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Marilia Souza Lucas

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Plant Ecology work group

Research focus

In my PhD Project I will apply RADseq analyses to identify molecular mechanisms of rapid evolution in native and non-native Conyza canadensis populations. Landscape genomics will unravel adaptive and non-adaptive drivers of the global genomic structure of this cosmopolitan weed. Available common garden data will allow studying genomic associations for intraspecific trait variation for phenotypic (competitive ability) and metabolomic data (root exudate profiles).

Education

Since 06/2021

PhD candidate at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv).

“Harnessing the power of RADseq data to achieve a more mechanistic understanding of rapid evolution”

Supervisors: Dr. Isabell Hensen, Dr. Christoph Rosche

2018 - 2020

Master of Science in Ecology and Biodiversity at São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil

Master Thesis: “Seed dispersal limitation and its genetic consequences in Atlantic Forest remnants”

Supervisors: Dr. Marina Corrêa Côrtes, Dr. Carolina da Silva Carvalho

2012 - 2016

Bachelor of Science in Ecology at São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil

Senior Thesis: "Dispersal limitation by distance and genetic diversity of Juçara palm seeds in Atlantic Forest fragments”

Supervisors: Dr. Marina Corrêa Côrtes, Dr. Carolina da Silva Carvalho

Publications

Lucas M.S., Hensen I., Barratt C.D., Callaway R.M., Durka W., Lekberg Y., Nagy D.U., Onstein R.E., Shah M.A., van Dam N.M., Thoma A.E., Rosche C. (2024) Re-focusing sampling, design and experimental methods to assess rapid evolution by non-native plant species. Biological Invasions. https:// doi.org /10.1007/s10530-024-03249-x   

Carvalho, C., Lucas, M., Côrtes, M. (2021) Rescuing intraspecific variation in human impacted environments. Journal of Applied Ecology. Journal of Applied Ecology, 58 (2), p. 350-359. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13764   

Carvalho, C., GARCIA, C., Lucas, M., JORDANO, P., Côrtes, M. (2021) Extant fruit‐eating birds promote genetically diverse seed rain, but disperse to fewer sites in defaunated tropical forests. Journal of Ecology, 109 (2), p. 1055-1067. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13534   

Lucas, M., Carvalho, C., Hypolito, G., Cortes, M. (2019) Optimized protocol to isolate high quality genomic DNA from different tissues of a palm species. Hoehnea, 46 (2). https://doi.org/10.1590/2236-8906-94/2018   

Carvalho, C., Valverde, J., Souza, M., Ribeiro, T., Nazareth, S., Galetti, M., Côrtes, M. (2019) The role of thrushes in maintaining the genetic diversity and structure of a tropical palm. Ecosistemas, 28, p. 26-34. https://doi.org/10.7818/ECOS.1530   

Lucas, M., Carvalho, C.,Cortes, M. (2016) Genetic and phenotypic variation of the seeds of a palm tree in remnants of the Atlantic Forest. In: XX Latin American Scientific Initiation Meeting, 2016, São José dos Campos, SP-Brazil. Revista Univap online especial edition, 22, p. 1 – 127. https://doi.org/10.18066/revistaunivap.v22i40   

Conference contributions

Lucas M.S., Hensen I., Barratt C.D., Durka W., Nagy D.U., Onstein R.E., Rosche C. (2023): The global genomic structure of an invasive plant: an interplay between environmental gradients and non-adaptive demographic process. Event: GfÖ (Ecological Society Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland), Germany

Lucas M.S., Hensen I., Barratt C.D., Durka W., Nagy D.U., Onstein R.E., Rosche C. (2023): What dictates the genomic structure of an invasive plant with global distribution?. Event: ESA (Ecological Society of America), USA.

Lucas, M. S., Carvalho, C. S, Cortes, M. C. (2021): Does defaunation of avian palm frugivores impact seed dispersal distances? Event: VII World Palm Symposyum.  

Cortes, M. C., Carvalho, C. S., Lucas, M. S., Goncalves, R. F. (2019): Gene Dispersal by Seeds Within and Across Fragmented Landscapes in the Atlantic Forest. Event: USIALE 2019 Annual Meeting.  

Hypolito, G. B., Carvalho, C. S., Lucas, M. S. (2017): Reproductive system and genetic dispersion via pollen of a palm tree in the Atlantic Forest. Event: XIII Congress of Ecology of Brazil and III International Symposium of Ecology and Evolution.  

Lucas, M. S. (2016): From adults to seeds: how genetic diversity remains in defaunated fragments of the Atlantic Forest. Event: XXVIII Congress of Scientific Initiation of UNESP.  

Lucas, M. S. (2016): Genetic and phenotypic variation of the seeds of a palm tree in remnants of the Atlantic Forest. Event: XX Latin American Scientific Initiation Meeting (XX INIC).  

Lucas, M. S. (2015): Comparative study of DNA extraction and amplification protocols in different tissues of an Atlantic Forest palm. Event: BioCelMol: IV Symposium on Cellular and Molecular Biology and I Brazilian Meeting of Graduate Programs in Cellular and Molecular Biology.  

Lucas, M. S. (2015): Fine-scale spatial genetic structure of a bird-dispersed palm in a defaunated forest fragment. Event: Brazilian Congress of Genetics.

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