Diversity and Ecology of Florida Caenorhabditis Nematodes

Natural populations of Caenorhabditis nematodes offer opportunities to investigate how patterns of genetic diversity are shaped. Although laboratory studies have characterized many aspects of Caenorhabditis biology, less attention has been paid to the ecological and evolutionary processes influencing these organisms in their natural habitats.

Our lab conducts field collections across Florida to investigate the distribution and genetic diversity of naturally occurring Caenorhabditis species. We collect environmental samples from locations representing different habitats and land-use conditions, isolate wild nematodes, and use molecular approaches to identify species. These efforts have yielded previously uncharacterized isolates of C. briggsae, providing new opportunities to study natural genetic diversity in Florida populations.

We aim to combine whole-genome sequencing, environmental information, and phenotypic characterization to investigate population structure, environmental associations, and potential signatures of local adaptation. These isolates and their associated data are intended for integration into CaeNDR, providing a growing resource of wild strains for investigating how natural genetic variation influences traits such as environmental stress tolerance and toxicant susceptibility.

To support these studies, we are developing ecoLinkR, an R package designed to connect ecological field collections, specimen isolation records, molecular species identifications, and associated environmental metadata. The software is intended to improve the organization, reproducibility, and analysis of biodiversity studies and to support applications beyond nematodes.