Joan Pons´ Lab

Research interests & projects

TITLE OF THE PROPOSAL: Aplicacion de la técnica del codigo de barras del ADN para la estimacion rapida de grupos megadiversos en puntos calientes de la biodiversidad: los artropodos del istmo de Panama. FUNDING AGENCY: Fundacion BBVA “III Convocatoria de ayudas a la investigacion en biologia de la conservacion” (200000 Euros). DATES: 01/12/2006 – 30/11/2009. IP: JOAN PONS

Miquel A. Arnedo, Michael Balke, Yves Basset, Gustavo Hormiga. Facundo M. Labarque, Martin J. Ramirez, Igancio Ribera, Anayansi Valderrama, co-investigator

DNA barcoding techniques have revolutionized taxonomy and its applications. A short nucleotide sequence can be used as a species identifier, in an analogous manner as commercial barcodes define products. This technique allows the fast processing of a large quantity of samples, the rapid dissemination of information and the easy access to this information by non-specialist. In this project we propose to extend the use of DNA barcodes to the inventorying and richness estimation of megadiverse groups in tropical regions. The study focuses in three arthropod groups with diverse life cycles (spiders, water beetles and membracid planthoppers) in 5 localities in a transect along the Panama Isthmus. This setting will be used to catalog and estimate specific richness, complementarity and genetic connectedness of the selected regions. The characterization of biodiversity will improve protection and management of these regions and will facilitate sustainable development of natural areas of Panama. This project will provide a better knowledge about Neotropical diversity and the geological and environmental variables that shape its distribution.

TITLE OF THE PROPOSAL: Lessons from the past: The role of climatic changes in the origin and shaping of the biodiversity in the spider genera Harpactocrates and Parachtes (Araneae, Dysderidae). FUNDING AGENCY: Plan Nacional MEC (120000 Euros). DATES: 1/10/2006 – 30/09/2009. IP: MIQUEL A: ARNEDO

Joan Pons, Nuria Macias Hernandez, Stefano Taiti, Leticica co-investigadors
Miguel Angel Fernandez Penalver, collaborator

Earth climate is changing at a global scale as a result of human activity. Such changes have tremendous consequences for human societies by increasing natural catastrophes and by causing profound modifications on ecosystems that are essential for human survival. From a biological conservation standpoint, global climate change has come to accelerate the rate of destruction of biodiversity. An extremely dynamic geological history and climatic oscillations caused by earth’s movement across the solar system have shaped Mediterranean ecosystems and have converted this region in one of the planetary hot-spots of biodiversity. Unfortunately, overpopulation and a long-history of human occupation have had a deep impact on Mediterranean biological communities and have brought many endemics to the verge of extinction. The study of the past effect of climatic changes on the Mediterranean biota, namely the Pleistocene ice-ages, may shade light on the future impact of global warming on current ecosystems and can help to predict the sensitivity of particular areas to such changes. Modern molecular techniques are powerful tools for the study of the factors that shaped species relationships and population structure and provide the temporal framework for the occurrence of evolutionary events. The role of recent ice ages in speciation is controversial. Traditionally, they have been considered to have promoted speciation by fragmentation of distributional ranges and subsequent divergence of isolated populations. However, molecular data have revealed that time of origin usually predates the Pleistocene epoch, suggesting that climatic changes just reinforced divergences already originated during the Pliocene or before. Some authors have even proposed that climatic changes actually inhibited speciation by recurrently mixing genetic pools. The ground spider genera Harpactocrates and Parachtes provide an excellent model for the study of the effect of past climatic changes on the origin and shaping of biodiversity in the Western Mediterranean. They are both endemic to the region, and their species have high-elevation, non-overlapping distributions across major cordilleras in the Iberian and Italian Peninsulas, the Alps and the larger Islands of the region. We suggest that the diversity and distribution ranges of these genera are mostly the result of Pleistocene climatic oscillations and post-Oligocene tectonic movements. We propose to study these spider genera to identify the factors that promoted their diversification and to generate a precise temporal framework for the occurrence of such events. The results of this research will have important implications for the understanding of the origins of our biodiversity and for its conservation. Moreover, we will provide the scientific community with information to calibrate molecular clocks for studies in spiders or the Mediterranean region.

TITLE OF THE PROPOSAL: Structural and functional analysis of non-coding heterochromatic DNA in insect Tribolium castaneum. FUNDING AGENCY: European Commission (6th framework). Marie Curie host fellowships for the transfer of knowledge (TOK), (600000 Euros). DATES: 2007 - 2010. IP: DURDICA UGARKOVIC

Joan Pons co_IP (112000 Euros )

The overall aim of the project is to improve knowledge and develop an experimental skill in the field of eukaryotic genome organization and functions, in particular of heterochromatic and centromeric regions composed of repetitive, noncoding DNA. This part of the genome seems to play a role in genome evolution and speciation. In addition a numerous regulatory signals important for the temporal and developmental control of gene expression reside within it. The project will include partial cloning and sequence assembly of heterochromatic DNA in Tribolium castaneum, an insect of economic importance, aimed to complement the data obtained by the genome sequencing project. Introduction of bioinformatics tools necessary for the survey of the whole genomes will enable additional systematic and thorough characterization of tandemly repeated satellite DNAs and study of their evolutional relation and history. Following bioinformatics approach, these sequences will be further experimentally characterized concerning their expression and function. These analyses will include transfer of modern molecular biological methods and techniques such as chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and gene silencing using RNAi, as well as biochemical methods for RNA-protein interaction analysis. Adjustment of the whole-mount in situ hybridization for the T. castaneum system and introduction of cell assay with suitable reporter genes will further contribute to the development of the competence in the field of genomics related to non-coding DNA organization and function. The introduction of new methods and technologies necessary for the project realization will be achieved through recruitment of four external researchers and sending of four staff members to partner institutions. This will improve the research potential of Ruder Boškovic Institute, increase its international competitiveness and enable its integration with European research area in the fields of evolutionary and functional genomics. The project will also increase cooperation between researchers involved in the fields of insect genomics, and promote the training of European researchers abroad.