Julia Goldberg
Doctor of Philosophy, (Evolutionary Biology)
Study Completed: 2011
College of Sciences
Citation
Thesis Title
Speciation and phylogeography in the New Zealand archipelago
Read article at Massey Research Online: 
Ms Goldberg utilized DNA sequence data of native terrestrial animals to explore processes in the evolution of New Zealand’s biota. The research dealt with the important question of how the current biota has developed since the ancient break-up of Gondwanaland, in particular considering the contributions from geologically recent arrivals via dispersal and speciation. This study showed that colonization, speciation and extinction are all important factors when considering the evolution of the complex current assemblage among and between the taxa studied. Ms Goldberg’s research contributes significant knowledge to the origin of New Zealand biodiversity, its evolutionary place in the Australasian region, and our understanding of evolution on islands.
Supervisors
Professor Steven Trewick
Professor Mary Morgan-Richards