Australian Angiosperm Tree of Life (AAToL) Stage 1: EOI

Background and Aims
The Genomics for Australian Plants (GAP) Initiative is a nationally-inclusive collaboration that Bioplatforms Australia is developing in conjunction with the plant research collections community. The Initiative will be driven by the plant research collections community and brings together researchers, data specialists, state governments, commonwealth government agencies, and plant conservation and research agencies with the aim of using genomics approaches to enable the community to better understand, utilise and conserve Australia’s unique plant diversity.

This initiative will focus on the generation of data and development of workflows for several streams of activity including reference genomes, phylogenomics and conservation genomics. This project is aligned with and will help deliver on strategic actions identified in the “Discovering biodiversity: a decadal plan for taxonomy and biosystematics in Australia and New Zealand 2018–2027”.

GAP Phylogenomics: Australian Angiosperm Tree of Life (AAToL) Stage 1 – Expression of Interest (EOI)
GAP Phylogenomics has the ambitious long-term goal of resolving the Australian Angiosperm Tree of Life (AAToL) to species level using a common set of hundreds of (predominantly nuclear) molecular markers. This is to be achieved by supporting collaborators to accomplish their research goals that align with GAP Phylogenomics goals, and coordinating these efforts across the botanical research community. Work will proceed in three stages (as follows). Current resources limit GAP to completion of the first two stages. It is anticipated that the genomic and bioinformatic resources, and research capabilities built within the Australian plant research community will help leverage funding for the third stage.

Stage 1: Resolve the AAToL to genus level using one exemplar species of at least 95% of accepted (APC) Australian angiosperm genera.
Stage 2: Generate phylogenomic datasets with denser sampling within genera to address questions of monophyly, evolution, and biogeography.
Stage 3: Resolve the AAToL to species level, complete for 95% of accepted (APC) Australian angiosperm species.

Expressions of interest for the first stage of the AAToL project have now closed.

Stage 1 AATOL Expressions of interest (for reference only – EOI is now closed).
We are now calling for Expressions of Interest from the community for the first stage of the AAToL within the GAP Phylogenomics stream.

Expressions of interest require a response to the <Word document> and a completed sample sheet (see <https://tinyurl.com/ve6u3yp> – contact the Project Manager, Mabel Lum <mlum@bioplatforms.com> to request the creation of a sheet for your team) by COB Friday, 13th March 2020.

An e.g. of the sample metadata that is required (if your samples are chosen) can be found <here>. We do not require a completed sample metadata sheet as part of the EOI.

Please read the instructions carefully prior to submission and email your completed responses to Mabel Lum <mlum@bioplatforms.com> by COB Friday, 13th March 2020.

It should be noted that this is NOT a grant opportunity. The sequencing will be undertaken by Bioplatforms Australia genomics facilities through their Framework Initiative strategic investments, while the provision of DNA libraries suitable for sequencing, and data analysis, are to be supported by research community co-investment.

Contact information:
Darren Crayn | GAP Phylogenomics lead | darren.crayn@jcu.edu.au
Mabel Lum | Project Manager | mlum@bioplatforms.com