PortfolioMax Schmid
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With my research, I want to understand how species respond to spatial and temporal variation in the environment. I have therefore been investigating questions at the intersection of ecology and evolution, such as “which ecological factors favor genetic diversity within species?” and “which processes determine species’ extinction from environmental change?”. My research so far follows two main lines. First, I build and analyze theoretical models on eco-evolutionary processes in space and time. In particular, I have been studying the evolution of local adaptation, when species can adapt to spatial environmental heterogeneity. I also develop theory on evolutionary rescue, that is where evolution allows species to escape extinction from temporal environmental change. In my second line of research, I apply individual-based simulations as part of empirical projects. For instance, I have complemented empirical studies on alpine plant species by simulating their eco-evolutionary responses to climate change. I have enjoyed collaborations with a diverse set of scientists, ranging from the ecological genetics, applied nature conservation, up to plant ecology.