---
# System prepended metadata

title: Why Ecological/Environmental Genomics
tags: [research talks]

---

# Why Ecological/Environmental Genomics
by Hugo A. Valdebenito
###### tags: `research talks`
Book: Insight on Environmental Genomics
His research focuses on the flora in the Galapagos

## The Galapagos archipelago

Insular archipelago that has never been attached to the mainland (about 600 miles west of mainland)

Different islands have different geological age

Many organism on the islands are endemic, but others invasive (examples of endemic: flightless Cormoran, galapagos penguin, marine iguana!)

### a. Taxonomy and Ecosystem Biodiversity

Different vegetation zones and different species associated with each

* interesting: in the lowlands the endemism is the highest

The Galapagos Barcode Project (joint project with UNC): try to characterize most of the species in the Galapagos on all the islands

#### Fun fact re: endemic vs. invasive species
a. Flower Color - endemic species are usually yellowish, but invasive species are much more colorful. Why? because there are not many pollinators in the Galapagos
b. Congeneric species: species in the same genus one that's introduced and one that's introduced (e.g. Lantana, supirrosa (Lantana camara) vs. Lantana peduncularis)

### b. Reproduction
 65% self-compatibilities (an individual can use it's own pollen to reproduce) (Monoecious)
 65% cross-compatibility (rely on cross-polination for reproduction) (Dioecious)
 
### c. Adaptive Radiation

Popular example with Darwin's finches
Plant example: Scalesia 

### d. Coevolution

examples: 1) fruits of Opuntia echios var. gigantea has water-soluble germination inhibitors or 2) a certain species of bird spines have evolved to be soft so the bird can reach the flower nectar 

### Conclusions
more field work, more groups/different organisms, need a better image of taxonomic richness adn distribution of genomes (macro-microorganisms), important to maintain the integrity and availability of samples, need more taxonomists!



