Reconstructing speciation geography from contemporary biodiversity data 

12:00 Alex Skeels, Research School of Biology, ANU
The origin of new species can occur under a range of geographic conditions, and this “speciation geography” is important in understanding the drivers of species diversity. Here I present a process-based model of diversification and geographic range evolution to reconstruct speciation geography in a number of plant and animal groups, highlighting how we can incorporate sources of uncertainty into these estimates.

Integrating competition and biogeography into monitor lizard macroevolution

12:30 Ian Brennan, Research School of Biology, ANU
Living monitor lizards exhibit the greatest size disparity among members of a single vertebrate genus. While we appreciate this variety, little research has attempted to explain it. I extend an existing phylogenetic comparative framework to account for historical biogeography and competition between lineages, in an attempt to understand the macroevolution of goanna body size. Our results shed light on the process of character displacement in Australian monitors, and ecological overlap with marsupial predators.

Seminars hosted by Tempo and Mode: Centre for Macroevolution and Macroecology