Diversification of New Zealand Lineages

Speaker: Gregory T. Nelson, MSc Student, Botany Department, University of Otago/Landcare Research. New Zealand has many charismatic plant lineages that have diversified profusely. Understanding how this process occurs contributes greatly to our understanding of the evolutionary history of New Zealand and the interplays between ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Using resolved phylogenies of representative New Zealand groups, I explore morphological and environmental differences between closely related species with the hypothesis that New Zealand's diversity of habitats have contributed to its diversity of species. At the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open.