Bromham Group - Macroevolution, molecular evolution & Language evolution
We use phylogenetic comparative methods to investigate the characteristics of lineages that influence the pattern and rate of genome evolution.
About
Tempo and mode of molecular evolution
We use phylogenetic comparative methods to investigate the characteristics of lineages that influence the pattern and rate of genome evolution. This includes life history characteristics (such as body size, generation time, longevity and fecundity), behaviour (such as sociality and mating strategies), ecology (such as climate, distribution and niche) and evolution (such as the rate of diversification).
Tempo and mode of evolution
Why are some lineages more likely to producing descendant lineages than others? What are the drivers of diversification? Do non-random patterns of extinction shape species assemblages? Why do some complex adaptations appear near the tips of a phylogeny, suggesting both frequent gain and frequent loss?
Awards
- The Australian Museum - Eureka Prize, Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research., 2021
- Transdisciplinary & Innovation Grant, 2016
- Australian Awards for University Teaching, for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, 2010
- Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Education - Award for Teaching Excellence, 2008
Publications
Selected publications
- Bromham L, Cowman PF, Lanfear R (2013) Parasitic plants have increased rates of molecular evolution across all three genomes. BMC Evolutionary Biology 13:126 Doi:12610.1186/1471-2148-13-126)
- Duchene D, Bromham L (2013)Rates of molecular evolution and diversification in plants: chloroplast substitution rates correlate with species richness in the Proteaceae. BMC Evolutionary Biology 13:65 DOI:10.1186/1471-2148-13-65
- Hanna, E. & Cardillo, M. (in press) Clarifying the relationship between torpor and anthropogenic extinction risk in mammals. J. Zool. Lond.
- Bennett, T.H., Flowers, T.J., Bromham, L. (2013) Repeated evolution of salt-tolerance in grasses. Biol Letts 9, 20130029
- Bromham, L. & Bennett, T.H. (in press) Salt tolerance evolves more frequently in C4 grass lineages. J. Evol. Biol.
- Warren, D.L., A.N. Wright, S.N. Seifiert, and H.B. Shaffer. (in press) Incorporating model complexity and spatial sampling bias into ecological niche models of climate change risks faced by California vertebrate species of concern. Diversity and Distributions
- Moray, C., Lanfear, R. & Bromham, L. (2014) Domestication and the Mitochondrial Genome: Comparing Patterns and Rates of Molecular Evolution in Domesticated Mammals and Birds and Their Wild Relatives. Genome Biology and Evolution 6: 161-169
- Bromham, L., Saslis-Lagoudakis, C.H., Bennett, T.H., Flowers, T.J. (2013) Soil alkalinity and salt tolerance: adapting to multiple stresses. Biol Letts 9(5) 20130642
- Hanna, E. & Cardillo, M. (2013) Island mammal extinctions are determined by interactive effects of life history, island biogeography and mesopredator suppression. Glob. Ecol. Biogeog.
- Cardillo, M. & Pratt, R.C. (2013) Evolution of a hotspot genus: geographic variation in speciation and extinction rates in Banksia (Proteaceae). BMC Evol Biol, 13:155
- Duchene, D., et al. (2013) Phylogenetic evidence for recent diversification of obligate coral-dwelling gobies compared with their host corals (PDF, 326KB). Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 69: 123-132
- Warren, D.L. (2013) "Niche modeling": that unpleasant sensation means it's working. Trends Ecol Evol 28: 193-194
- Duchene, D. & Bromham, L. (2013) Rates of molecular evolution and diversification in plants: chloroplast substitution rates correlate with species-richness in the Proteaceae. BMC Evol Biol, 13:65
- Hanna, E. & Cardillo, M. (2013) A comparison of current and reconstructed historic geographic range sizes as predictors of extinction risk in Australian mammals. Biol. Cons, 158:196–204.
All publications
Projects
Members
News
The biologists and the linguists at ANU might sit on different sides of the campus, but Professor Lindell Bromham from the ANU Research School of Biology says it wasn’t difficult to see the benefits in the two disciplines coming together.
A world-first study warns 1,500 endangered languages could no longer be spoken by the end of this century.
The next time you tuck in to a tikka masala you might find yourself asking a burning question: are spices used in dishes to help stop infection?