Does divergent natural selection drive the early stages of speciation? (2009–2011)

Abstract:
Speciation is the ultimate source of biodiversity. Empirical evidence strongly implicates natural selection in speciation, yet the genetic and ecological mechanisms operating during this process remain unknown. We will use a novel approach to provide the first experimental reconstruction of the early stages of speciation, investigate how genes and ecology drive the process of divergence using experimental evolution in the wild, and use genomic tools to determine if parallel adaptation to different environments involves the same genes. Our study puts forward a comprehensive and novel approach to understand how genes and ecology drive speciation.
Grant type:
ARC Discovery Projects
Researchers:
  • Professor & Principal Research Fell
    School of the Environment
    Faculty of Science
    Professor & Principal Research(ARC)
    School of the Environment
    Faculty of Science
Funded by:
Australian Research Council