Assembling the Tree of Life in Europe (AToLE)

Olaf Bininda-Emonds,Alfried Vogler,Erik Smets,Ulf Jondelius,Vincent Savolainen,Ole Seberg,Wieslaw Bogdanowicz,Susanne Renner,Thomas Borsch,Frederic Delsuc,Alexandre Hassanin,Gitte Petersen

doi:10.1038/npre.2009.2891.1

Abstract

AbstractA network of scientists under the umbrella of 'Assembling the Tree of Life in Europe (AToLE)' seeks funding under the FP7-Theme: Cooperation - Environment (including Climate Change and Biodiversity Conservation) programme of the European Commission.

Highlights

Universität Berlin (Germany) Dr Frédéric Delsuc, CNRS-Université Montpellier II (France) Dr Alexandre Hassanin, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (France) Dr Ulf Jondelius, Swedish Museum of Natural History (Sweden) Dr Gitte Petersen, Botanical Garden and Museum, University of Copenhagen (Denmark) Dr Susanne S
Following the Expression of Interest (EoI) sent to the European Commission in 2002 and numerous subsequent meetings (Kew, London, Brussels, Bergen, among others), an informal delegation of Assembling the Tree of Life in Europe (AToLE) met in Warsaw (Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS) on 13 January 2009
The dual aim of this meeting was: (i) to re-define our research strategy to lineup with current priorities in the European Research Area (ERA), and (ii) to initiate lobbying efforts to the FP7-Cooperation for Environment programme that already has listed ”Contribution to assembling the tree of life” as a tentative topic for a future call

Summary

Biodiversity Genomics

New ultra-high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies (e.g., 454, Solexa, SOLiD) are available so that entire genomes can be sequenced more quickly and cheaply than ever. The previous generation of Tree of Life studies has focused on the targeted sequencing of a limited number of genes across phylogenetic lineages, but our new ability to sequence entire communities using ‘metagenomics’ and PCR-based approaches permits studying the composition and geographic distribution of the living world in much greater depth. Use of these ’next-generation’ DNA sequencing technologies will place AToLE even more firmly into the post-genomics era. Species diversity in Europe is huge and only subsets can be analysed, but a robust and densely sampled tree for key groups will establish fundamental biodiversity parameters of broad interest in the ERA

A large portion of Europe’s biodiversity is highly threatened

Need and Relevance

Scale of ambition and critical mass

Description of Challenges and Scientific Strategy

Integrated Activities