Mafalda Ferreira

Our group focus on understanding the evolution and molecular basis of adaptive traits. In particular, we are interested in how species adapt to seasonal environments by undergoing seasonal changes in phenotype, also known as phenologies. We are also interested in understanding the contribution of hybridization between species to the process of local adaptation.

Seasonal adaptation genomics
We study populations in their natural settings and in museum collections. We use comparative genomics and population genomics to understand how seasonal traits have evolved in closely related groups of species and within populations. We also use genomics to study which genes underly variation in within season trait variation (ex. variation in winter phenotype). Using both historic and modern datasets, we ask questions regarding how genetic variation linked to phenotypic variation has allowed species to adapt to recent climate change. With functional genomic techniques, we study the molecular mechanism that allow alternation of phenotype between seasons and how this mechanism is controlled by external environmental factors, including photoperiod and temperature. Finally, we are interested in using the link between genotype, phenotype and environment to guide the conservation of species inhabiting seasonal environments.

Hybridization, speciation and local adaptation
We use phylogenomics and populations genomics to study the long-term contribution of hybridization between species for the processed of divergence between lineages and their local adaptation to new environments. We study when and where hybridization might have happened during the evolutionary history of species and track the introgression of alleles until modern times. We link introgressed variants to local adaptation and phenotypic divergence, and study the function of introgressed alleles with functional genetics tools. 
 

Current models studied in the lab include species of hares, ptarmigans and grouse and their ability to alternate color between summer and winter; as well as Atlantic herring and adaptation to marine environemnts.