Characterising, measuring, interpreting and predicting patterns and change in Biodiversity

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” Charles Darwin, Origin of the Species

The human genome sequencing project has revealed all of the genes in our cellular DNA and provides the foundation to understand what it is that makes us "human".

Building on this approach to investigate environmental processes, CEH will sequence and analyse the genomes of ecologically important organisms (‘eco-genomics’). These are the organisms that provide key functions within targeted terrestrial and freshwater habitats, at a range of biological and geographical scales.

The resulting data will reveal genomic patterns that will be investigated experimentally to identify how organisms adapt to environmental change, whether at the level of the gene, the individual, a population (within species) or a community (mixed species). The knowledge gained will extend our understanding of the drivers of ecosystem function, biodiversity and evolution.

By combining our expertise in molecular biology and ecology, we can accurately differentiate between species and determine genetic variation within a species, on the basis of DNA sequence differences (DNA fingerprinting). We can also determine how organisms sense and respond to changes in the local environment, to enable survival under different conditions.

Such knowledge explains why certain organisms can live in one place and not another: for example, why, of two closely related species of bacteria, one is a pathogen and the other promotes plant growth. Similarly, certain viruses are transmitted directly from host to host, whereas others are only transmitted via insect vectors as a part of their life cycle, but both are a threat to humanity as they cause disease and limit the populations of their susceptible hosts (humans, livestock or crop plants).

Understanding the ecology, epidemiology and molecular basis of pathogen life history will allow us to predict the likelihood of disease and find methods for treatment or control. These are ever more critical concerns as climate change is altering the distribution of infectious disease, exposing populations in Northern Europe to new pathogens.

The information generated will improve our understanding of the interactions that maintain ecosystem function and contribute to Earth’s life support systems (biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles). These activities will advance understanding of the diversity of genetic resources and their interactions, soil fertility and sustainability. It will also provide better knowledge regarding the impacts of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), pathogens and other non-native introductions, critical loads of pollutants, climate change and the threat of emerging diseases.