Understanding biodiversity not only requires that we know what species are present and what factors ensure their survival, but also what factors promote diversification and speciation in the first place.
Modern human practices act to homogenize environments and promote the migration of individuals among otherwise isolated locations. These practices may have a long-term impact on biodiversity by impeding diversification. Research at the Biodiversity Centre has revealed how ecological interactions, such as competition and predation, as well as spatial heterogeneity and gene flow, each influence the speciation process.
Researchers
Michael Doebeli, Darren Irwin, Sarah Otto, Loren Rieseberg, Michael Russello, Dolph Schluter, Eric B. Taylor, Jeannette Whitton