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)

61 - 80 of 97 works

2019

Book Chapter

Reinforcement

Arenas-Castro, Henry, Brittain, Beth, Matute, Daniel R. and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2019). Reinforcement. Evolutionary biology. (pp. - ) edited by Douglas J. Futuyma. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/obo/9780199941728-0120

Reinforcement

2018

Journal Article

The delimitation and evolutionary history of the Australasian lautusoid group of Senecio (Asteraceae: Senecioneae)

Liew, Chia-Sin, Memory, Andrew E., Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel, De Lange, Peter J. and Pelser, Pieter B. (2018). The delimitation and evolutionary history of the Australasian lautusoid group of Senecio (Asteraceae: Senecioneae). Taxon, 67 (1), 130-148. doi: 10.12705/671.8

The delimitation and evolutionary history of the Australasian lautusoid group of Senecio (Asteraceae: Senecioneae)

2017

Journal Article

Evolution of recombination rates and the genomic landscape of speciation

Ortiz-Barrientos, D. and James, M. E. (2017). Evolution of recombination rates and the genomic landscape of speciation. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 30 (8), 1519-1521. doi: 10.1111/jeb.13116

Evolution of recombination rates and the genomic landscape of speciation

2017

Journal Article

Archipelagos of the Anthropocene: rapid and extensive differentiation of native terrestrial vertebrates in a single metropolis

Littleford-Colquhoun, Bethan L. , Clemente, Christofer, Whiting, Martin J. , Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel and Frere, Celine H. (2017). Archipelagos of the Anthropocene: rapid and extensive differentiation of native terrestrial vertebrates in a single metropolis. Molecular Ecology, 26 (9), 2466-2481. doi: 10.1111/mec.14042

Archipelagos of the Anthropocene: rapid and extensive differentiation of native terrestrial vertebrates in a single metropolis

2016

Book Chapter

Species concepts and speciation

Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2016). Species concepts and speciation. Encyclopedia of evolutionary biology. (pp. 216-227) edited by Richard M. Kliman. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-800049-6.00061-5

Species concepts and speciation

2014

Journal Article

Speciation: the strength of natural selection driving reinforcement

Matute, Daniel R. and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2014). Speciation: the strength of natural selection driving reinforcement. Current Biology, 24 (19), R955-R957. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.08.033

Speciation: the strength of natural selection driving reinforcement

2014

Journal Article

Evolutionary origins of a bioactive peptide buried within preproalbumin

Elliott, Alysha G., Delay, Christina, Liu, Huanle, Phua, Zaiyang, Rosengren, K. Johan, Benfield, Aurelie H., Panero, Jose L., Colgrave, Michelle L., Jayasena, Achala S., Dunse, Kerry M., Anderson, Marilyn A., Schilling, Edward E., Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel, Craik, David J. and Mylne, Joshua S. (2014). Evolutionary origins of a bioactive peptide buried within preproalbumin. The Plant Cell, 26 (3), 981-995. doi: 10.1105/tpc.114.123620

Evolutionary origins of a bioactive peptide buried within preproalbumin

2014

Journal Article

Species integrity in trees

Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel and Baack, Eric J. (2014). Species integrity in trees. Molecular Ecology, 23 (17), 4188-4191. doi: 10.1111/mec.12867

Species integrity in trees

2013

Journal Article

The color genes of speciation in plants

Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2013). The color genes of speciation in plants. Genetics, 194 (1), 39-42. doi: 10.1534/genetics.113.150466

The color genes of speciation in plants

2012

Journal Article

Reconciling extremely strong barriers with high levels of gene exchange in annual sunflowers

Sambatti, Julianno B. M., Strasburg, Jared L., Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel, Baack, Eric J. and Rieseberg, Loren H. (2012). Reconciling extremely strong barriers with high levels of gene exchange in annual sunflowers. Evolution, 66 (5), 1459-1473. doi: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01537.x

Reconciling extremely strong barriers with high levels of gene exchange in annual sunflowers

2011

Journal Article

Receivers limit the prevalence of deception in humans: Evidence from diving behaviour in humans

David, Gwendolyn K., Condon, Catriona H., Bywater, Candice L., Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel and Wilson, Robbie S. (2011). Receivers limit the prevalence of deception in humans: Evidence from diving behaviour in humans. PLoS One, 6 (10) e26017, e26017-1-e26017-5. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026017

Receivers limit the prevalence of deception in humans: Evidence from diving behaviour in humans

2011

Conference Publication

Diving in soccer: When does it pay to be dishonest?

David, G. K., Wilson, R. S. and Ortiz-Barrientos, D. (2011). Diving in soccer: When does it pay to be dishonest?. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology, Salt Lake City Ut, Jan 03-07, 2011. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.

Diving in soccer: When does it pay to be dishonest?

2010

Journal Article

Massively parallel sequencing and analysis of expressed sequence tags in a successful invasive plant

Prentis, Peter J., Woolfit, Megan, Thomas-Hall, Skye R., Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel, Pavasovic, Ana, Lowe, Andrew J. and Schenk, Peer M. (2010). Massively parallel sequencing and analysis of expressed sequence tags in a successful invasive plant. Annals of Botany, 106 (6), 1009-1017. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcq201

Massively parallel sequencing and analysis of expressed sequence tags in a successful invasive plant

2009

Journal Article

A narrow and highly significant linkage signal for severe bipolar disorder in the chromosome 5q33 region in Latin American pedigrees

Jasinska, A. J., Service, S., Jawaheer, D., DeYoung, J., Levinson, M., Zhang, Z., Kremeyer, B., Muller, H., Aldana, I., Garcia, J., Restrepo, G., Lopez, C., Palacio, C., Duque, C., Parra, M., Vega, J., Ortiz, D., Bedoya, G., Mathews, C., Davanzo, P., Fournier, E., Bejarano, J., Ramirez, M., Araya Ortiz, C., Araya, X., Molina, J., Sabatti, C., Reus, V., Ospina, J. ... Freimer, N. B. (2009). A narrow and highly significant linkage signal for severe bipolar disorder in the chromosome 5q33 region in Latin American pedigrees. American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 150 (7), 998-1006. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.b.30956

A narrow and highly significant linkage signal for severe bipolar disorder in the chromosome 5q33 region in Latin American pedigrees

2008

Journal Article

Ecological selection maintains cytonuclear incompatibilities in hybridizing sunflowers

Sambatti, J. B. M., Ortiz-Barrientos, D., Baack, E. J. and Rieseberg, L. H. (2008). Ecological selection maintains cytonuclear incompatibilities in hybridizing sunflowers. Ecology Letters, 11 (10), 1082-1091. doi: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01224.x

Ecological selection maintains cytonuclear incompatibilities in hybridizing sunflowers

2007

Journal Article

Meeting review: American Genetics Association Symposium on the genetics of speciation

Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel and Kane, Nolan C. (2007). Meeting review: American Genetics Association Symposium on the genetics of speciation. Molecular Ecology, 16 (14), 2852-2854. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03358.x

Meeting review: American Genetics Association Symposium on the genetics of speciation

2007

Journal Article

Genetics of incipient speciation in Drosophila mojavensis. I. Male courtship song, mating success, and genotype X environment interactions

Etges, William J., de Oliveira, Cassia Cardoso, Gragg, Erin, Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel, Noor, Mohamed A. F. and Ritchie, Michael G. (2007). Genetics of incipient speciation in Drosophila mojavensis. I. Male courtship song, mating success, and genotype X environment interactions. Evolution, 61 (5), 1106-1119. doi: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2007.00104.x

Genetics of incipient speciation in Drosophila mojavensis. I. Male courtship song, mating success, and genotype X environment interactions

2006

Journal Article

A recombinational portrait of the Drosophila pseudoobscura genome

Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel, Chang, Audrey, S. and Noor, Mohamed A. F. (2006). A recombinational portrait of the Drosophila pseudoobscura genome. Genetical Research, 87 (1), 23-31. doi: 10.1017/S0016672306007932

A recombinational portrait of the Drosophila pseudoobscura genome

2006

Journal Article

Simulating natural conditions in the laboratory: A re-examination of sexual isolation between sympatric and allopatric populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura and D. persimilis

Noor, Mohamed A. F. and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2006). Simulating natural conditions in the laboratory: A re-examination of sexual isolation between sympatric and allopatric populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura and D. persimilis. Behavior Genetics, 36 (2), 322-327. doi: 10.1007/s10519-005-9033-8

Simulating natural conditions in the laboratory: A re-examination of sexual isolation between sympatric and allopatric populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura and D. persimilis

2006

Journal Article

A revertant of the major founder native American haplogroup C common in populations from northern South America

Torres, Maria M., Bravi, Claudio M., Bortolini, Maria-Cátira, Duque, Constanza, Callegari-Jacques, Sidia, Ortiz, Daniel, Bedoya, Gabriel, De Restrepo, Helena G. and Ruiz-Linares, Andrés (2006). A revertant of the major founder native American haplogroup C common in populations from northern South America. American Journal of Human Biology, 18 (1), 59-65. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.20461

A revertant of the major founder native American haplogroup C common in populations from northern South America

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

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact 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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