Tracking surrogates for intraspecific biodiversity: towards efficient selection strategies for the conservation of natural genetic resources using comparative mapping and modelling approaches

Our main strategic objective is finding reliable and cost-effective surrogates for surveying and monitoring intraspecific biodiversity. In order to achieve this goal, we propose using the flora of the Alps and of the Carpathians as model systems.

Specific objectives of IntraBioDiv are:

(i) to estimate the intraspecific genetic polymorphism for 25 species over the entire Alps (about 150 sampling localities per species).

(ii) to estimate the intraspecific genetic polymorphism for 25 species over the entire Carpathians (about 30 sampling localities per species).

(iii) to record the geographic distributions of as many alpine plant species as possible across the Alps and the Carpathians (based on available data and on new prospecting where necessary).

(iv) to establish a database that combines both the geographic distribution of intraspecific diversity and of species diversity (species richness) in the two study areas.

(v) to build up an integrated database for the Alps, consisting of environmental data (elevation, exposition, precipitation, bedrock) in order to estimate the influence of environmental factors (habitat diversity) on both intra- and interspecific diversity.

(vi) to carry out a combined analysis of these three data sets (intraspecific genetic polymorphism, species richness, environmental data) in order to find surrogates for intraspecific biodiversity in the Alps.

(vii) to validate these surrogates in the Carpathians.

(viii) to establish a web-based public platform as a tool for implementing the design of networks of protected areas taking into account the three levels of biodiversity (ecosystem, species richness, and intraspecific genetic polymorphism).

For more information about the IntraBioDiv project, click here.

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