One area of focus in the Wielstra lab is inferring the phylogeny of ancient speciation bursts. Rapid radiations are often also adaptive, with the species involved possessing unique phenotypes reflecting ecological specialization. To understand this eco-morphological evolution a resolved phylogenetic tree is a requirement. Yet, deciphering the phylogenetic relationships among ancient species that diverged over a short time span is particularly challenging; little time was available for informative mutations to become fixed and a lot of noise has accumulated since. However, genome-scale datasets can provide the resolution required to crack these cases. Wielstra is working on several newt radiations.

Publications

• Kalaentzis, K., Koster, S., Arntzen, J.W., Bogaerts, S., France, J., Franzen, M., Kazilas, C., Litvinchuk, S.N., Olgun, K., de Visser, M.C., Wielstra, B.(2025). Phylogenomics resolves the puzzling phylogeny of banded newts (genus Ommatotriton). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 203: 108237.
• Mars, J., Koster, S., Babik, W., France, J., Kalaentzis, K., Kazilas, C., Martínez-Solano, I., de Visser, M.C., Wielstra, B. (2025). Phylogenomics yields new systematic and taxonomical insights for Lissotriton newts, a genus with a strong legacy of introgressive hybridization. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 204: 108282.
• Wielstra, B., McCartney-Melstad, E., Arntzen, J.W., Butlin, R.K., Shaffer, H.B. (2019). Phylogenomics of the adaptive radiation of Triturus newts supports gradual ecological niche expansion towards an incrementally aquatic lifestyle. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 133: 120-127.

• evolution & biodiversity
• genomics
• phylogeny
• species tree
• systematics

Share on Facebook Share by Bluesky Share on LinkedIn Share by WhatsApp Share by Mastodon