Unravelling Genomic Diversity and Evolution in a “Great Speciator”

This PhD project investigates the genomic mechanisms underpinning rapid species
diversification, focusing on white-eye birds (Zosteropidae)—a textbook example of a
"Great Speciator." These birds have radiated into numerous species, particularly
through colonisation of islands, in remarkably short evolutionary timescales, often
without significant morphological divergence. This presents a unique opportunity to
study cryptic speciation processes driven by genome architecture rather than overt
ecological or phenotypic shifts. The project aims to explore how structural genomic
variation and introgression contribute to such rapid diversification. Building on an
extensive existing dataset of whole genomes and population-level sampling, the
research will employ comparative genomics, population genetic analyses, and
phylogenomics to identify patterns of genomic rearrangement, gene flow, and lineage-
specific divergence. To enhance taxonomic and temporal resolution, the project will
also harness museomics methods using historical museum specimens. Unlike classic
adaptive radiations, where morphological diversification reflects ecological niche
differentiation, white-eyes remain phenotypically conserved, allowing the project to
isolate genomic drivers of speciation. This approach enables testing evolutionary
hypotheses about the roles of genomic architecture, hybridisation, and gene flow in
promoting diversification without strong morphological change. The findings will
contribute new insights into how biodiversity originates and persists under dynamic
environmental conditions. Beyond advancing fundamental evolutionary theory, the
project has broader impacts for conservation genomics, particularly in predicting
species' resilience to environmental change. It also provides a framework for
understanding hidden biodiversity, enhancing efforts in taxonomy, conservation policy,
and public engagement with evolutionary science.