Reconstructing the Squirrel Tree of Life

Biodiversity discovery is a fundamental goal of our lab, and we use genome-scale datasets and phylogenomic inference to resolve phylogeny and systematics of understudied rodent groups. Much of this work focuses on squirrels, whose evolution has been difficult to resolve given the global distribution of Sciuridae and multiple, rapid radiations into novel ecoregions. International collaborators and I are working to produce a taxonomically comprehensive global squirrel phylogeny that will provide insight into drivers of diversification in this charismatic group.

Maximum clade credibility phylograms of Holarctic ground squirrels (Urocitellus) and outgroups inferred from UCE-derived SNPs. From McLean et al. 2022 MPE.