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Silene vulgaris is a weedy plant native to Eurasia and introduced to N. America in the early 1800’s. |
Evolutionary genetics of geographic range changes |
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The evolutionary forces structuring geographic ranges and their limits are a poorly understood feature of a species’ biology. Why are some species so widespread while others remain restricted and endemic? To what extent do ranges and their limits represent historical contingency versus and selective constraint? Are chance events, such as founder effects, or selection the primary force behind evolution during range expansions? My research uses a population genomics approach to study the genetic changes that take place when range limits are in flux. Studying evolution during range changes can inform us about basic research questions such as the process of speciation and the importance of selection vs. drift during population divergence, as well as applied problems such as the evolution of invasiveness and the predicted fate of species under global climate change. |
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Department of Biology, P.O. Box 400328, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4328 |
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Phone: 434-982-2518, Fax: 434-982-5626, E-mail: srk3d@virginia.edu |
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Stephen R. Keller Department of Biology University of Virginia |
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