Landscape and Climate Change Genomics

Earth observations can reconstruct climate change trajectories globally, such as tracking the recurrence of drought events or detecting anomalous changes in sea surface temperature. (credits: European Space Agency).
By comparing the genetic diversity of crops exposed to climate change worldwide, we can identify key genes that support sustainable adaptation of agriculture.
Genomic analyses reveal the legacy of climate change on natural populations, for example how coral reefs are adapting to increasingly frequent marine heatwaves.

In the Landscape and Climate Change Genomics group, we investigate the impacts of global change by combining Earth observations with genomics analyses. Satellite earth observations allow us to monitor environmental stressors across diverse ecosystems worldwide. Through genomics, we assess the lasting impact these stressors have on wild and domesticated species.

Our team develops computational tools to facilitate the monitoring of genetic diversity in species facing global change (Genes from Space). These tools can be applied globally to assess extinction risks across various ecosystems, from Swiss forests to oceanic coral reefs.

We are also interested in discovering genetic traits that help species adapt to climate change, such as genes enabling agricultural crops to withstand drier climates (SNSF Spark project).

Current projects

Genes from Space

A macrogenetic outlook on crop climate adaptation (SNSF Spark)

Can genetic diversity in the oceans be monitored from space? (UZH Postdoc Grant)

Group leader

Dr. Oliver Michele Selmoni

Group members

Simon Pahls (student assistant)
Dr. Isabelle Helfenstein (postdoc)

External collaborators

Annie Guillaume (postdoc; EPFL, Australian Insititute of Marine Science)
Magena Marzonie (postdoc; Australian Institute of Marine Science, James Cook University)