Using ecological and genomic approaches to restore Australian grasslands in the face of global change

This thesis explores the genomic potential of two native Australian grass species Bothriochlo decipiens and Bothriochloa macra to assess their stability to be used in Australian grassland restoration and also explores the role of whole genome duplications play in giving rise to adaptation in grasses. The results suggest that the two study species are suitable to be used in grassland restoration due the presence of signals of local adaptation, specially to drought related factors. Further, findings from this thesis supports the hypothesis that polyploidy is a potential driver in giving rise to novel adaptation in plants.