We study the factors shaping the past, present and future of biodiversity.
Understanding the diversity of life is one of the most persistent challenges of biology. We use innovative techniques and cutting-edge datasets to investigate the origin and distribution of large-scale biodiversity patterns. This approach provides us with insight into how biodiversity evolves and will be impacted by current and future change.
Understanding the diversity of life is one of the most persistent challenges of biology. We use innovative techniques and cutting-edge datasets to investigate the origin and distribution of large-scale biodiversity patterns. This approach provides us with insight into how biodiversity evolves and will be impacted by current and future change.
The past.
We study the origin and evolution of diversity in many different animal groups to understand more about the historical processes shaping biodiversity patterns. This includes studying the evolutionary diversification of phenotypic traits, such as morphology and behaviour, as well as investigating the factors influencing patterns of speciation and species richness.
We study the origin and evolution of diversity in many different animal groups to understand more about the historical processes shaping biodiversity patterns. This includes studying the evolutionary diversification of phenotypic traits, such as morphology and behaviour, as well as investigating the factors influencing patterns of speciation and species richness.
Rates and patterns of beak shape evolution during the evolutionary history of birds (Cooney et al. 2017, Nature)
The present.
We are driven to better understand the present-day distribution of biodiversity across groups and regions, particularly now that new datasets and techniques can provide insight into biodiversity patterns that have previously difficult to assess.
We are driven to better understand the present-day distribution of biodiversity across groups and regions, particularly now that new datasets and techniques can provide insight into biodiversity patterns that have previously difficult to assess.
Global gradients in the colourfulness of male and female birds (Cooney et al. 2022, Nature Ecol Evol)
The future.
The world is changing and it's vital to understand the implications of this for the future of biodiversity. As a research group we want to use our knowledge of the evolutionary history, ecology and distribution of biodiversity to better understand threats to biodiversity and how these can be mitigated.
The world is changing and it's vital to understand the implications of this for the future of biodiversity. As a research group we want to use our knowledge of the evolutionary history, ecology and distribution of biodiversity to better understand threats to biodiversity and how these can be mitigated.
Predictors of morphological diversity within global species assemblages (Hughes et al. 2022, Ecol Lett)