Genotype-By-Sequencing (GBS) study of population genomic variation in Populus balsamifera and hybrids

The goal of this project is to address the genetic basis of climate adaptation in Populus, and the extent to which standing genetic variation for locally adapted traits will interact with climate change to affect the adaptation of tree populations. the main study organisms is balsam poplar, Populus balsamifera, a keystone tree species in North America with a transcontinental distribution. We sequenced genotype-by-sequencing (GBS) libraries using single end 100 bp reads on an Illumina HiSeq to discover SNP polymorphism and to study population genomic variability in relation to demographic history and selection. In addition, we included samples of the related P. angustifolia to investigate evidence of hybridization in areas of range overlap.