetic structure of
fairy shrimp metapopulations along a gradient of
habitat stability (North - South climate
gradient) and to explore parallels with the
metacommunity Relevantie Knowledge about the
impact of spatial configuration and isolation of
habitat patches on the dynamics and genetic
structure of populations (metapopulation ecology)
is crucial for conservation of endangered
species. Interactions with the metacommunity
level remain largely unexplored and may shed
light on how evolution of species may influence
communities and vice versa.
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Genetic structure of fairy shrimp metapopulations
in island habitats along a large scale climate
gradient
Inselberg (left) Temporary rock pool (middle) The
fairy shrimp Branchinella longirostris
(right) Overview of mountain metapopulations
along the studied climate gradient in Western
Australia (below)
N
rainfall
Australia
S