School of Science

Jessica Bruce

Overview of thesis

Working title: Genomics for knowledge of adaptive capacity to assist migration of the niche specific taxon Eucalyptus delegatensis R.T.Baker (Myrtaceae)

Background: While common restoration strategies for plants rely heavily on seed sourcing locality, utilising knowledge of present genetic diversity and stored adaptive variability has the potential to improve restoration outcomes. The presence of adaptive genetic variability, adaptive capacity, is not often explicitly considered, as population genetic health has been a long-term conservation focus. Changing climate and associated weather patterns will drastically change vegetation assemblages and are likely to change the utility of current climatic refugia for niche specific species. For plants, the use of climate-adjusted seed, with prior knowledge of adaptive capacity, in restoration is therefore likely to be an important, risk-based evolutionary strategy for improving the resilience of vegetation to climate-induced risk.

Project: One species projected to be lost to our changing climate without direct intervention is Eucalyptus delegatensis (alpine ash). Alpine ash has been modelled as potentially able to persist in some locations, if intervention can improve its tolerance to our changing climate. My PhD research aims to apply a genome-wide and geographic scanning approach (Genotype Environment Association) to search for candidate genomic regions correlated with the environment and potential climate-adapted traits. These regions and traits will subsequently be validated in multiple common garden plots across environmental gradients in Victoria, Australia, which will function as analogues for future climate scenarios in a space for time substitution (future climate plots).

Outcome: approach to assess the value of using putative adaptive variation and climate adjusted provenance strategies will be of benefit to alpine ash restoration and to the broader conservation community in developing improved strategies for restoration under rapid environmental change.

Qualifications

• Master of Science (Biological Sciences) at ECU, 2016-2021. Thesis title: Phylogeography and populations structure of the putative relict Reedia spathacea F.Muell. (Cyperaceae)
• Bachelor of Science (Conservation and Wildlife Biology) at ECU, 2013-2015

Research

Research Interests

• Phylogenetics, biogeography & phylogeography, evolutionary ecology, adaptive capacity, assisted migration, quantitative genetics, bioinformatics

Past Research employment history

• 2022 Research Assistant to Assoc. Prof. Annette Koenders, Dr Anna Hopkins and Dr David Field, ECU School of Science

Other work

• 2016 – ongoing: Casual Academic (Teaching) – ECU School of Science, detailed below
• 2022 – ongoing: Presenter, Science Engagement – ECU School of Science
• 2013 – 2015: Native Animal Rescue, animal handler and rehabilitator

Past Teaching

First year units:

• SCI1125 Professional Science Essentials Unit Coordinator, Sri Lanka (2021 – )

Tutor (2021)

• SCI1187 Form and Function Demonstrator (2019 – )
• GEO1150 Geography and Environment Demonstrator (2021 – )
• SCN1111 Health Science 1 Tutor (2016 – 2020)

Second year units:

• SCI2116 Diversity of Life Botany Demonstrator (2021 – )
• SCI2118 Australian Biota Botany Demonstrator (2018 – )
• SCI2117 Genetics Demonstrator (2017)

Third year units:

• SCI3112 Evolution and Systematics Demonstrator (2022)

Scholarships and Awards

• 2018 Pauline Ladiges Prize for Best Student Oral Presentation at the Conference: Bruce J, Koenders A, Lemson K, Burnham Q, Byrne M, Horwitz P. (2018) Oral presentation: “Reedia spathacea: Cyperaceae - population genetics and clonality”. Australasian Systematic Botany Society conference. Brisbane, Qld.

Supervisors

• Dr David Field, Senior Lecturer, Edith Cowan University
• Dr Anna Hopkins, Lecturer, Edith Cowan University
• Dr Melinda Pickup, Manager – Seed Science, Greening Australia
• Dr John Whale, Research Associate, Edith Cowan University

Contact