Diversification and speciation in crossbills: the magic of a “charmed life”

Published: Oct. 25, 2019

Event Information

Who: Dr. Craig Benkman

What: 2019 Fall Graduate Student Seminar

When: Friday, Nov. 1, 2019

Where: NC 3202 at Noon

Crossbill bird photo

 

 

Dr. Craig Benkman
Professor and Robert B. Berry Distinguished Chair in Ecology
University of Wyoming

 

 

After providing an overview of the patterns and processes driving crossbill (Loxia) diversification, I will focus on the premating reproductive isolating barriers contributing to speciation in crossbills. Crossbill are interesting in this regard because many crossbill taxa have diverged recently (<11,000 years ago) and have likely diverged with gene flow. I will emphasize assortative flocking behavior, because crossbills flock year round and choose mates from within flocks, and because high levels of assortative flocking can evolve as a barrier to gene flow without geographic isolation.

Everyone is welcome to the seminar. If you would like to meet with the speaker, please email Dr. Brian Buma at brian.buma@ucdenver.edu