We examine ecological & evolutionary connections between phenotypic and genomic variation and their associated population-level patterns to study speciation.
The study of how new species form is endlessly fascinating. Our group is excited about questions related to the evolution and maintenance of within-population variation (behavior, morphology, and genotype) and between-population patterns (social and genetic structure, reproductive isolation, phenotype divergence). We combine these different scales of analysis to directly examine the mechanisms involved in the speciation process.
To make explicit links between process and pattern, we test theory-driven hypotheses related to both the function and proximate mechanisms that underlie various aspects of phenotype and combine experimental and comparative approaches to explore relationships between individual-level variation and larger-scale patterns within and among populations. Our current work is centered on experimental and genomic studies of closely related, yet phenotypically divergent populations of birds, with a primary focus on one of the most common and widely distributed species of bird, the barn swallow.
The Safran lab is committed to diversifying the field of biology and uplifting students experiencing systemic oppression. In addition to cutting-edge science, our lab group takes pride in providing a sense of belonging for everyone. We are a certified SAFE ZONE by the University of Colorado PRIDE Office.
To make explicit links between process and pattern, we test theory-driven hypotheses related to both the function and proximate mechanisms that underlie various aspects of phenotype and combine experimental and comparative approaches to explore relationships between individual-level variation and larger-scale patterns within and among populations. Our current work is centered on experimental and genomic studies of closely related, yet phenotypically divergent populations of birds, with a primary focus on one of the most common and widely distributed species of bird, the barn swallow.
The Safran lab is committed to diversifying the field of biology and uplifting students experiencing systemic oppression. In addition to cutting-edge science, our lab group takes pride in providing a sense of belonging for everyone. We are a certified SAFE ZONE by the University of Colorado PRIDE Office.
|
|
|
|
photo credits: Dr. Matt Wilkins