James Edward Richardson

Biography

Undergraduate University of Leicester, UK (1990).  Master's Degree University of Reading, UK (1992).  Research Associate , European Garden Flora, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (1992-1995).  PhD in Plant Systematics , University of Edinburgh, UK (1999).  Postdoctoral researcher, Real Jardin Botanico Edinburgh (1999-2001).  Postdoctoral researcher, University of California Santa Cruz, United States (2001-2003).  Assistant Professor , University of Wageningen (2003-2005).  Director Biogeography and Tropical Evolution l Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (2005-2010).  Associate Professor, Universidad de Los Andes (2010 to date).  Associate Professor, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Universidad del Rosario (2015 to date). 

Research Interest

Our main interest is to understand how global geological and climatic change affects plant diversity. We use of dated molecular phylogenies in order to understand historical diversification processes. The research integrates the disciplines of phylogenetics, taxonomy, palaeobotany, geology and palaeoclimatology. We have demonstrated that elements of lowland tropical forest have diversified comparatively recently as a result of Miocene geological changes and that the high alpine Paramo flora has the fastest rate of plant speciation on the planet. Current projects investigate the evolution of taxa restricted to particular biomes within Colombia to demonstrate their adaptability to historical climatic changes.