Of the approximately 10,000 species of birds in the world, 6000 of them belong to a single order, the Passeriformes, compared with two species of rhea (order Rheiformes) and just a single hoatzin (order Opisthocomiformes). Why this asymmetry?
Why do some sets of closely-related birds look and act essentially the same (say, Phylloscopus warblers) whereas others have vastly different morphologies (ovenbirds) and behaviours (manakins, birds of paradise)?
I am interested in what modern phylogenetic comparative methods and so-called "big data" can tell us about avian macroecology and macroevolution. Why do certain traits evolve where and when they do? Can speciation and extinction events be linked to certain types of traits? What factors drive the underlying trait structure of an avian community?
The best way to find out more about my recent work is via my publications and pre-prints listed on Google Scholar.
Why do some sets of closely-related birds look and act essentially the same (say, Phylloscopus warblers) whereas others have vastly different morphologies (ovenbirds) and behaviours (manakins, birds of paradise)?
I am interested in what modern phylogenetic comparative methods and so-called "big data" can tell us about avian macroecology and macroevolution. Why do certain traits evolve where and when they do? Can speciation and extinction events be linked to certain types of traits? What factors drive the underlying trait structure of an avian community?
The best way to find out more about my recent work is via my publications and pre-prints listed on Google Scholar.
