Beetle genomes across California

Investigation of bacterial and mitochondrial genes in geographically distinct populations

Presenter: Kaelie Nelson

Co-Presenter(s):
Alannah Ortega

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 22-23

Semester: Spring

Faculty Mentor: Nathan Rank

Department: Biology

Funding Source/Sponsor: Other

Other Funding Source/Program: California Conservation Genomics Project

President's Strategic Plan Goal: Sustainability and Environmental Inquiry

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1mud5N9jzjt7Zeytk-9hvZHoPQLJkg1Vj

Abstract:
The California Conservation Genomics Project is an organization that was funded to investigate biological diversity across many species across the tree of life in order to identify regions of California that are especially important for conservation. The leaf beetle Chrysomela aeniecollis was included in this project because it has been developed as a model insect species threatened by environmental change including the recent drought. We studied the evolution of the mitochondria and bacterial associates to this species, which are both passed down from females to their offspring and might show evidence of co-adaptation to local conditions. Our findings support the hypothesis that populations in different regions of the state are genetically distinct and potentially worthy of conservation.