Why are there so many species within the Asteraceae?
Investigations of speciation processes, e.g. mutation, recombination, selection and isolation
By applying molecular tools, we investigate mechanism how species diversity evolved. For this we investigate recent evolutionary patterns to reconstruct evolutionary speciation processes. For example, in Israel we investigate the influence of geographic isolation upon speciation to analyze which level of fragmentation hampers genetic exchange between population and affects metapopulation dynamics. If populations are isolated, genetic drift and inbreeding effects evolve leading to mutations which can result in speciation processes.