Entry #8: Evolution of New Species with Dr. Darren O'Connell

Dr. Darren O'Connell is a molecular ecologist from Ireland
focused on speciation. Darren completed his PhD with Opwall in
Sulawesi and played a critical role in identifying the
Wangi-wangi White-eye, an Indonesian bird new to science. Today,
Darren is studying honey bee colonies in Ireland to understand
how climate change and other stressors affect these populations.
In this episode, we cover how Darren ended up studying island
biogeography and speciation, what these studies tell us about
conservation efforts, and the long and challenging process of
describing a new species.