Virginia & Robert Gill Chair in Natural History and Professor
Email: bowie@berkeley.edu
Phone: (510) 643-1617
Lab Webpage: https://bowie.berkeley.edu/
Research Description
My research broadly encompasses the seven interrelated research themes described below:
(1) determination of the timing and direction of African-Asian faunal exchanges;
(2) the use of molecular markers, morphology, molt (in birds) and GIS to infer current and historical population processes at various temporal and spatial scales across different landscapes - including rainforest sky-islands in tropical Africa, the arid-savanna/fynbos/forest ecotone in southern Africa, mountain systems of California, and among isolated colonies of seabirds and other marine fauna;
(3) investigation of evolutionary versus ecological processes as determinants of distribution patterns;
(4) evolution of life-history traits, extent of sex-ratio manipulation and extra-pair paternity in birds;
(5) diversification and taxonomy of sunbirds (Old-World ecological analogues of hummingbirds);
(6) disease ecology of avian malaria;
(7) investigation of candidate loci underpinning morphological and physiological adaptation.
My research is question driven as opposed to taxon driven, although I primarily focus on birds (particularly from Africa). I also have a keen interest in the evolutionary biology of small mammals, marine molluscs, inshore rockfish and insects.
Selected Publications
Kahindo, C., Bowie, R.C.K. and Bates, J.M. (2007). The relevance of data on genetic diversity for the conservation of Afro-montane regions. Biological Conservation. 134: 262-270.
Bowie, R.C.K. Fjeldså, J., Hackett, S.J., Bates, J.M. and Crowe, T.M. (2006). Coalescent models reveal the relative roles of ancestral polymorphism, vicariance and dispersal in shaping phylogeographical structure of an African montane forest robin. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 38: 171-188.
Crowe, T.M., Bowie, R.C.K., Bloomer, P., Mandiwana, T., Hedderson T., Randi, E., Pereira, S.L. and Wakeling. J. (2006). Phylogenetics and biogeography of, and character evolution in gamebirds (Aves: Galliformes): effects of character exclusion, partitioning and missing data. Cladistics. 22: 495-532.
Fjeldså, J., Bowie R.C.K. and Kiure J. (2006). The Forest Batis, Batis mixta, is two species: description of a new, narrowly distributed Batis species in the Eastern Arc biodiversity hotspot. Journal of Ornithology. 147: 578-590.
Fuchs, J., Fjeldså, J., Bowie R.C.K., Voelker G. and Pasquet E. (2006). The African warbler genus Hyliota as a lost lineage in the Oscine songbird tree: molecular support for an African origin of the Passerida. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 39: 186-197.
Bowie, R.C.K., Voelker, G., Fjeldså, J., Lens, L., Hackett, S.J. and Crowe, T.M. (2005). Systematics of the Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus species complex with reference to the taxonomic status of the endangered Taita Thrush T. helleri. Journal of Avian Biology. 36: 391-404.
Bowie, R.C.K., Fjeldså, J., Hackett, S.J. and Crowe, T.M. (2004) Molecular evolution in space and though time: mtDNA phylogeography of the Olive Sunbird (Nectarinia olivacea/obscura) throughout continental Africa. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 33: 56-76.
Bowie, R.C.K., Fjeldså, J, Hackett, S.J. and Crowe, T.M. (2004). Systematics and biogeography of Double-Collared Sunbirds from the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania. Auk. 121: 660-681.
Evans, B.S., Sweijd, N.A., Bowie, R.C.K., Cook, P.A. and Elliott, N.G. (2004). Population genetic structure of the Perlemoen, Haliotis midae in South Africa: evidence of range expansion and founder events. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 270: 163-172.
Warren, B.H., Bermingham, E., Bowie, R.C.K., Prys-Jones, R.P. and Thébaud, C. (2003). Molecular phylogeography reveals island colonization history and diversification of western Indian Ocean Sunbirds (Nectarinia: Nectariniidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 29: 67-85.