Biodiversity initiative
The Museum's biodiversity research initiative is focusing on tropical forests to tackle long-standing questions about the diversity of the most complex ecosystems on Earth.
Site-based integrative analysis of biodiversity in tropical rainforests
We are aiming to
- use standardized subsampling and spatially defined plots to model taxonomic richness and turnover
- employ the latest sequencing technology for the site-based analysis of taxonomically intractable groups
- calibrate new DNA-based approaches against classical taxonomy
- link biodiversity and genomic information to ecosystem function and process data and ultimately to inform environmental policy
Biodiversity news
Get the latest news from the Biodiversity Initiative, including updates from scientists working in the field.
Would you like to get involved ?
We are interested in collaborations with researchers involved in studying:
- Tropical ecosystems of arthropods worldwide
- Agroecosystems and environmental monitoring
- Application of site-based approaches of mitogenomes to non-arthropods
Toolbox
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Background
Discover why we are taking a new approach to studying the biodiversity of tropical rainforests.
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Site-based sampling
Find out why and how we are following a ‘site-based’ approach of in-depth assessment of diversity at specific localities.
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Genomics
The project is developing methods for rapid surveys and species identification from bulk samples using next-generation sequencing.
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Statistical modelling
Discover more about our general model of biodiversity, for interpreting site-based sequence data, based on stochastic dispersal.
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Team
Find out more about the Museum's Biodiversity research initiative team.