Documenting patterns of genetic differentiation across large geographic areas is essential for biological research, but also for the implementation of more efficient nature conservation measures. However, obtaining DNA data for numerous species at large spatial scales is an extremely challenging task due to practical limitations. We propose the STAGE project, which will assess genetic diversification at a continental scale using an unparalleled genetic dataset of over 22,000 mitochondrial DNA sequences covering 95% (ca. 500 species) of the European and north African butterfly species. The project will also use state of the art approaches (next-generation sequencing) to compare patterns inferred based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. The results will provide an unprecedented overview of genetic patterns across a large geographic scale, with key implications for evolutionary biology and conservation.

2019

2024