Phylogenomic insights into a non-model adaptive radiation of freshwater snails from Sulawesi (Indonesia)

• Applicant: Dr. Björn Stelbrink
• Subject Area: Evolution, Anthropology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 510142099

Ancient lakes, i.e. lakes that existed for more than 100,000 years, are key sources of freshwater biodiversity and hotspots of endemism. Their considerably old age make them suitable to study past colonization histories and as well as intralacustrine diversification/speciation dynamics and their underlying extrinsic and intrinsic factors. The ultimate aim of this project is to improve the understanding of the genomic basis of Sulawesi’s endemic freshwater snail radiation and which role trophic specialization has played in shaping the present-day fauna inhabiting the ancient Malili lake system as well as Lake Poso. Here, genomic data derived from whole-genome sequencing will be generated for all Tylomelania species, i.e. riverine and lacustrine taxa, and representatives of its sister genus Pseudopotamis. These data will be used to assemble mitogenomes, but more importantly, to identify SNPs that will be used to infer a robust and dated backbone phylogeny of this genus. Derived phylogenetic relationships will help to 1) reconstruct the colonization history of Tylomelania across the island and into the lakes, 2) study the extent of hybridiziation within these lakes but also between riverine and lacustrine species, and 3) assess how morphospace (i.e. shell forms and radula morphs) has changed over time in the course of habitat transitions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Switzerland
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Walter Salzburger