Dr. Jan Schnitzler

Postdoctoral Researcher

A1.8: SPECIES DIVERSIFICATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE CENOZOIC

A1.10: SPATIO-TEMPORAL EVOLUTION OF CEDRELEAE (CEDRELA, TOONA) FROM PALEOCENE TO PLIOCENE/PLEISTOCENE [CEDRELEAE-DFG-MU2934/1-1]

Research interests

My main research interest is to understand the processes that promote and maintain species diversity on regional to global scales, with a special focus on the evolution of species climatic niches. Integrating molecular phylogenetic, biogeographical, paleontological and climatic data, I investigate modes and rates of niche evolution in various groups of organisms and different habitats. In addition, I develop new tools for the evaluation of species diversification dynamics utilizing both phylogenetic and fossil information, aiming at a better integration of biological and geological sciences. Apart from that, I maintain a regional focus on the plant evolution in the Cape biodiversity hotspot of South Africa, an area with outstanding levels of plant species richness and endemism, and an ideal model system to study the evolution of diversity and explain present-day patterns of biodiversity.

CV

Selected Publications

Fritz, S.A.*, Schnitzler, J.*, Eronen, J.T.*, Hof, C.*, Böhning-Gaese, K.* & Graham, C.H.* (in press): Diversity in time and space: wanted dead and alive. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, doi:10.1016/j.tree.2013.05.004 (* equal contribution)

Schnitzler, J., Graham, C.H., Dormann, D.F., Schiffers, K. & H.P. Linder (2012) : Climatic niche evolution and species diversification in the Cape flora, South Africa. - Journal of Biogeography 39(12): 2201-2211.

Silvestro, D.*, Schnitzler, J.* & Zizka, G. (2011): A Bayesian framework to estimate diversification rates and their variation through time and space. - BMC Evolutionary Biology 11:311. (* equal contribution).

Schnitzler, J., Barraclough, T.G., Boatwright, J.S., Goldblatt, P., Manning, J.C., Powell, M.P., Rebelo, T. & Savolainen, V. (2011): Causes of plant diversification in the Cape biodiversity hotspot of South Africa. - Systematic Biology 60(3): 343-357.

Valente, L.M., Reeves, G., Schnitzler, J., Pizer Mason, I., Fay, M.F., Rebelo, T.G., Chase, M.W. & Barraclough, T.G. (2010): Diversification of the African genus Protea (Proteaceae) in the Cape biodiversity hotspot and beyond: equal rates in different biomes. - Evolution. 64:745-760.

Previous projects
HOTSPOTS: Understanding and Conserving the Earth's Biodiversity Hotspots

Contact:
Phone: 069 97075 1614
E-Mail