Right on the pulse of science: current research from the Natural History Museum Stuttgart as well as from (international) partner institutions is presented at our research colloquium. The colloquium serves the scientific exchange between researchers and all those interested in research. The lectures in English take place regularly every fortnight on Tuesdays at 4 pm at Museum am Löwentor and are transmitted via Zoom. We look forward to active participation on site or online!
Research colloquium
What's next
Landkarte mit markierten Fundorten verschiedener Krähen sowie Fotos von zwei Krähenknochen
Picture: C. Y. Gwee
28.10.
The use of ancient DNA and museum collections to understand speciation and introgression in crows
Chyi Yin Gwee, LMU München
Advances in ancient DNA (aDNA) technologies have revolutionised our ability to extract and analyse highly degraded genetic material, providing direct insights into past evolutionary processes. By combining modern samples with bone specimens spanning the last 20,000 years from multiple museum and state collections, we investigated the evolutionary dynamics of the European hybrid zone between the all-black carrion crow (Corvus corone corone) and the grey-coated hooded crow (C. corone cornix). Our analyses provide direct evidence that this morphological hybrid zone has remained stable for at least 5,000 years. We identified key genes underlying the plumage divergence, which facilitated assortative mating. Yet beneath the apparent stability of this hybrid zone, the rest of the genome is near identical between the two forms, reflecting extensive introgression and increasing admixture in contemporary populations. Our study highlights the power of temporal datasets to elucidate evolutionary processes and underscores the influence of Pleistocene climatic oscillations on patterns of speciation.
As usual, we will also broadcast via zoom for those who can not join in person: https://zoom.us/j/94510498226
All topics
- 14.10.
Miocene lake systems and the decline of the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum
PD Dr. Michael Rasser, Naturkundemuseum Stuttgart - 28.10.
The use of ancient DNA and museum collections to understand speciation and introgression in crows
Chyi Yin Gwee, LMU München - 25.11.
The wonder reptile Mirasaura and the reptile revolution of the Triassic
Dr. Stephan Spiekman, Naturkundemuseum Stuttgart - 09.12.
Phylogenomic insights into adaptive radiation
Prof. Dr. Michael Matschiner, Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns - 13.01.
Evolution of Band-Winged grasshoppers and a museum
Prof. Dr. Martin Husemann, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe - 27.01.
Bizarre dinosaurs from the Middle Jurassic of Morocco: implications for armoured dinosaur evolution
Prof. Dr. Susannah Maidment, Natural History Museum London - 10.02.
Systematics and evolution of mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from the Cretaceous Crato Formation, Brazil
Dr. Arianny Storari, Naturkundemuseum Stuttgart