Biogeography of the heart of Melanesia

• Applicant: Dr. Michael Balke
• Subject Area: Systematics and Morphology (Zoology)
• Term: from 2014 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 254375429

New Guinea is the heart of Melanesia and truly megadiverse in terms of flora and fauna. This diversity has often been attributed to complex geological processes that have shaped the composite New Guinea landmass, especially over the past c. 25 million years. Previously, we have empirically shown that the massive central orogeny during the past few million years was one important motor for lineage diversification. We have revealed complex patterns of habitat shifts from highlands to lowlands and back, and a comparably recent, massive, and ongoing diversification of aquatic beetles across New Guinea. Here, we focus on an open question, i.e. the timing of diversification events in the presumably older west Papuan central highlands and the possible existence of ancient lineages in the Ophiolite belt attached to these mountains. This area has never been visited by biologists before, and we see a unique opportunity to virtually fill a white spot on the map and provide data to better understand the role of different geological terranes in the evolution of a diverse biota.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants