Strategies to optimize the analysis of gene flow in speciation at the example of giraffes, bears, whales, and seals

In this project, we are sequencing mammalian genomes to study how species differ at the sequence level. In particular methods implemented in D-stat, Phylonet, D-foil, CoalHMM show how past and current gene flow affects speciation. Initially, we will focus on current projects in giraffe, bears and seals. For these taxonomic groups geneflow has been documented or is suspected from small scale studies. We are sequence entire genomes, often in a population genomic approach, to study the extend of geneflow arcoss the genome. Alternative presentations such as networks and circus plots will depict of evolutionary processes. The expected inflation of the number of genomes for numerous species will make it necessary to develop efficient procedures to involve hundreds of species/individuals. Due to changes of the PI, this project is behind schedule, but 50 giraffe genomes are sequenced and I gathered an international consortium to study geneflow in bears across their distribution range