Scientists in the field: Sampling trip to Dovre

César Herrero González and Cassandra Elphinstone study how plants adapt to harsh conditions in the Arctic and in the mountains.

César is a PhD researcher and Cassandra is a postdoctoral researcher at the Natural History Museum, University of Oslo. They use DNA analyses to learn how different environments affect plants.

– In Dovre, we targeted three outcrossing species: Oxyria digyna, Silene acaulis and Dryas octopetala. We collected leaf tissue on silica gel from plants growing at low, middle and high elevations for DNA extraction and subsequent sequencing. From each population we also collected a voucher to confirm our identification. These species were selected because they are diploid, have available reference genomes, are easy to identify in the field (not hybridizing), and can be sampled across the proposed gradients. The broader study also includes Draba nivalis, the only selfing species in this study, although it was not found in this region.

The samples are part of a larger study covering southern Norway, northern Norway and Svalbard. By comparing DNA from plants growing at different latitudes and elevations, the researchers can find out whether differences between mountain and lowland plants are inherited or caused by the environment. They also want to learn whether different species develop similar ways of coping with cold temperatures, short growing seasons and changing light conditions.
 

Read more

• César's project page: 
  Evolutionary Repeatability Convergent adaptation in Arctic plants
   
• Cassandra's project page (coming)