Spider evolutionary radiations and phyloinformatics

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Phylogeny is the broad-scale genetic history of life as it has diversified over millions of years. Evolutionary biologists seek to reconstruct this history for its value in understanding biodiversity and the evolutionary processes that shaped it. My laboratory contributes broadly-applicable analytical methods for interpreting phylogenetic history, and focuses empirically on the phylogeny and evolution of salticid spiders. First, we propose to gather data from salticid spiders worldwide to reconstruct their genetic history. We will use this history to study patterns in the evolution of body form and ecology in this group, by which we can determine how predictable were their parallel evolutionary diversifications, versus constrained by history and affected by chance. This work will also discover and document many species new to science. Second, we will infer a detailed phylogeny of a group of North American salticid spiders with complex mating behaviours. This will enable us to assess the extent of hybridization in their history and its relationship to behavioural evolution and sexual selection. Third, we will build new statistical methods and computational infrastructure to support evolutionary studies broadly, including new methods to assess phylogenetic correlation and to manage data workflows. We will train highly qualified personnel in theoretical biology and bioinformatics, DNA sequencing and data analysis, biological field work, and arthropod biodiversity studies.