Professor Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos
Professor

Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 51767

Background

In The Ortiz-Barrientos Lab we seek to understand how natural selection drives the origin of traits and new species. We combine empirical and theoretical approaches from across multiple disciplines.

We are located in beautiful Brisbane, Australia, in the School of The Environment at The University of Queensland.

Please explore our pages to learn about research, culture, and the team of scientists that bring their passion and creativity to discovering how nature works.

Availability

Professor Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Bioinformatics and computational biology Biological Sciences Biological adaptation Evolutionary biology Genetics Genetics not elsewhere classified Molecular evolution Statistical and quantitative genetics

Research interests

  • The genetic basis of speciation

    As populations adapt to new environmental challenges, they may become reproductively isolated from other populations. The genetic changes associated with the evolution of reproductive isolation remain largely unknown. Therefore we have a limited understanding of how ecology and genetics interact during the origin of new species. In the Ortiz-Barrientos lab, we tackle this problem by studying the early stages of speciation in the S. lautus species complex (sensu lato).

  • The genetics basis of adaptation

    Our lab uses various tools to identify genes responsible for ecotypic differences and traits responsible for fitness differences in the wild. We investigate the adaptive significance of genetic correlations during ecotypic divergence and the relative contributions of additive vs. non-additive effects to fitness variation.

  • The genetic basis of parallel evolution

    Populations experiencing similar selective pressures may evolve similar traits. As they adapt to similar environments, populations may fix similar alleles, or they might reach a phenotypic solution via different biochemical and genetic routes. Our lab investigates how coastal populations of S. lautus have repeatedly and independently adapted to contrasting habitats along the Australian coast.

  • Evolutionary systems biology in biodiversity and agriculture

    We can study organisms at the cellular level, during growth and differentiation, and during reproduction. We aim to connect these processes to the transmission of genetic information across generations by incorporating concepts and tools from systems biology into population genetics.

Research impacts

Our research informs how plants come about and how they adapt to harsh conditions. As we seek to discover rules for adaptation, we hope this knowledge will guide research in agriculture and conservation biology. We currently collaborate with an amazing suite of researchers to figure out how plant systems work. Together we aim to discover better ways to produce healthy and productive crops that increase food security.

Search Professor Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos’s works on UQ eSpace

97 works between 1999 and 2025
All (97) Journal Article (80) Other Outputs (6) Conference Publication (8) Book Chapter (3)

1 - 20 of 97 works

Featured

2021

Journal Article

Adaptive divergence in shoot gravitropism creates hybrid sterility in an Australian wildflower

Wilkinson, Melanie J., Roda, Federico, Walter, Greg M., James, Maddie E., Nipper, Rick, Walsh, Jessica, Allen, Scott L., North, Henry L., Beveridge, Christine A. and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2021). Adaptive divergence in shoot gravitropism creates hybrid sterility in an Australian wildflower. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118 (47) e2004901118, e2004901118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2004901118

Adaptive divergence in shoot gravitropism creates hybrid sterility in an Australian wildflower

Featured

2021

Journal Article

Phenotypic and genotypic parallel evolution in parapatric ecotypes of Senecio

James, Maddie E., Wilkinson, Melanie J., Bernal, Diana M., Liu, Huanle, North, Henry L., Engelstädter, Jan and Ortiz‐Barrientos, Daniel (2021). Phenotypic and genotypic parallel evolution in parapatric ecotypes of Senecio. Evolution, 75 (12), 3115-3131. doi: 10.1111/evo.14387

Phenotypic and genotypic parallel evolution in parapatric ecotypes of Senecio

2021

Journal Article

Highly replicated evolution of parapatric ecotypes

James, Maddie E., Arenas-Castro, Henry, Groh, Jeffrey S., Allen, Scott L., Engelstädter, Jan and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2021). Highly replicated evolution of parapatric ecotypes. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 38 (11), 4805-4821. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msab207

Highly replicated evolution of parapatric ecotypes

Featured

2021

Journal Article

Homage to Felsenstein 1981, or why are there so few/many species?

Butlin, Roger K., Servedio, Maria R., Smadja, Carole M., Bank, Claudia, Barton, Nicholas H., Flaxman, Samuel M., Giraud, Tatiana, Hopkins, Robin, Larson, Erica L., Maan, Martine E., Meier, Joana, Merrill, Richard, Noor, Mohamed A. F., Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel and Qvarnström, Anna (2021). Homage to Felsenstein 1981, or why are there so few/many species?. Evolution, 75 (5), 978-988. doi: 10.1111/evo.14235

Homage to Felsenstein 1981, or why are there so few/many species?

Featured

2021

Journal Article

Modelling selection response in plant breeding programs using crop models as mechanistic gene-to-phenotype (CGM-G2P) multi-trait link functions

Cooper, M., Powell, O., Voss-Fels, K. P., Messina, C. D., Gho, C., Podlich, D. W., Technow, F., Chapman, S. C., Beveridge, C. A., Ortiz-Barrientos, D. and Hammer, G. L. (2021). Modelling selection response in plant breeding programs using crop models as mechanistic gene-to-phenotype (CGM-G2P) multi-trait link functions. in silico Plants, 3 (1) diaa016, 1-21. doi: 10.1093/insilicoplants/diaa016

Modelling selection response in plant breeding programs using crop models as mechanistic gene-to-phenotype (CGM-G2P) multi-trait link functions

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Loss of ecologically important genetic variation in late generation hybrids reveals links between adaptation and speciation

Walter, Greg M., Richards, Thomas J., Wilkinson, Melanie J, Blows, Mark W., Aguirre, J. David and Ortiz‐Barrientos, Daniel (2020). Loss of ecologically important genetic variation in late generation hybrids reveals links between adaptation and speciation. Evolution Letters, 4 (4) evl3.187, 302-316. doi: 10.1002/evl3.187

Loss of ecologically important genetic variation in late generation hybrids reveals links between adaptation and speciation

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Senecio as a model system for integrating studies of genotype, phenotype and fitness

Walter, Greg M., Abbott, Richard J., Brennan, Adrian C., Bridle, Jon R., Chapman, Mark, Clark, James, Filatov, Dmitry, Nevado, Bruno, Ortiz‐Barrientos, Daniel and Hiscock, Simon J. (2020). Senecio as a model system for integrating studies of genotype, phenotype and fitness. New Phytologist, 226 (2), 326-344. doi: 10.1111/nph.16434

Senecio as a model system for integrating studies of genotype, phenotype and fitness

Featured

2019

Journal Article

The origin and maintenance of metabolic allometry in animals

White, Craig R., Marshall, Dustin J., Alton, Lesley A., Arnold, Pieter A., Beaman, Julian E., Bywater, Candice L., Condon, Catriona, Crispin, Taryn S., Janetzki, Aidan, Pirtle, Elia, Winwood-Smith, Hugh S., Angilletta, Michael J., Chenoweth, Stephen F., Franklin, Craig E., Halsey, Lewis G., Kearney, Michael R., Portugal, Steven J. and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2019). The origin and maintenance of metabolic allometry in animals. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 3 (4), 598-603. doi: 10.1038/s41559-019-0839-9

The origin and maintenance of metabolic allometry in animals

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Environmentally induced development costs underlie fitness tradeoffs

Walter, Greg M., Wilkinson, Melanie J., Aguirre, J. David, Blows, Mark W. and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2018). Environmentally induced development costs underlie fitness tradeoffs. Ecology, 99 (6), 1391-1401. doi: 10.1002/ecy.2234

Environmentally induced development costs underlie fitness tradeoffs

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Evolution of genetic variance during adaptive radiation

Walter, Greg M., Aguirre, J. David, Blows, Mark W. and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2018). Evolution of genetic variance during adaptive radiation. American Naturalist, 191 (4), E108-E128. doi: 10.1086/696123

Evolution of genetic variance during adaptive radiation

Featured

2017

Journal Article

Genomic clustering of adaptive loci during parallel evolution of an Australian wildflower

Roda, Federico, Walter, Greg M., Nipper, Rick and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2017). Genomic clustering of adaptive loci during parallel evolution of an Australian wildflower. Molecular Ecology, 26 (14), 3687-3699. doi: 10.1111/mec.14150

Genomic clustering of adaptive loci during parallel evolution of an Australian wildflower

Featured

2016

Journal Article

The evolution of recombination rates in finite populations during ecological speciation

Reeve, James, Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel and Engelstädter, Jan (2016). The evolution of recombination rates in finite populations during ecological speciation. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London - B - Biological Sciences, 283 (1841) 20161243, 20161243. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1243

The evolution of recombination rates in finite populations during ecological speciation

Featured

2016

Journal Article

Sexual selection in hermaphrodites, sperm and broadcast spawners, plants and fungi

Beekman, Madeleine, Nieuwenhuis, Bart, Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel and Evans, Jonathan P (2016). Sexual selection in hermaphrodites, sperm and broadcast spawners, plants and fungi. Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences, 371 (1706) 20150541, 20150541. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0541

Sexual selection in hermaphrodites, sperm and broadcast spawners, plants and fungi

Featured

2016

Journal Article

Divergent natural selection drives the evolution of reproductive isolation in an Australian wildflower

Richards, Thomas J., Walter, Greg M., McGuigan, Katrina and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2016). Divergent natural selection drives the evolution of reproductive isolation in an Australian wildflower. Evolution, 70 (9), 1993-2003. doi: 10.1111/evo.12994

Divergent natural selection drives the evolution of reproductive isolation in an Australian wildflower

Featured

2016

Journal Article

Diversification across a heterogeneous landscape

Walter, Greg M., Wilkinson, Melanie J., James, Maddie E., Richards, Thomas J., Aguirre, J. David and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2016). Diversification across a heterogeneous landscape. Evolution, 70 (9), 1979-1992. doi: 10.1111/evo.13009

Diversification across a heterogeneous landscape

Featured

2016

Journal Article

Immigrant inviability produces a strong barrier to gene flow between parapatric ecotypes of Senecio lautus

Richards, Thomas J. and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2016). Immigrant inviability produces a strong barrier to gene flow between parapatric ecotypes of Senecio lautus. Evolution, 70 (6), 1239-1248. doi: 10.1111/evo.12936

Immigrant inviability produces a strong barrier to gene flow between parapatric ecotypes of Senecio lautus

Featured

2016

Journal Article

Recombination rate evolution and the origin of species

Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel, Engelstaedter, Jan and Rieseberg, Loren H. (2016). Recombination rate evolution and the origin of species. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 31 (3), 226-236. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2015.12.016

Recombination rate evolution and the origin of species

Featured

2015

Journal Article

The origins of reproductive isolation in plants

Baack, Eric, Melo, Maria Clara, Rieseberg, Loreb H. and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2015). The origins of reproductive isolation in plants. New Phytologist, 207 (4), 968-984. doi: 10.1111/nph.13424

The origins of reproductive isolation in plants

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Strong extrinsic reproductive isolation between parapatric populations of an Australian groundsel

Melo, Maria C., Grealy, Alicia, Brittain, Beth, Walter, Greg M. and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2014). Strong extrinsic reproductive isolation between parapatric populations of an Australian groundsel. New Phytologist, 203 (1), 323-334. doi: 10.1111/nph.12779

Strong extrinsic reproductive isolation between parapatric populations of an Australian groundsel

Featured

2013

Journal Article

Convergence and divergence during the adaptation to similar environments by an Australian groundsel

Roda, Federico, Liu, Huanle, Wilkinson, Melanie J., Walter, Gregory M., James, Maddie E., Bernal, Diana M., Melo, Maria C., Lowe, Andrew, Rieseberg, Loren H., Prentis, Peter and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2013). Convergence and divergence during the adaptation to similar environments by an Australian groundsel. Evolution, 67 (9), 2515-2529. doi: 10.1111/evo.12136

Convergence and divergence during the adaptation to similar environments by an Australian groundsel

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2029
    ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2027
    ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture
    ARC Centres of Excellence
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    The genetic link between local adaptation and speciation
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2019 - 2023
    Recombination and the genomic landscape of speciation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    National Tree Genomics Program - Phenotype Prediction
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Advanced imaging with wide spectrum molecular, quantitative and morphological applications in biological research
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Beyond genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes: high throughput analysis of gene and protein expression and function
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    The evolution of recombination cold spots during speciation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    How does naturally occurring manganese affect the physiology, genetics and health of organisms on Groote Eylandt
    Anindilyakwa Land Council
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    How does naturally occurring manganese affect the physiology, genetics and health of organisms on Groote Eylandt?
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2012
    High Throughput Genotyping using Paralleled and Miniaturized DNA amplification.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    The genetics of replicated evolution
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Building Capacity in Quantitative Genomics
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Does divergent natural selection drive the early stages of speciation?
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Speciation and the breakdown of co-evolution during hybridisation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009
    The genetics of speciation in Kangaroo Paws
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Patterns of speciation in Australian daisies
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Controlled Environment Facilities for the Challenges of the 21st Century
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Theoretical principles of network evolution

    This doctoral position explores the fundamental mathematical principles governing how biological networks evolve over time. Networks—whether gene regulatory circuits, protein interaction webs, or metabolic pathways—form the architectural backbone of life's complexity. Understanding their evolutionary dynamics requires synthesizing graph theory, population genetics, and dynamical systems theory. The position addresses several pivotal questions: How do network topologies constrain evolutionary trajectories? What mathematical principles govern the emergence of network motifs and hierarchical organisation? How do selection pressures shape network robustness versus evolvability trade-offs? These questions demand both theoretical innovation and empirical validation.

    Candidates will work within established frameworks, including graph-theoretic approaches to network structure and dynamics, building from spectral graph theory and random graph models; population genetic models extended to network-encoded traits, incorporating concepts from quantitative genetics and adaptive landscapes; and dynamical systems theory to understand network stability, bifurcations, and evolutionary attractors.

    Ideal candidates possess strong mathematical foundations in linear algebra, graph theory, and differential equations, or are willing to develop expertise in those topics. Experience with population genetic theory, computational modeling, or network analysis would strengthen your applications significantly. Programming proficiency in Python or R is essential for theoretical validation and simulation work. You can find fellowship opportunities here: https://scholarships.uq.edu.au/scholarship/graduate-school-scholarships-uqgss-%E2%80%93-includes-rtp. Please make sure you check deadlines for domestic and international students. Other specific fellowships can be found here: https://scholarships.uq.edu.au/scholarships?status[31]=31&type[160]=160&level[101]=101&focus[8]=8.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos directly for media enquiries about:

  • Adaptation
  • Ecology
  • Genetics
  • Genomics
  • Origin of new species
  • Plant genetics

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