‘Impact of pathogens on the conservation of endangered species: application to populations of the chiltepin wild pepper (Capsicum annuum var. Aviculare) in Mexico’

Aurora Fraile Pérez, Mª Elena Alvarez-Buylla Roces.

This project will look at the conservation impact on wild chiltepin populations in Mexico of habitat reduction and fragmentation, semi domestication and viral infections, as well as considering how these three factors interact. To this end, analyses will focus on the demography and genetic structure of populations representing the different habitats where the species is found, the incidence of virosis in these populations, the genetic structure of viral populations and how infections are affecting plant survival and reproduction. Dynamic models will be constructed to compare population behaviour in different settings, allowing recommendations to be drawn up for their management and conservation.