Ramiro Logares

Ramiro's keynote talk tiltle is: co-evolution and global population structure of tiny ocean predators

Unicellular eukaryotic predators, including the MAST-4 lineage, significantly impact marine ecosystems and food web dynamics. Understanding their evolution, population structure, and adaptation to environmental factors is essential to comprehend the role of protists in marine ecosystems. Our analyses revealed different distributions of MAST-4 species in the global surface ocean and diverse food-degrading genes, pointing to niche adaptations. Specifically, the study of glycoside hydrolases suggested niche diversification tied to prey digestion. We propose that adaptations to temperature and prey type have driven MAST-4's evolutionary diversification. The analysis of MAST-4 population structure revealed varied patterns of genomic divergence in the global surface ocean. Temperature and salinity were the primary factors structuring these populations. Gene clusters under positive selection provided insights into metabolic functions that may be the basis of population adaptation. These findings enhance our understanding of MAST-4's evolutionary diversification and population structure, emphasizing the need for population genomics in protist analysis for a deeper understanding of marine ecosystems.