³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ

Epistasis and eco-evolutionary dynamics

David McLeod, Universite de Montreal
Tuesday March 17, 12-1pm
Zoom Link:Ìý
In Person: 550 Sherbrooke, Room 189

Abstract:ÌýEpistasis in fitness occurs when the effect of one mutation on organismal fitness depends on the presence or absence of other mutations. Epistasis plays a critical role in evolutionary dynamics, affecting the speed of adaptation, the likelihood of genotypic diversification, and the predictability of evolution. However, our theoretical understanding of the adaptive consequences of epistasis arises primarily from studying evolution on static fitness landscapes. Consequently, the feedback loop between epistasis, organismal fitness, and the organisms’ environment is poorly understood. In this talk, I will discuss some examples of epistatic feedbacks in microbial evolution and show how epistasis can be used to better contextualise and analyze eco-evolutionary dynamics.