Seascape Genomics & Speciation - SEAGEN

SEAGEN is an interdisciplinary research group that combines genomics and ecological approaches to study marine populations across space aiming to understand how environmental factors influence the genetic diversity, structure and evolutionary processes (adaptation and speciation) in marine ecosystems, as well as to inform conservation practitioners for implementing a more effective protection of marine ecosystems, contributing for healthier oceans. 

SEAGEN is formed by a group of committed and promising researchers and students with complementary skills on population and evolutionary genomics, molecular ecology, bioinformatics and marine biology that works together to understand how marine species adapt and diversify, with several defined objectives: i) identifying the main drivers of populations structure, adaptation and speciation in marine ecosystems; ii) understanding whether certain genomic architectures (e.g., chromosomal inversions) favor the formation of new marine species; iii) establishing a link between genotypes, phenotypes and the environmental factors driving diversification in the sea; iv) understanding how populations maintain and adapt to fast environmental change in marine coastal areas; v) training students, technicians and researchers on topics/methodologies within the scope of the group’s research lines; vi) deliver crucial genetic and phenotypic data to inform conservation practitioners for implementing adequate management of marine biodiversity; and vii) contribute for scientific literacy and promote evolutionary thinking of the general public.