See our google Scholar Profile here | Weir Lab members underlined.
An asterix (*) indicates a Weir Lab paper involving field research in a country outside of Canada and the USA for which we are grateful to have a local collaborator as a co-author.
Topic Key
| Genomic Data 🧬 | Trait Evolution ★ | Latitudinal Gradients 🌎 |
| Hybridization ⚤ | Bird Song ♫ | Phylogenetics / Population Genetics ♆ |
| Reproductive Isolation λ | Amazonian 🌳 | Diversification Rates μ |
Example Publications that Characterize the Lab's Focus
Anderson, S. A. S. & J. T. Weir. 2021. Character displacement drives trait divergence in a continental fauna. PNAS. 118:e2021209118. Online Article
*Pulido-Santacruz, P., A. Alexio, J. T. Weir. 2020. Genomic data reveal a protracted window of introgression during the diversification of a Neotropical woodcreeper radiation. Evolution. 74:842-846. Online Article
Luzuriaga-Aveiga, V., J. T. Weir. 2019. Elevational differentiation accelerates trait evolution but not speciation rates in Amazonian birds. Ecology Letters. 22: 624-633. Online Article
*Barrera-Guzman, A. O., A. Aleixo, M. D. Shawkey, J. T. Weir. 2018. Hybrid speciation leads to novel male secondary sexual ornamentation of an Amazonian bird. PNAS. 115: E218-E225. Online Article | New York Times. | "As it happens" podcast interview. Go to minute 19 of part 1. | CBC (well written news article). | ScienceNOW | Folha de S.Paola (Portuguese)
*Weir, J.T., O. Haddrath, H. A. Robertson, R. M. Colbourne, A. J. Baker. 2016. Explosive ice age diversification in kiwi. PNAS. 113:E5580-E5587. Online Article
*Weir, J.T., M.S. Faccio, P. Pulido-Santacruz, A. Barrera-Guzman & A. Aleixo. 2015. Hybridization in headwater regions, and the role of rivers as drivers of speciation in Amazonian birds. Evolution. 69:1823-1834. Online Article | Proofs Reprint
2023
Mikkelsen, E. K. & J. T. Weir. 2023. Phylogenomics reveals that mitochondrial capture with nuclear introgression characterizes skua species proposed to be of hybrid origin. Systemaic Biology. in press. Online Article
Anderson, S.A., H. Lopez-Fernandez, & J. T. Weir. 2023. Ecology and the origin of non-ephemeral species. American Naturalist. in press Online Article
Semenov, G., Curry, C. M., Patten, M. A., Weir, J. T. & Taylor, S. A. 2023. A genetic examination of hybridization between Black-crested and Tufted Titmouse across two differently aged hybrid zones. Jorunal of Ornithology. Accepted
Jossey, S., O. Haddrath, L. Loureiro, J. T. Weir B. K. Lime, J. Miller, S. W. Scherer, A. Goksoyr, R. Lille-Langoy, K. M. Kovacs, C. Lydersen, H. Routti, & M. D. Engstrom. 2023. Population structure and history of North Atlantic Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus musculus) inferred from whole genome sequence analysis. Conservation Genetics. Accepted
2022
Anderson, S. A. & J. T. Weir. 2022. The role of divergent ecological adaptation during allopatric speciation in vertebrates. Science. 378:1214-1218. Online Article | UTSC Press Release | Eureka Alert
*Bemmels, J. B., O. Haddrath, R. M. Colbourne, H. A. Robertson, J. T. Weir. 2022. Legacy of supervolcanic eruptions on population genetic structure of brown kiwi. Current Biology.32:1-9. Online Article | UTSC Press Release
*Alfredo, B., A. Aleixo, F. Maya, S. Dantas, & J. T. Weir. 2022. Gene flow, genomic homogenization and the timeline to speciation in Amazonian manakins. Mol. Ecol. 31:4050-4066. Online Article
Lujan, N. K., J. E. Colm, & J. T. Weir, F. A. Montgomery, B. P. Noonan, N. R. Lovejoy, N. E. Mandrak. 2022. Genomic population structure of Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) in Canada: Managment guidance for an at-risk fish at its northern range limit. Conservation Genetics. 23: 713-725. Online Article
2021
Anderson, S. A. S. & J. T. Weir. 2021. Character displacement drives trait divergence in a continental fauna. PNAS. 118:e2021209118. Online Article
*Bemmels, J. B., E. K. Mikkelsen, O. Haddrath, R. M. Colbourne, H. A. Robertson, J. T. Weir. 2021. Demographic decline and lineage-specific adaptations characterize New Zealand kiwi. Proc. R. Soc. B. 288: 20212362. Online Article |Press Release
Bemmels, J. B.*, A. C. Bramwell*, S. A. S. Anderson, V. E. Luzuriaga-Aveiga, E. K. Mikkelsen, & J. T. Weir. 2021. Geographic contact drives increased reproductive isolation in two cryptic Empidonax flycatchers. Molecular Ecology. 30:4833-4844. (*these authors contributed equally) Online Article
*Luzuriaga-Aveiga, V., M. Ugarte-Lewis & J. T. Weir. 2021. Distinguishing genomic homogenization from parapatric speciation in an elevationally replacing pair of Ramphocelus tanagers. Molecular Ecology. 30: 5517-5529. Online Article
Scoffield, P., J. R. Wood, L. De Nascimento, H. A. Robertson, R. M. Colbourne, V. L. De Pietri, J. Innes & J. T. Weir. 2021. Identification of the type locality of the South Island Brown Kiwi Apteryx australis. Conservation Genetics. 22: 645–652. > Online Article
Elmore, J.A., et al.. 2021. Correlates of bird collisions with buildings across three North American countries. Conservation Biology. 35: 654-665.
Online Article
| Audobon Press Coverage
2020
*Cronemberger, A. A., A. Alexio, E. Mikkelsen & J. T. Weir. 2020. Postzygotic isolation drives genomic speciation between highly cryptic Hypocnemis anitbirds from Amazonia. Evolution. 74: 2512-2525.
Online ArticleAnderson, S. A. & J. T. Weir. 2020. A comparative test for divergent adaptation: inferring speciation drivers from functional trait divergence. American Naturalist. 196: 429-442. Online Article | Press Release
*Pulido-Santacruz, P., A. Alexio, J. T. Weir. 2020. Genomic data reveal a protracted window of introgression during the diversification of a Neotropical woodcreeper radiation. Evolution. 74:842-846. | Online Article | featured in a Digest article
Mikkelsen, E. & J. T. Weir. 2020. The genome of the Xingu Scale-backed Antbird (Willisornis vidua nigrigula) reveals lineage-specific adaptations. Genomics. 112: 4552-4560. | Online Article
Feng, S., et al.. 2020. Dense sampling of bird diversity increases power of comparative genomics. Nature. 587: 252-257. Online Article
FitzGerald, A., J. Weir, D. Whitaker, J. Ralston, I. Warkentin, J. Kirchman. 2020. Genetic structure and biogeographic history of the Bicknell's Thrush/Gray-cheeked Thrush species complex. Auk. 137:1-20. Online Article
Lujan, N. K., J. T. Weir, B. P. Noonan, N. R. Lovejoy, N. E. Mandrak. 2020. Is Niagara Falls a barrier to gene flow in riverine fishes? A test using genome-wide SNP data from seven native species. Molecular Ecology. 29: 1235-1249. Online Article | featured in ScienDaily
Myrka, AM. K., T. Shah, J. T. Weir, K. C. Welch. 2020. No signature of selection on the C-terminal region of glucose transporter 2 with the evolution of avian nectarivory. Avian Research. 11: 1-11. Online Article
2019
Weir, J. T., T. D. Price. 2019. Song playbacks demonstrate slower evolution of song discrimination in Amazonia than in birds from temperate North America. PLOS Biology. 17: e3000478. λ ♫ 🌳 🌎
Open Access Online Article | UTSC Press Release | EurekAlert Press |
Luzuriaga-Aveiga, V., J. T. Weir. 2019. Elevational differentiation accelerates trait evolution but not speciation rates in Amazonian birds. Ecology Letters. 22: 624-633. ★ ♫ μ
Online Article
2018
*Pulido-Santacruz, P, A. Aleixo, J. T. Weir. 2018. Morphologically cryptic Amazonian bird species pairs exhibit strong post-zygotic reproductive isolation. Proc. R. Soc. B 285: 20172081 🧬 ⚤ λ 🌳
Online Article | Proofs Reprint | featured in Avian Hybrids blog
*Barrera-Guzman, A. O., A. Aleixo, M. D. Shawkey, J. T. Weir. 2018. Hybrid speciation leads to novel male secondary sexual ornamentation of an Amazonian bird. PNAS. 115: E218-E225 🧬 ⚤ λ ★ 🌳
Online Article | Proofs Reprint | New York Times. | "As it happens" podcast interview. Go to minute 19 of part 1. | CBC (well written news article). | ScienceNOW | Folha de S.Paola (Portuguese) |
*Barrera-Guzman, A. O., A. Aleixo, M. D. Shawkey, J. T. Weir. 2018. Reply to Rosenthal et al.: Both premating and postmating isolation likely contributed to manakin hybrid speciation. PNAS. 115: E4146-E4147. ⚤ λ
Open Access Online Article
J. T. Weir. 2018. Description of the song of the Nilgiri thrush (Zoothera [aurea] neilgherriensis) and song differentiation across the Zoothera dauma species complex. Avian Research. 9:28. ♫
Reprint
Ramon-Laca, A., D. J. White, J. T. Weir, H. A. Robertson. 2018. Extraction of DNA from capitivity sourced faeces and moulted feathers provides a novel method for conservation management of New Zealand kiwi (Apteryx spp.). Ecology and Evolution. 8: 3119-3130.
Open Access Online Article
2017
Cooney, C. R., J. A. Tobias, J. T. Weir, C. A. Botero, & N. Seddon. 2017. Sexual selection, speciation, and constraints on geographical range overlap in birds. Ecology Letters. 20:863-871. ★
Online Article | Author's Post Print
Gyug, L & Weir, J. T. 2017. American avocet breeding habitat, behaviour and use of nesting platforms at Kelowna, British Columbia. British Columbia Birds. 17: 13-17. Open Access Online Article Proofs Reprint
Gyug, L & Weir, J. T. 2017. American avocet and black-necked stilt breeding status and population trends at Kelowna, British Columbia, 1997-2015. British Columbia Birds. 17: 2-12. Open Access Online Article Proofs Reprint
Hager, S. B., et al.. 2017. Continent-wide analysis of how urbanization affects bird-window collision mortality in North America. Biological Conservation. 212A:209-215 Reprint
2016
*Weir, J. T., O. Haddrath, H. A. Robertson, R. M. Colbourne, A. J. Baker. 2016. Explosive ice age diversification in kiwi. PNAS. 113:E5580-E5587. 🧬 ♆ μ
Open Access Online Article
Pulido-Santacruz, P. & J. T. Weir. 2016. Extinction as a driver of avian latitudinal diversity gradients. Evolution. 70:860-872. 🌎 μ
Online Article Proofs Reprint
Germain, R., J. T. Weir, & B. Gilbert. 2016. Species coexistence: macroevolutionary relationships and the contingency of historical interactions. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences. 283: 20160047.
Online Article | Proofs Reprint
2015
*Weir, J.T., M.S. Faccio, P. Pulido-Santacruz, A. Barrera-Guzman & A. Aleixo. 2015. Hybridization in headwater regions, and the role of rivers as drivers of speciation in Amazonian birds. Evolution. 69:1823-1834. 🧬 ⚤ λ 🌳
Online Article Proofs Reprint
Weir, J.T. & A. Lawson. 2015. Evolutionary rates across gradients. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 6: 1278-1286. ★ 🌎
Open Access Online Article Proofs Reprint | Accompanying R Package: EvoRAG 2.0
Rowe, M., T. Albrecht, E.R.A.Cramer, A. Johnsen, T. Laskemoen, J.T. Weir & J.T. Lifjeld. 2015. Postcopulatory sexual selection is associated with accelerated evolution of sperm morphology. Evolution. 69: 1044-1052. λ ★
Online Article Accepted Article
2014
Lawson, A. & J.T. Weir. 2014. Latitudinal gradients in climatic niche evolution accelerate trait evolution at high latitudes. Ecology Letters. 17:1427-1436. λ ★ 🌎
Reprint
Olivier, L. & J.T. Weir. 2014. SimRAD: an R package for simulation-based prediction of the number of loci expected in RADseq and similar genotyping by sequencing approaches. Molecular Ecology Resources. Molecular Ecology Resources. 14: 1314-1321. 🧬
Online Article | Accompanying R Package: SimRAD
Kennedy, J. D., Z. Wang, J.T. Weir, C. Rahbek, J. Fjeldså, T. D. Price. 2014. Into and out of the tropics: the generation of the latitudinal gradient among New World passerine birds. Journal of Biogeography. 41: 1746-1757. 🌎 μ
Online Article
Weir, J. T. 2014. Environmental harshness, latitude and incipient speciation. Molecular Ecology. 23: 251-253. 🌎 μ
Online Article
2013
Weir, J. T. & S. Mursleen. 2013. Diversity dependent cladogenesis and trait evolution in the adaptive radiation of the auks (Aves: Alcidae). Evolution. 67: 403-416. ★ ♆ μ
Reprint
Seddon, N., C. A. Botero, J. A. Tobias, P. O. Dunn, H. E. A. MacGregor, D. R. Rubenstein, J. A. C. Uy, J. T. Weir, L. A. Whittingham, and R. J. Safran. 2013. Sexual selection accelerates signal evolution during speciation. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences. 280:20131065 λ ★
Online Article
Bloom, D. D., J. T. Weir, K. R. Piller, N. R. Lovejoy. 2013. Do freshwater fishes diversify faster than marine fishes? A test using state-dependent diversification analyses and molecular phylogenetics of New World silversides (Atherinopsidae). Evolution. 67: 2040-2057. 🌳 ♆ μ
Online Article
Desantis, L., Brendan, D., Weir, J.T., Boonstra, R. 2013. Mediating free glucocorticoid levels in the blood of vertebrates: Are corticosteroid-binding proteins always necessary? Functional Ecology. 27: 107-119. Online PDF
2012
Weir, J. T., D. Wheatcroft, & T. Price. 2012. The role of ecological constraint in driving the evolution of avian song frequency across a latitudinal gradient. Evolution. 66: 2773-2783. λ ★ ♫ 🌎
Reprint
Kennedy, J. D., J. T. Weir, D. M. Hooper, D. T. Tietze, J. Martens, & T. D. Price. 2012. Ecological limits on diversification of the Himalayan core Corvoidea. Evolution. 66: 2599-613. μ
Reprint
2011
Weir, J. T. & D. Wheatcroft. 2011. A latitudinal gradient in rates of evolution of avian syllable diversity and song length. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences. 278:1713-1720. λ ★ ♫ 🌎
Reprint
Weir, J. T. & T. Price. 2011. Limits to speciation inferred from times to secondary sympatry and ages of hybridizing species along a latitudinal gradient. American Naturalist. 177:462-469. λ μ 🌎 Reprint |
Weir, J. T. & M. Price. 2011. Andean uplift promotes lowland speciation through vicariance and dispersal in Dendrocincla woodcreepers. Molecular Ecology. 20: 4550-4563. 🌳 ♆
Reprint
Chaves, J. A., J. T. Weir, & T. B. Smith. 2011. Diversification in Adelomyia hummingbirds follows Andean uplift. Molecular Ecology. 20: 4564-4576. ♆
Reprint
Weir, J. T. & D. Schluter. 2011. Are rates of molecular evolution in mammals substantially accelerated in warmer environments? Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences. 278:1291-1293. 🌎
Reprint
Miller, M. J., J. T. Weir, G. R. Angehr, P. Guitton, & E. Bermingham. 2011. An ornithological survey of Pinas Bay, a site on the Pacific coast of Darien Province, Panama. Boletin SAO. 20.
Reprint
2010
Harmon, L. J., J. B. Losos, T. J. Davies, R. G. Gillespie, J. L. Gittleman, W. B. Jennings, K. H. Kozak, M. A. McPeek, F. Moreno-Roark, T. J. Near, A. Purvis, R. E. Ricklefs, D. Schluter, J. A. Schulte II, O. Seehausen, B. L. Sidlauskas, O. Torres-Carvajal, J. T. Weir, & A. Ø. Mooers. 2010. Early bursts of body size and shape evolution are rare in comparative data. Evolution. 64: 2385-2396. ★
Reprint
2009
*Weir, J. T., E. Bermingham & D. Schluter. 2009. The Great American Biotic Interchange in birds. PNAS. 106: 21737-21742. 🌎 ♆
Reprint | Support Online Material (22 MB) |
Weir, J. T. 2009. Implications of genetic differentiation in Neotropical montane forest birds. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 96: 410-433.
Reprint
2008
Weir, J. T. & D. Schluter. 2008. Calibrating the avian molecular clock. Molecular Ecology. 17: 2321-2328.
Reprint | Published online dataset of clock calibrations | Supporting Online Methods | Addendum | BEAST tips |
*Weir, J. T., E. Bermingham, M. J. Miller, J. Klicka & M. A. González. 2008. Phylogeography of a morphologically diverse Neotropical montane species, the Common Bush-Tanager (Chlorospingus ophthalmicus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 47: 650-664. ♆
Reprint
Harmon, L. J., J. T. Weir, C. D. Brock, R. E. Glor & W. Challenger.2008. GEIGER: investigating evolutionary radiations. Bioinformatics. 24: 129-131. ★
Reprint | Accompanying R Package: geiger
Miller, M.J., Bermingham, E., Klicka, J., Escalante, P. Raposo do Amaral, F.S., Weir, J.T., & Winker, K. 2008. Out of Amazonia again and again: Episodic crossing of the Andes promotes diversification in a lowland forest flycatcher. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences. 275: 1133-1142. 🌳 ♆
Reprint
2007
Weir, J. T. & D. Schluter. 2007. The latitudinal gradient in recent speciation and extinction rates of birds and mammals. Science. 315: 1574-1576. 🌎 μ
Reprint | ScienceNOW | Nature News | Why Files | New Scientist | Supplement | Comment and response | More comment and response | F1000 (Article Factor = 12) |
2006
Weir, J. T. 2006. Divergent timing and patterns of species accumulation in lowland and highland neotropical birds. Evolution. 60: 842-855. 🌳 μ
Reprint | Support Online Figures
Before 2005
Weir, J. T. & D. Schluter. 2004. Ice sheets promote speciation in boreal birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences. 271: 1881-1887. ♆ μ
Reprint | Natural History Samplings | TREE Update |
Weir, J. 1999a. The breeding biology of an American avocet colony in British Columbia. British Columbia Birds. 7: 3-7. (Documents the breeding biology of the first discovered colony of the species in British Columbia at Alki Lake, Kelowna)
Weir, J. 1999b. A west coast record of a juvenile boreal owl. British Columbia Birds. 7: 11-12. (Breeding record at Garibaldi Provincial Park represents the first breeding record for coastal British Columbia and the fifth record for the province)