Understanding the genetic basis of ecological and evolutionary processes
Plant Ecological Genetics
Our work aims at understanding the genetic basis of ecological and evolutionary processes. To achieve this goal, we combine the use of molecular methods with experiments in common gardens and in the field. Our main study organisms include the White and Red Campion (Silene latifolia and S. dioica), the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana, wild tomatoes (Solanum spp.) and grasses with their fungal symbionts.
Using the closely related species S. latifolia and S. dioica we investigate the ecological factors that contribute to reproductive isolation, the genomic composition of hybrids, and the ecological and evolutionary consequences of gene introgression. Of particular interest in this research is the role of sex chromosomes in adaptation and reproductive isolation.
With the model species Arabidopsis thaliana we investigate how plants adapt to extreme and changing environmental conditions in the Swiss Alps.
Recent Publications
- A target capture approach for phylogenomic analyses at multiple evolutionary timescales in rosewoods (Dalbergia spp.) and the legume family (Fabaceae)
Crameri, Simon; Fior, Simone; Zoller, Stefan; Widmer, Alex
Molecular Ecology Resources DOI 10.1111/1755-0998.13666 Early AccessJUN 2022 - Taxonomic Studies on Malagasy Dalbergia (Fabaceae). III. Two New Species from Southeastern Madagascar and an Emended Description of the Rosewood Species Dalbergia maritima
Crameri, Simon; Phillipson, Peter B.; Rakotonirina, Nivohenintsoa; Wilding, Nicholas; Andriamiarisoa, Roger Lala; et al.
Systematic Botany DOI: 10.1600/036364422X16512564801614 APR-JUN 2022 - Capacity of soil bacteria to reach the phyllosphere and convergence of floral communities despite soil microbiota variation
Massoni, Julien; Bortfeld-Miller, Miriam; Widmer, Alex; Vorholt, Julia A.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 10.1073/pnas.2100150118 OCT 12 2021 - Neither connectivity nor genetic diversity matter in the conservation of a rare fern and a moss on insular erratic boulders
Hepenstrick, Daniel; Zemp, Niklaus; Widmer, Alex; Holderegger, Rolf
Conservation Genetics 10.1007/s10592-021-01414-6 NOV 2021 - Introgression is widespread in the radiation of carnivorous Nepenthes pitcher plants
Scharmann, Mathias; Wistuba, Andreas; Widmer, Alex
Molecular Phylogenetics And Evolution 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107214 OCT 2021 - Developing a monitoring program of genetic diversity: what do stakeholders say?
Parli, Rea; Lieberherr, Eva; Holderegger, Rolf; Gugerli, Felix; Widmer, Alex; et al.
Conservation Genetics 10.1007/s10592-021-01379-6 OCT 2021 - Identifying loci under selection via explicit demographic models
Luqman, Hirzi; Widmer, Alex; Fior, Simone; Wegmann, Daniel
Molecular Ecology Resources 10.1111/1755-0998.13415 NOV 2021 - Dioecy Is Associated with High Genetic Diversity and Adaptation Rates in the Plant Genus Silene
Muyle, Aline; Martin, Helene; Zemp, Niklaus; Mollion, Maeva; Gallina, Sophie; et al.
Molecular Biology And Evolution 10.1093/molbev/msaa229 MAR 2021 - …
Publications 2020 and earlier
- Genomic signatures of convergent adaptation to Alpine environments in three Brassicaceae species
Rellstab, Christian; Zoller, Stefan; Sailer, Christian; Tedder, Andrew; Gugerli, Felix; Shimizu, Kentaro K; Holderegger, Rolf; Widmer, Alex; Fischer, Martin C
Molecular Ecology 10.1111/mec.15648 NOV 2020 - Identification of sex-linked markers in the sexually cryptic coco de mer: are males and females produced in equal proportions?
Morgan, Emma J.; Kaiser-Bunbury, Christopher N.; Edwards, Peter J.; Scharmann, Mathias; Widmer, Alex; Fleischer-Dogley, Frauke; Kettle, Chris J
Aob Plants, DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plz079 Published: FEB 2020 - Adaptation to local climate in multi-trait space: evidence from silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) populations across a heterogeneous environment
Csillery, Katalin; Ovaskainen, Otso; Sperisen, Christoph; Buchmann, Nina; Widmer, Alex; Gugerli, F
Heredity, DOI: 10.1038/s41437-019-0240-0 2020 - Insights into the genetic architecture of sexual dimorphism from an interspecific cross between two diverging Silene (Caryophyllaceae) species
Baena-Diaz, Fernanda; Zemp, Niklaus; Widmer, Alex
Molecular Ecology, DOI: 10.1111/mec.15271 2019 - Conservation genetics: Linking science with practice
Holderegger, R; Balkenhol, N; Bolliger, J; Engler, JO; Gugerli, F; Hochkirch, A; Nowak, C; Segelbacher, G; Widmer, A; Zachos, FE
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, 10.1111/mec.15202 - Variation in growth and defence traits among plant populations at different elevations: Implications for adaptation to climate change
Buckley, J; Widmer, A; Mescher, MC; De Moraes, CM
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, 107 (5):2478-2492; 10.1111/1365-2745.13171 SEP 2019 - Low genetic variation is associated with low mutation rate in the giant duckweed (vol 10, 1243, 2019)
Xu, SQ; Stapley, J; Gablenz, S; Boyer, J; Appenroth, KJ; Sree, KS; Gershenzon, J; Widmer, A; Huber, M
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 10 10.1038/s41467-019-09796-5 APR 16 2019 - Low genetic variation is associated with low mutation rate in the giant duckweed
Xu, SQ; Stapley, J; Gablenz, S; Boyer, J; Appenroth, KJ; Sree, KS; Gershenzon, J; Widmer, A; Huber, M
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 10 10.1038/s41467-019-09235-5 MAR 20 2019 - Population genomic evidence for plant glacial survival in Scandinavia
Westergaard, KB; Zemp, N; Bruederle, LP; Stenoien, HK; Widmer, A; Fior, S
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, 28 (4):818-832; 10.1111/mec.14994 FEB 2019 - Ecological divergence plays an important role in strong but complex reproductive isolation in campions (Silene)
Karrenberg, S; Liu, Xd; Hallander, E; Favre, A; Herforth-Rahme, J; Widmer, A
EVOLUTION, 73 (2):245-261; 10.1111/evo.13652 FEB 2019

Prof. Dr. Alex Widmer
ETH Zurich
Institute of Integrative Biology
8092 Zurich
Tel: +41 (0)44 632 21 74
Links
Research topics
- Plant adaptation
- Reproductive isolation
- Genetic diversity
- Sex chromosome evolution
Video on Plant Adaptation in the Alps
Interdisciplinary
- Functional genomics
- Ultra-high throughput sequencing
- Reciprocal transplant experiments