Alpine thermal tolerance from distribution to microclimate

Start year: 2025

Summary: The requested funding in this proposal will address the second aim of the overarching PhD project; to contextualise the genetic makeup of alpine plant populations across their distributions. Our objective is to extend the field sampling range for one of our focal alpine plant species that has contentious taxonomy; Epacris microphylla s.l. Following advice from genomic and taxonomic experts, to holistically understand the genetic variation within E. microphylla complex – and taxonomically delineate potentially genetically distinct alpine populations – the sampling regime must reach the distributional extent of the complex, both geographically and environmentally. In doing so, we are using genetic tools to address our key ecological aims.