Biogeography of the SW Pacific

Many milestone discoveries in the fields of evolution and ecology have originated from the study of island systems. The Melanesian islands in the SW Pacific provide an ideal natural laboratory for study, as they provide a mosaic of islands of recent geological origin and of different sizes and distances from ancient Gondwanan source continents. In addition, many Melanesian islands still have extensive and intact stands of tropical rain forest (although many are now severly threatened by logging). Despite their suitability for evolutionary and ecological study, the SW Pacific has received little scientific attention. This project examines genetic dynamics and interactions at three different scales; Species within genera, populations within species and spatial genetic structure within population for members of Myristica (Myristicaceae) and Calophyllum (Clusiaceae).

Keppel G, Prentis P, Biffin E, Hodgskiss PD, Tuisese S, Lowe AJ (2011) Diversification history and hybridisation of Dacrydium (Podocarpaceae) in Remote Oceania. Australian Journal of Botany. 59: 262-273

Keppel G, Lowe A, Possingham H (2009) Changing perspectives on the biogeography of the tropical South Pacific: influences of dispersal, vicariance and extinction. Journal of Biogeography 36: 1035-1054.