NSFDEB-NERC Origins and expansion of endemic biodiversity in western Melanesia and their relation to tectonic evolution

Lead Research Organisation: University of Wolverhampton
Department Name: Faculty of Science & Engineering

Abstract

Western Melanesia-including New Guinea-sits at the crossroads of Asia and Australia and is one of the most interesting, puzzling, and understudied hyperdiverse regions on Earth. Clarifying how tectonic movements have sundered or joined different Melanesian landforms in the past several million years is key to understanding the origins of this biotic diversity. The intent of this project is to elucidate how the diversity and evolutionary history of the five major geological landforms that comprise most of western Melanesia have impacted evolution of that region's biota and to identify those ancient insular landmasses critical in the origin of lineages that colonised and radiated across New Guinea, Australia, and/or insular Asia. To meet this goal, we will construct dated phylogenetic trees on a multitude of reptile and amphibian (herpetofauna) lineages having different dispersal abilities, times of origin, and natural histories that span the five major landmasses of western Melanesia. We will use the dates and relationships recovered to identify areas and times of origin for each clade and trace their expansion to new regions. Cross-validation between these results and updated geological models will illuminate tectonic events that drove speciation and dispersal in the region. We use herpetofauna to address these questions because their variable but moderate trans-marine dispersal abilities allow them to better track geological history than do taxa having much greater (e.g., birds) or lesser (e.g., land snails) dispersal capabilities. This research will help to replace the outdated, unidirectional "out-of-New-Guinea" model for origins of Pacific biodiversity with a more dynamic and nuanced understanding that ancient, yet under-appreciated, land areas in Melanesia have long been important in shaping biotic evolution in the broader region.

Publications

10 25 50

Related Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Award Value
NE/W006774/1 09/11/2022 30/07/2023 £504,699
NE/W006774/2 Transfer NE/W006774/1 31/07/2023 08/11/2025 £296,019
 
Description Research collaboration 
Organisation South Australian Museum
Country Australia 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Steve Richards has provided valuable tissue samples that are helping us fill gaps in our sampling from across Papua New Guinea. The collaboration will lead to joint publications and help improve the research quality.
Collaborator Contribution The partner (Steve Richards) is providing important samples that are filling in important geographic and taxonomic gaps that we had.
Impact No outputs yet. Disciplines = ecology, evolution, conservation, geology.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Ecology Group Seminar Series (Newcastle University) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Two seminars delivered about the project to provide details about the grant project. Several collaborations formed and access to labs granted.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
 
Description Outreach activity - BioScience Seminar Series (Wolverhampton) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact To provide information about the origins of Western Melanesian diversity. The event was in hybrid with people attending in person and streamed online. There was a mix of professionals and members of the general public who attended. Discussion and follow up questions/possible collaborations came from the presentation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Project website 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Website is still in progress but is available online. Some interviews have taken place to go onto the website. Website will be transferred over to Newcastle University soon and will be enhanced at this stage.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
URL https://westmelanesiaherps.wixsite.com/westmelanesiaherps