Dr. Pamela Puppo, together with European collaborators, has published exciting new research exploring how plant species on islands form syngameons—networks of hybridizing species that exchange genes while still maintaining their distinct looks. Using wild thyme as a model, the study found that these genetic networks are especially large and complex on younger islands, where species show higher diversity and connectivity. The team also discovered that widespread species often act as anchors, helping to hold these dynamic systems together. The findings offer new insight into how island age, species history, and geography shape the formation of new species and help maintain biodiversity in these unique ecosystems.
Read the full paper in Ecology and Evolution