Jake Berv
@jakeberv
Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow | evolution | systematic biology | natural history | barbeque enthusiast
However, grid-cell means can obscure compositional patterns, so we dug deeper and studied compositional enrichment for globally fast or slow lineages (across space). It turns out that high-latitude grid cells are compositionally enriched for globally fast lineages (Supplementary Figure 17).
In addition to temporal patterns, we investigated macroecological patterns across space and discovered a strong statistical signal of an inverse latitudinal gradient in mean rates of phenotypic evolution (after accounting for many potential covariates). Figure 3 (and supp info section 3 and 4).
Here is Supplementary Figure 18, which better showcases the beautiful illustrations we commissioned from @umich.edu undergrad Olivia Stein. These illustrated species represent clades where our method identifies significant increases in the rate of body-shape evolution. Also see Supp Table 7.
RIP Sam Neill. His portrayal of Dr. Alan Grant contributed significantly to inspiring a whole generation of paleontologists, including myself. Can't be overstated, really.
#Evol2026 I’m launching a new research group at UNC Charlotte in January 2027. Prospective students, postdocs, and collaborators are welcome to get in touch: jacob.berv@charlotte.edu More at jakeberv.com, lab website coming soon.
Cleaned up Reid Wiseman's earth-eclipse circulating around (just some denoise and sharpening). DM if you want the file.
Met the future first lady at the airport @gabbygiffords.bsky.social @captmarkkelly.bsky.social