Felix Gugerli: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2020

Name Dr. Felix Gugerli
Address
WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
Bi MG C 32
8903 Birmensdorf ZH
SWITZERLAND
Telephone044 739 25 90
E-mailfelix.gugerli@usys.ethz.ch
DepartmentEnvironmental Systems Science
RelationshipLecturer

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
701-1620-00LTree Genetics – Concepts and Applications3 credits2GA. Rudow, P. Brang, F. Gugerli, C. Sperisen
AbstractTrees are important elements and drivers of ecosystem processes in forests and landscapes. Tree species diversity and intraspecific genetic diversity are relevant factors for continuous adaptation, required for a sustainable maintenance of forest products and services. Sustainable forest and landscape management under climate change has to take forest genetic resources into consideration.
ObjectiveThe educational goals of the course are:
To know basic concepts of evolution and molecular and quantitative methods of genetics.
To understand the most relevant processes of gene flow, adaptation and species interactions, on the basis of ecological theories and case studies on forest tree species.
To know management principles and instruments for the promotion and the conservation of forest genetic resources, with a view on application in practice.
ContentThe course provides a comprehensive overview on concepts and applications of tree genetics and complements basic knowledge of biology, dendrology, forest ecology and forest management in the frame of forest and landscape management topics. It introduces concepts of evolution and genetic methods as foundations, explains the most important processes and drivers of gene flow and adaptation, including coevolutionary aspects of associated organisms, and shows relevant topics of the management of genetic resources from reproduction to conservation and monitoring. Theories and their application into practice are illustrated on behalf of case studies on forest tree species. Two full-day excursions illustrate the contents with exemplary objects, actors and applications in Switzerland.
Lecture notesScript: modular slide script, 2020 (parts by each lecturer).
Textbook: collection of accompanying or background articles according to detailed contents (to be defined).
LiteratureGroover & Cronk (eds.), 2017: Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics of Angiosperm Trees. Springer. 366 p.
Neale & Wheeler, 2019: The Conifers: Genomes, Variation and Evolution. Springer. 590 p.
Hattemer & Ziehe, 2019: Erhaltung forstgenetischer Ressourcen. Grundlagen und Beispiele. Universitätsverlag Göttingen. 553 p.
Holderegger & Segelbacher (eds.), 2016: Naturschutzgenetik. Haupt. 247 p.
Pluess, Augustin & Brang (eds.), 2016: Wald im Klimawandel. Grundlagen für Adaptationsstrategien. (selected chapters 3.2, 5.2)
Prerequisites / NoticeNo mandatory prerequisites. Basic knowledge of dendrology and forest ecology is advantageous and recommended.
701-1676-01LGenomics of Environmental Adaptation Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 14.

Prerequisites: good knowledge in population genetics and some experience in using GIS and R is required.
2 credits3GR. Holderegger, F. Gugerli, C. Rellstab
AbstractThis five-day winter school aims at teaching advanced Master students, PhD students and post-doctoral researchers on aspects of the genomics of environmental adaptation. It provides both theoretical background and hands-on exercises on major topics of contemporary environmental genomics such as signatures of selection, outlier analysis or environmental association analysis.
ObjectiveGenomics of environmental adaptation is an evolving scientific field of both basic and applied interest. Researchers make increasing use of diverse methodological approaches built on concepts from ecology, evolutionary biology and population genomics. This winter school introduces students to some major concepts and methods of environmental genomics, i.e., (i) how the environment and adaptive genetic variation relate and (ii) how signatures of local adaptation can be detected in natural populations using genomic data. The winter school focuses on currently used methods and hands-on exercises, emphasizing an understanding of the underlying concepts and a discussion of benefits, limitations and pitfalls of environmental genomics. It is specifically aimed at the needs of advanced Master students, PhD students and post-doctoral researchers.
ContentTopics:
(1) Genetic structure: how selection, drift, gene flow and isolation interact, affect neutral and adaptive genetic variation and influence the genetic structure of populations.

(2) Environmental data: which environmental data are available and used to identify signatures of adaptation; what are their limitations; collinearity; sampling design.

(3) Outlier analysis: types of next-generation-sequencing data; concept and methodology of outlier analysis; diverse types of outlier analyses.

(4) Environmental association analysis (landscape genomics): concept and methodology of environmental association analysis; diverse types of environmental association analysis.

(5) Phenotypes and genomic data; GWAS; mechanistic understanding of the environment–genotype–phenotype interaction; designing an own study.
Lecture notesHand-outs will be distributed.
LiteratureThe course requires 4 hours of preparatory reading of selected papers on the genomics of environmental adaptation. These papers will be distributed by e-mail.
Prerequisites / NoticeGrading will be according to a short written report (6-8 pages) on one of the topics of the course (workload: about 8 hours) and according to student contributions during the course.

Prerequisites: students should have good knowledge in population genetics and evolutionary biology and basic skills in R; experience in using GIS is advantageous.