EVOLUTION ACROSS SCALES
From the processes shaping species boundaries to the forces structuring biodiversity
Species are at the center of our research across micro- and macroevolutionary scales. We investigate the processes that shape and obscure species boundaries, how those processes scale up to broader patterns of diversification, and what these insights mean for species discovery and conservation.
Research Themes
Species Delimitation & Cryptic Diversity
How do species form and remain distinct? Why are species boundaries sometimes difficult to delimit? We examine how gene flow, geographic structure, and phenotypic/ecological divergence shape species boundaries and generate hidden biodiversity, while developing integrative approaches to distinguish species from complex population structure.
Biogeography & Evolutionary History
Where did biodiversity originate, and how did it diversify through time? What historical forces shaped the patterns we see today? We reconstruct evolutionary and biogeographic histories to understand the roles of dispersal, geographic barriers, and environmental change in shaping the distribution and diversification of lineages.
Landscape & Conservation Genomics
How does the environment shape genetic variation across landscapes? What does this mean for the persistence of populations in a changing world? We integrate genomic and environmental data to understand how landscape features, environmental variation, and demographic history shape genetic diversity, connectivity, and resilience.
Focal Regions
Our research spans Southeast Asia and the United States, encompassing tropical and temperate systems with strikingly different evolutionary histories and conservation challenges. Southeast Asia provides an exceptional setting for studying biodiversity across complex continental and island landscapes, while our work in the United States increasingly focuses on threatened species and changing environments.