Integrating GIS-based environmental data into evolutionary biology

Kenneth H. Kozak, Catherine H. Graham, John J. Wiens

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

411 Scopus citations

Abstract

Many evolutionary processes are influenced by environmental variation over space and time, including genetic divergence among populations, speciation and evolutionary change in morphology, physiology and behaviour. Yet, evolutionary biologists have generally not taken advantage of the extensive environmental data available from geographic information systems (GIS). For example, studies of phylogeography, speciation and character evolution often ignore or use only crude proxies for environmental variation (e.g. latitude and distance between populations). Here, we describe how the integration of GIS-based environmental data, along with new spatial tools, can transform evolutionary studies and reveal new insights into the ecological causes of evolutionary patterns.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)141-148
Number of pages8
JournalTrends in Ecology and Evolution
Volume23
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2008
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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