Environmental Futures Seminar - Francis Nge

Several iconic, sclerophyllous, endemic lineages among Gondwanan plant families (e.g. Proteaceae, Myrtaceae, Goodeniaceae, and Restionaceae) are characteristic features of the Australian flora. I will present research findings on the macroevolution, diversification dynamics, biogeography, and evolution of the Australian flora as well as on specific case study groups. This includes findings on the Eocene–Oligocene boundary extinction event as a major driver for biotic diversification across Australia. Selected examples include the biogeography of Proteaceae, Myrtaceae and Rhamnaceae. Future research prospects in the context of the wider Australian biota (plants and animals) and biogeographic links with other regions will be discussed.

Francis Nge is a Systematic Botanist researcher at the National Herbarium of New South Wales, in the Botanic Gardens of Sydney. Francis completed his PhD in 2021 at the University of Adelaide. He was a post-doctoral researcher in the Couvreur lab at Montpellier, France (2022–2023), focusing on phylogenomics of the custard apple plant family (Annonaceae) and tropical rain forest macroevolution more broadly. Francis’ main research interests include understanding the drivers and mechanisms that have resulted in the uneven distribution of earth’s biodiversity across the Tree of Life.