A bird's eye view of the origin and maintenance of biodiversity, Dr. Scott Taylor

Scientific talk by Dr. Scott Taylor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder.

What generates and maintains biological diversity? This major question in evolutionary biology has fascinated scientists for centuries and continues to drive new and exciting research. This talk will explore recent findings that examine avian hybridization in chickadees and warblers to gain a better understanding of divergence and speciation in birds. From the genetic basis of feather color to metabolic pathways that differ between closely related species, this work is helping us better understand what makes species different, and how those differences contribute to the maintenance of avian biodiversity.

Sponsored by the George B. Saul II Lecture Fund and the Department of Biology. (lunch provided)