In June 2024, Camille Cornet, researcher at the Swiss University of Neuchâtel, embarked on an exciting case study connected to Biodiversity Genomics Europe. This project is centred on the remarkable biodiversity of alpine butterflies, in particular the genus Erebia, whose species can be found throughout Europe. Some species are widespread, when others are localized and often endangered. Localized species are particularly threatened by climate change and land use, making this project important to implement future conservation measures. The primary goal of the project is to assess the functional genomic diversity of Erebia in the context of adaptation to environmental change. The results will be instrumental for conservation of Erebia and will underscore the importance of genomic information for efficient biodiversity management.
A great adventure: the team of scientists travelled all the way from France to Georgia in search of alpine butterflies to sample and study.
After an idyllic yet intense period of fieldwork ranging from the French Massif Central over the Alps to the Caucasus in Georgia, the research team successfully sampled butterflies of a dozen Erebia species, and sequenced and assembled their genomes. Preliminary results uncovered hidden genetic diversity as many species differ greatly in their number of chromosomal rearrangements. These substantial differences have been suggested to play a role in species diversification. To further elucidate the importance of genetic diversity for adaptation to climate change, the next stage involves annotating the genomes to pinpoint gene locations. This step is crucial to determine where important functional diversity exists within the genomes and whether they mediate genomic rearrangements.
The 12 butterfly genomes sequenced revealed great genetic diversity within the genus Erebia - many species differ in their number of chromosomal rearrangements.
This BGE Case Study on alpine butterflies highlights the importance of cutting-edge genomics research to provide the resources for their future conservation. As climate change coupled with habitat loss continues to threaten biodiversity, such investigations become essential. Stay tuned for more updates on our findings and their implications for conservation!
This work would not be possible without the invaluable help of Tinatin Chkhartishvili and Giorgi Iankoshvili from Ilia State University in Georgia, and Yannick Chittaro and Andreas Sanchez from InfoFauna in Switzerland to collect specimens. This project has received funding from the European Union under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, co-funded by the Swiss Government and the British Government.
About the Author:
Camille Cornet is a member of the ERGA community, participating in the ERGA effort by sequencing genomes of, among others, Erebia butterflies. Camille is part of the Biodiversity Genomics Lab at University of Neuchâtel.
Photo credits: Camille Cornet and Giorgi Iankoshvili
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