Abstract

Gracilaria chilensis, one of the few species of algae that has been truly domesticated and the main cultivated Chilean seaweed, has undergone complex evolutionary processes including a postglacial introduction in the South American coasts (Chile and Peru) after a transoceanic dispersal from New Zealand, a 14500 years old interaction with humans, a major population decline due to overharvest of natural stands during the 70’s, and an extensive aquafarming based on clonal propagation since the 80’s. This project aims at developing a population genomics study of G. chilensis to investigate in depth the effects of (1) successive transoceanic colonization events and expansion at the scale of the Pacific, (2) recurrent bottlenecks linked to introduction, exploitation and domestication in Chile and (3) adaptation to hard and soft bottom habitats, and to habitats altered by human activities.