The red squirrel in Britain has been under heavy pressure for centuries, particularly so after the introduction of the invasive grey squirrel in the late 1800s, and is now extinct in most of its former range. But already since the late 1700s, people have tried to counter the decline by bringing in new red squirrels from continental Europe, representing a long-running, semi-natural experiment in genetic rescue. What effects this complex history of decline and rescue has had on the genetic make-up, fitness and ancestry of British squirrels is unknown. This project will aim to answer this, by sequencing whole genomes from the few surviving British red squirrel populations, and continental reference populations. It will also sequence historical British squirrel genomes from museum collections, to track changes in genetic diversity, inbreeding and genetic load directly over time, and how the influx of new genetic material has shaped these parameters. The project will also address how much native British squirrel ancestry persists today, versus how much has been replaced as a by-product of the many introductions. By understanding the complex past of this iconic species, we can hopefully also contribute to better safeguarding its future. The student will receive broad training in molecular biology, historical DNA, genomics, bioinformatics and population genetics.
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[WebsiteUniversity of East Anglia]