Ruben Milla

Biosketch:

Rubén Milla is an Associate Professor at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Madrid, Spain). He teaches plant anatomy to undergraduates and trait evolution to master students. His research background is plant ecology. He uses that background to try to understand the evolution of plants under agricultural cultivation. For this he uses comparative and experimental approaches, utilizing crops and their wild relatives as study systems. Currently, he is simulating the early emergence of crops using experimental evolution, to evaluate if and how traits associated with domestication can evolve in the short term under strong directional selection.

Title:

An Ecological Look at Crop Evolution

Abstract:

A substantial portion of the collective population of individual plants on Earth thrives in agricultural ecosystems. In these environments the influence of the human species on eco-evolutionary dynamics is stronger than in any other type of ecosystem. This unique impact has led to distinct evolutionary trajectories for plants, shaped by domestication and cultivation. We have substantial knowledge regarding how domestication and cultivation have affected specific phenotypic traits crucial for yield and agricultural management. But our understanding remains limited concerning the broader consequences of this transition to the agricultural setting, particularly regarding plant characteristics that affect their ecological behavior. In this contribution, we aim to outline our current understanding of the ecological profile of agricultural plants and explore the diverse effects that their evolution under cultivation has exerted on the various services demanded from agricultural ecosystems.