Our weekly seminar series featuring internal and external speakers in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology. This seminar will be in-person and livestreaming on Zoom (link this page).

Abstract:
In this talk I will summarise collaborative efforts from my research group to unveil the patterns and processes underlying the outstanding biodiversity found today in the world’s tropical regions, with a focus on the American tropics and additional examples from Africa and Madagascar. By comparing the current distribution and evolutionary history of multiple organism groups, we have been able to identify common effects of historical events (such as mountain uplift, climate change and river shifts) on biodiversity. To our aid we use molecular and spatial information from field collected specimens and natural history collections, develop new computational tools and review fossil evidence. I will then discuss how the information we are gaining from the past may help predict the future and identify priorities for conservation in a time of escalating biodiversity loss due to the expansion of agriculture, climate change, invasive species and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources.

Contact eebsemaccess@umich.edu for Zoom password at least 2 hours prior to event.