Schedule
We are meeting this semester (Spring 2026) on Fridays from 11:15-12:05 in TLS 171b (i.e. the Bamford Conference Room).
If you are a UConn graduate student interested in Systematics and would like to join us, please write to Paul Lewis for a permission number.
Subscribe to systematics listserv to receive emails containing connection information (or write to someone listed in Contact Info).
January 23, 2026
Let’s begin with an easy read that will give us some perspective on the field of Systematics and also will allow time to discuss possible topics or themes for the semester:
FJ Rohlf. 2025. Too many numbers? Systematic Biology DOI:10.1093/sysbio/syaf076
January 30, 2026
Analisa chose this paper for discussion this week:
J Villamil, M Morando, LJ Avila, FM Lanna, EM Fonseca, JW Sites Jr, and A Camargo. 2025. Revisiting the multispecies coalescent model fit with an example from a complete molecular phylogeny of the Liolaemus wiegmannii species group (Squamata: Liolaemidae). Systematic Biology 75:72-87. DOI:10.1093/sysbio/syaf048
February 6, 2026
Crystal chose this paper for discussion this week;
D Díaz-Escandón, G Tagirdzhanova, D Vanderpool, CCG Allen, A Aptroot, O Češka, DL Hawksworth, A Huereca, K Knudsen, J Kocourková, R Lücking, P Resl, T Spribille. 2022. Genome-level analyses resolve an ancient lineage of symbiotic ascomycetes. Current Biology 32:5209-5218. DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2022.11.014
February 13, 2026
Doug chose this scary (the optimum mimic is not the most accurate mimic!) paper for our Friday the 13th discussion:
MBJ Kelly, S Derkarabetian, DJ McLean, R Shofner, CJ Grismado, CR Haddad, G Cassis, G Giribet, ME Herberstein, JO Wolff. 2025. Batesian mimicry converges toward inaccuracy in myrmecomorphic spiders. Systematic Biology 74(6):967-984. DOI:10.1093/sysbio/syaf037
February 20, 2026
Meghan chose this paper on the East Asia-Eastern North America disjunction in the geographic distribution of hemlocks for Friday:
Y-Y Feng, T-T Shen, C-C Shao, H Du, J-H Ran, X-Q Wang. 2021. Phylotranscriptomics reveals the complex evolutionary and biogeographic history of the genus Tsuga with an East Asian-North American disjunct distribution. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 157:107066. DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2020.107066
February 27, 2026
Netanya chose this paper to discuss:
AA Grossi, C Tian, M Ren, F Zou, and DR Gustafsson. 2024. Co-phylogeny of a hyper-symbiotic system: endosymbiotic bacteria (Gammaproteobacteria), chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) and birds (Passeriformes). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 190:107957. DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107957
March 6, 2026
Zach chose this paper to discuss:
KO Chan, DN Neokleous, S Anuar, RM Brown, CR Hutter, IDas, and ST Hertwig. 2026 A genomic perspective on cryptic species reveals complex evolutionary dynamics in the gray zone of the speciation continuum. Systematic Biology syag001. DOI:10.1093/sysbio/syag001AA
March 13, 2026
Javi will choose a paper for this week
March 20, 2026
Spring Break week, no class