Phylogeography and evolutionary origins of marine fishes
Marine biodiversity has been shaped by millions of years of evolutionary and geological change. Ocean currents, sea level fluctuations, tectonic activity, climatic shifts, and historical isolation have all influenced how species colonize new regions, diversify, and persist through time. Our research in phylogeography seeks to understand the historical processes that have shaped the geographic distribution and evolutionary history of marine fishes.
By integrating genomic data with biogeographic and evolutionary frameworks, we reconstruct patterns of colonization, historical isolation, and population divergence across marine landscapes. We are particularly interested in identifying the origins of peripheral populations, uncovering cryptic evolutionary lineages, and understanding how historical events have contributed to biodiversity patterns observed in the ocean today.
This work provides insight into how marine species evolve across space and time, helping to explain why populations differ, how biodiversity is generated and maintained, and which lineages may be uniquely vulnerable or resilient to environmental change. Understanding evolutionary history also provides an important foundation for conservation by identifying distinct populations and informing how biodiversity is prioritized and managed.
A graphical representation of phylogeographic patterns in the Regal Angelfish, Pygoplites diacanthus. Initially thought to be a single species, we discovered four distinct lineages and disjunct genetic structure across the surveyed range that coincide with previously documented barriers to dispersal and gene flow.
Banner photo: Coral reefs of the Red Sea (Saudi Arabia). Diving in remote areas while be encompassed by a wide diversity of colorful fauna as your work place is one of the greatest benefits as working as marine scientist. Photo credit: Tane Sinclair-Taylor