Broad-scale Genome Sequencing Across Hawaiian Drosophilidae to Understand the Evolution of Complex Biodiversity in the Face of Rapid Habitat Loss and Extinction
2026 Faculty Research Award
AWARD PERIOD: 2026-2028
Insect species are declining globally due to habitat loss, insecticide use, invasive species, and climate change. Though insects are far more biodiverse than vertebrates, insect conservation lags far behind. In particular, little is known about the genomic diversity of insects, especially how it has been shaped by evolution and how it is being impacted by environmental threats such as habitat destruction and climate change. Kim Bernard, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Jacqueline Robinson, Associate Researcher of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, will study the genomic diversity of the Hawaiian Drosophilidae, a group of more than 1,000 fly species that originated from a single colonization event in the archipelago around 25 million years ago. These flies are enormously diverse in appearance, behavior, and habitat use, but this project is the first attempt to map their genomic diversity. By collecting and sequencing 1,600 flies from around 100 species from the major Hawaiian Islands, the team will shed light on the evolutionary drivers that caused Hawaiian Drosophilidae to evolve into such a dramatically diverse set of species. They will also investigate how recent host and habitat declines have impacted the genomic diversity of Hawaiian Drosophilidae and develop genomic indicators to estimate the extinction risk of different species. By establishing a framework for insect conservation genomics, this project will contribute to the conservation of Hawaiian Drosophilidae and insects more broadly.
Participating Department
Faculty
Research Associates
- Jacqueline Robinson, Associate Researcher of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology