New insights from new molecular data: dispersal, hybridization and speciation

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My research aims to understand evolutionary patterns and the processes that produce them in natural populations. In the next five years, I will focus on three processes that occur at the boundary between population and species. 1) Sex-biased dispersal. Males likely disperse more than females do in a polygyny mating system while females likely disperse more in a monogamy system. These general rules were primarily derived from mammals and birds (warm-blooded with extensive parental care) and may not be applicable to the majority animal species (cold blooded with minor parental care). We will use newly developed population genetic methods indirectly examine lizard dispersal patterns, and thus test the old and likely generate new widely applicable theories. 2) Budding speciation. Speciation produces new species and the concept "budding speciation" challenges the commonly used "monophyly criterion" in species delineation. Using widespread anuran species as model systems, we will test the occurrence frequency of budding speciation and potential isolation machnisms. With the accumulation of empirical data, we will also establish a model for budding speciation. 3) Historical inter-specific hybridization and the uncoupling of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Some inter-specific hybridization may result in the mitochondrial genome of one species being replaced by another while the nuclear genome remains intact. Such replacements may break down the co-adaptation between the two genomes. Using protein structure modeling, we will examine the consequence of such cyto-nuclear uncoupling.