Elevation Hologenomics

The research goal of the Elevation Hologenomics project is to elucidate the role of host-microbiota interactions in facilitating adaptive responses to climate and altitudinal change by identifying signatures of emerging genetic adaptations and phenotypic responses. Using multiple locations of low and high elevations allows us to understand these adaptations, by identifying the adaptive signatures when comparing low and high points. And by sampling across multiple valleys within the Pyrenees, we can gain a better understanding of how these adaptations to altitude are replicated across populations.  In doing so, we could be able to identify populations of Podarcis muralis potentially threatened, as their climatically suitable habitat declines and they are unable to shift their elevational range further upslope leading to extinction. If the species is able to persist, it will experience competition with species being pushed further up the slope, intensifying losses.