Topic: diversification

Use existing evolutionary trees to investigate ancestral traits, geographic histories and diversification. Participants edit, plot and time-scale phylogenies, reconstruct discrete and continuous characters, assess phylogenetic signal and compare models of trait evolution. Practical work introduces comparative methods, lineage-through-time plots and variation in diversification rates through Mesquite, FigTree and R packages. The course addresses dependence among species and evolutionary processes over deep time; reconstructing trees is outside its scope. Live sessions: 11, 13, 14, 18 and 20 Ja

Carina Hoorn examines how the Amazon Basin’s geological evolution shaped its extraordinary biodiversity. The discussion connects Andean uplift, fresh sediment supply and marine incursions during the Early Miocene with the diversification of aquatic environments and ecological opportunities.