Avian Phylogenetics & Phylogenomics

Cisticolidae Phylogenomics and Evolution

The Cisticolidae are a diverse family of Old World passerine birds that exhibit remarkable ecological and behavioral diversity. Despite their diversity, relationships within the family remain poorly resolved due to rapid radiations and limited genomic sampling in previous studies. Our lab is working to resolve the evolutionary history of this group using an integrative phylogenomic approach.

This project uses multiple sequencing strategies to generate genome-scale datasets, including whole genome sequencing (WGS), mitogenome sequencing, and genome-wide marker sampling. We employ a combination of traditional Sanger sequencing, Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) whole genome sequencing and amplicon sequencing, as well as Illumina-based sequencing to capture data across multiple genomic scales.

Using these datasets, we aim to reconstruct a robust and well-resolved phylogeny of the Cisticolidae. A stable evolutionary framework will allow us to investigate key questions about the evolution of natural history traits and historical biogeography across the family.

In particular, we are interested in understanding the evolution of their remarkable nesting behaviors, including tailorbird-like leaf-sewing nests found in several lineages. We also explore the evolutionary history of host–brood parasite relationships within the group and how these interactions have shaped diversification. By integrating genomic data with behavioral and biogeographic information, this project seeks to provide new insights into the evolutionary processes that have generated the diversity of this fascinating bird family.