Evolutionary geobiology
How is biodiversity effected by past climate fluctuations and other major environmental changes?
A major aim of current science is to improve our understanding of the relationship between the evolution of life and major environmental transformations such as continental drift and climate fluctuations.
Our scientists are using evolutionary geobiology to study these effects.
Evolutionary geobiology is an integrated way of studying the origins and development of biodiversity combining
- molecular phylogenetics
- taxonomy
- biogeography
- bioclimatic modelling
This approach is being used to look at subjects as broad as
- the early evolution of ecosystems that followed the emergence of the first land plants
- to aspects of Cretaceous evolutions
- the recovery of temperate vegetations after the last ice ages
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Tree ferns of Madagascar
Past climate fluctuations and other major environmental changes have had profound effects on biodiversity. Evolutionary geobiology is helping us to study these.