Space-for-time: predicting genetic adaptation to climate change from spatial adaptation patterns

Many species can live both in cold northern climates and warm southern climates. This project will assess whether the same genes that geographically differ between northern and southern populations can help species adapt to climate change over time. To test these space-for-time substitutions, the project will make use of unique long-term data of winter moths – one of the few species known to have adapted to contemporary climate change. If the assumption of space-for-time is true, then researchers can use this assumption to identify populations that are most vulnerable to climate change.