Justin Bernstein, American Museum of Natural History
July 21, 2026 | 15h00 | Hybrid Seminar (Zoom Link)
This presentation explores how geological and environmental processes shaped snake diversity in the Indo-Australian Archipelago (IAA). Using molecular data (DNA), ecological niche modeling, and population demographic analyses, the research shows that many snake lineages diverged far earlier than expected under the traditional hypothesis that recent sea-level fluctuations drove diversification. Instead, processes such as land-bridge dispersal, overwater colonization, island formation, tectonic uplift, and paleoriver dynamics all contributed to diversification patterns in snakes. The work also highlights the role of environmental change and ecological niche shifts in shaping species distributions, offering a broader perspective on the origins of Southeast Asian biodiversity.
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