TAPOST-193 - Desentrañar la compleja historia demográ

There is increasing consciousness that global climate changes can have broad impacts on patterns of biodiversity and species distribution. However, we are only beginning to develop tools and model systems to address how species responded and adapted to large-scale perturbations in the past. From these studies we can start to better understand how to monitor and preserve species diversity by preserving natural processes, monitoring patterns of genetic change in key species, and developing predictive models to help mitigate the effects of environmental perturbations. The footprints of past demographic patterns and adaptations are recorded in the genomes of individuals, providing insights on past population sizes and periods of hybridization or genetic introgression from other populations or species. These genomes also reveal details of specific changes in genes or across gene families, which in turn inform us on selection (positive and deleterious), gene function and which genetic changes are linked with survival and speciation. In this project I propose a unique comprehensive genome and epigenome-scale study of two pairs of long-lived top predator species that have gone through parallel stories in their evolutionary past: the Eurasian and Iberian lynx and the Eastern and Spanish imperial eagle. Both pairs have a common history of divergence from a common ancestor in the Pleistocene and mostly unknown demographic evolution, resulting in present allopatric daughter species: one in Iberia (Iberian lynx and Spanish imperial eagle) and one in continental Eurasia (Eurasian lynx and Eastern imperial eagle). The four of them are emblematic species of the European space, drawing the attention of the general public due to their beauty and majesty, and of multiple research and conservation teams. They have a special consideration in Iberia due to the critical conservation status of the Iberian lynx and the Spanish imperial eagle, and especially in Andalusia where the biggest bulk of the species live and were there are two ambitious projects of management, both in situ and ex situ. In addition, southern Iberian Peninsula is one of the European regions most affected by climate change that is potentially threatening these species with extinction. This project will provide information on the evolutionary past of demographic history and adaptation of the two pairs of species to the changing environments of the Pleistocene. This knowledge will be of great help to predict the effects that the present climatic change may have on all four species and adjust the management actions to accommodate the new situation. It will also generate a huge amount of resources that will be extremely interesting to incorporate in the current programs of captive breeding and reintroduction in the wild. These resources and knowledge acquired would be useful as well to the study and conservation of other wild species.