I study evolutionary processes such as speciation, adaptation and hybridisation and their ecological consequences in natural populations. I am particularly interested in how rapid evolutionary change impacts ecological interactions – such as those between hosts and their microbiomes – and how the interconnection of these processes generates and maintains biodiversity. I use methods spanning evolutionary genomics, experimental ecology, metagenomics and spatial ecology to investigate these questions. I also develop new computational methods, including software for hypothesis testing in spatial ecology and bioinformatics.

My background is in plant science, but my research has broadened to encompass fungal (e.g. mycorrhizal fungi, fungal pathogens), animal (amphibians, fish, birds, insects) and microbial systems (host-associated microbiomes, rhizosphere interactions). Ultimately, I am interested in any system suited to answering fundamental questions in ecology and evolution.

2025

• PublishedPlastic responses to past environments shape adaptation to novel selection pressures
  Coates, S., Comeault, A., Wood, D. P., Fay, M. F., Creer, S., Osborne, O., Dunning, L. T. & Papadopulos, A. S. T., 4 Feb 2025, In: PNAS. 122, 5, p. e2409541122 e2409541122.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• E-pub ahead of printProbiotic colonization of Xenopus laevis skin causes short-term changes in skin microbiomes and gene expression
  Madison, J., Osborne, O., Ellison, A., Griffith, C., Gentry, L., Gross, H., Gratwicke, B., Grayfer, L. & Muletz‐Wolz, C., 2 Apr 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Infection and Immunity.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2024

• PublishedAccounting for extinction dynamics unifies the geological and biological histories of Indo-Australian Archipelago
  Herrera-Alsina, L., Lancaster, L. T., Algar, A. C., Bocedi, G., Papadopulos, A. S. T., Gubry-Rangin, C., Osborne, O. G., Mynard, P., Creer, S., Villegas-Patraca, R., Made Sudiana, I., Fahri, F., Lupiyaningdyah, P., Nangoy, M., Iskandar, D. T., Juliandi, B., Burslem, D. F. R. P. & Travis, J. M. J., 30 Sept 2024, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 291, 2031, p. 20240966
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedPhylosymbiosis shapes skin bacterial communities and pathogen-protective function in Appalachian salamanders
  Osborne, O., Jiménez, R., Byrne, A., Gratwicke, B., Ellison, A. & Muletz-Wolz, C., 11 Jun 2024, In: The ISME Journal. 18, 1
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedThe sensory shark: high-quality morphological, genomic and transcriptomic data for the small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula reveal the molecular bases of sensory organ evolution in jawed vertebrates
  Mayeur, H., Leyhr, J., Mulley, J., Leurs, N., Michel, L., Sharma, K., Lagadec, R., Aury, J.-M., Osborne, O. G., Mulhair, P., Poulain, J., Mangenot, S., Mead, D., Smith, M., Corton, C., Olive, K., Skelton, J., Betteridge, E., Dolucan, J. & Dudchenko, O. & 17 others, Omer, A. D., Weisz, D., Aiden, E. L., McCarthy, S., Sims, Y., Torrance, J., Tracey, A., Howe, K., Baril, T., Hayward, A., Martinand-Mari, C., Sanchez, S., Haitina, T., Martin, K., Korsching, S. I., Mazan, S. & Debiais-Thibaud, M., 6 Dec 2024, In: Molecular Biology and Evolution. 41, 12
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2023

• PublishedGenetic assimilation of ancestral plasticity during parallel adaptation to Zinc contamination in Silene uniflora
  Wood, D., Holmberg, J., Osborne, O., Helmstetter, A. J., Dunning, L. T., Ellison, A., Smith, R. J., Lighten, J. & Papadopulos, A. S. T., Mar 2023, In: Nature Ecology and Evolution. 7, 3, p. 414-423 10 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedImpact of Phylogenetic Tree Completeness and Misspecification of Sampling Fractions on Trait Dependent Diversification Models
  Mynard, P., Algar, A., Lancaster, L. T., Bocedi, G., Fahri, F., Gubry-Rangin, C., Lupiyaningdyah, P., Nangoy, M., Osborne, O., Papadopulos, A. S. T., Sudiana, I. M., Juliandi, B., Travis, J. & Herrera-Alsina, L., 19 May 2023, In: Systematic Biology. 72, 1, p. 106-119 14 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedMapping the root systems of individual trees in a natural community using genotyping-by-sequencing
  Osborne, O., Dobreva, M. P., Papadopulos, A. S. T., de Moura, M. S. B., Brunello, A. T., de Queiroz, L. P., Pennington, R. T., Lloyd, J. & Savolainen, V., 1 May 2023, In: New Phytologist. 238, 3, p. 1305-1317 13 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2022

• PublishedClimatic similarity and genomic background shape the extent of parallel adaptation in Timema stick insects
  Chaturvedi, S., Gompert, Z., Feder, J., Osborne, O., Muschick, M., Riesch, R., Soria-Carrasco, V. & Nosil, P., Dec 2022, In: Nature Ecology and Evolution. 6, 12, p. 1952-1964 13 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedFauxcurrence: simulating multi-species occurrences for null models in species distribution modelling and biogeography
  Osborne, O., Fell, H. G., Atkins, H., Tol, J. V., Phillips, D., Herrerra-Alsina, L., Mynard, P., Bocedi, G., Gubry-Rangin, C., Lancaster, L. T., Creer, S., Nangoy, M., Fahri, F., Lupiyaningdyah, P., Sudiana, I. M., Juliandi, B., Travis, J., Papadopulos, A. S. T. & Algar, A. C., Jul 2022, In: Ecography. 2022, 7, e05880.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedSafeguarding Imperiled Biodiversity and Evolutionary Processes in the Wallacea Center of Endemism
  Struebig, M., Aninta, S. G., Beger, M., Bani, A., Barus, H., Brace, S., Davies, Z., De Brauwer, M., Diele, K., Djakiman, C., Djamaluddin, R., Drinkwater, R., Drumbell, A., Evans, D., Fusi, M., Herrera-Alsina, L., Iksander, D. T., Jompa, J., Juliandi, B. & Lancaster, L. T. & 32 others, Limmon, G., Lindawati , Lo, M. G. Y., Lupiyaningdyah , P., McCannon, M., Meijaard, E., Mitchell, S. L., Mumbunan, S., O'Connell, D., Osborne, O., Papadopulos, A. S. T., Rahajoe, J. S., Rosaria, Rossiter, S. J., Rugayah, Rustiami, H., Salzmann, U., Sheherazade, Sudiana, I. M., Sukara, E., Tasirin, J. S., Tjoa, A., Travis, J. M. J., Trethowan, L., Trianto, A., Utteridge, T., Voigt, M., Winarni, N., Zakaria, Z., Edwards, D. P., Frantz, L. & Supriatna, J., Nov 2022, In: BioScience. 72, 11, p. 1118-1130 13 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedThe missing link in biogeographic reconstruction: Accounting for lineage extinction rewrites history
  Herrera‐Alsina, L., Algar, A. C., Lancaster, L. T., Ornelas, J. F., Bocedi, G., Papadopulos, A. S. T., Gubry-Rangin, C., Osborne, O., Mynard, P., Sudiana, I. M., Lupiyaningdyah, P., Juliandi, B. & Travis, J., Nov 2022, In: Journal of Biogeography. 49, 11, p. 1941-1951 11 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2021

• PublishedA multispecies BCO2 beak color polymorphism in the Darwin’s finch radiation
  Enbody, E., Sprehn, C. G., Abzhanov, A., Bi, H., Dobreva, M. P., Osborne, O., Rubin, C.-J., Grant, P., Grant, B. R. & Andersson, L., 22 Oct 2021, In: Current Biology. 31, 24, p. 5597-5604
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedAncient geological dynamics impact neutral biodiversity accumulation and are detectable in phylogenetic reconstructions
  Herrera‐Alsina, L., Algar, A. C., Bocedi, G., Gubry‐Rangin, C., Lancaster, L., Mynard, P., Osborne, O., Papadopulos, A. S. T., Creer, S., Nangoy, M., Fahri, F., Lupiyaningdyah, P., Sudiana, I. M., Juliandi, B. & Travis, J. M. J., Aug 2021, In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. 30, 8, p. 1633-1642 10 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedRapid Parallel Adaptation to Anthropogenic Heavy Metal Pollution
  Papadopulos, A. S. T., Helmstetter, A. J., Osborne, O., Comeault, A., Wood, D., Straw, E. A., Mason, L., Fay, M. F., Parker, J., Dunning, L. T., Foote, A., Smith, R. J. & Lighten, J., Sept 2021, In: Molecular Biology and Evolution. 38, 9, p. 3724-3736 13 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2020

• PublishedAdvances in metabarcoding techniques bring us closer to reliable monitoring of the marine benthos
  Steyaert, M., Priestley, V., Osborne, O., Herraiz, A., Arnold, R. & Savolainen, V., 1 Nov 2020, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 57, 11, p. 2234–2245
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedStrong divergent selection at multiple loci in two closely related species of ragworts adapted to high and low elevations on Mount Etna
  Wong, E. L. Y., Nevado, B., Osborne, O. G., Papadopulos, A. S. T., Bridle, J. R., Hiscock, S. J. & Filatov, D. A., Jan 2020, In: Molecular Ecology. 29, 2, p. 394-412 19 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedSympatric speciation in mountain roses (Metrosideros) on an oceanic island
  Osborne, O. G., Kafle, T., Brewer, T., Dobreva, M. P., Hutton, I. & Savolainen, V., 31 Aug 2020, In: Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 375, 1806, p. 20190542
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2019

• PublishedAdaptive Evolution Is Common in Rapid Evolutionary Radiations
  Nevado, B., Wong, E. L. Y., Osborne, O. G. & Filatov, D. A., 23 Sept 2019, In: Current Biology. 29, 18, p. 3081-3086.e5
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedEcological speciation in sympatric palms: 3. Genetic map reveals genomic islands underlying species divergence in Howea
  Papadopulos, A. S. T., Igea, J., Dunning, L. T., Osborne, O., Quan, X., Pellicer, J., Turnbull, C., Hutton, I., Baker, W. J., Butlin, R. K. & Savolainen, V., Sept 2019, In: Evolution. 73, 9, p. 1986-1995 10 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedHow predictable is genome evolution?
  Coathup, M. J., Osborne, O. G. & Savolainen, V., 13 Sept 2019, In: Elife. 8
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedPhylotranscriptomic Insights into the Diversification of Endothermic Thunnus Tunas
  Ciezarek, A. G., Osborne, O. G., Shipley, O. N., Brooks, E. J., Tracey, S. R., McAllister, J. D., Gardner, L. D., Sternberg, M. J. E., Block, B. & Savolainen, V., 1 Jan 2019, In: Molecular Biology and Evolution. 36, 1, p. 84-96 13 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedSpeciation in Howea Palms Occurred in Sympatry, Was Preceded by Ancestral Admixture, and Was Associated with Edaphic and Phenological Adaptation
  Osborne, O. G., Ciezarek, A., Wilson, T., Crayn, D., Hutton, I., Baker, W. J., Turnbull, C. G. N. & Savolainen, V., 1 Dec 2019, In: Molecular Biology and Evolution. 36, 12, p. 2682-2697 16 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2018

• PublishedArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi promote coexistence and niche divergence of sympatric palm species on a remote oceanic island
  Osborne, O. G., De-Kayne, R., Bidartondo, M. I., Hutton, I., Baker, W. J., Turnbull, C. G. N. & Savolainen, V., 1 Feb 2018, In: New Phytologist. 217, 3, p. 1254-1266 13 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2016

• PublishedDemographic history of speciation in a Senecio altitudinal hybrid zone on Mt. Etna
  Filatov, D. A., Osborne, O. G. & Papadopulos, A. S. T., Jun 2016, In: Molecular Ecology. 25, 11, p. 2467-81 15 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedMaintenance of Species Boundaries Despite Ongoing Gene Flow in Ragworts
  Osborne, O. G., Chapman, M. A., Nevado, B. & Filatov, D. A., 13 Apr 2016, In: Genome Biology and Evolution. 8, 4, p. 1038-47 10 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2013

• PublishedRapid speciation with gene flow following the formation of Mt. Etna
  Osborne, O., Batstone, T., Hiscock, S. & Filatov, D., 1 Sept 2013, In: Genome Biology and Evolution. 5, 9, p. 1704-1715
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedRecent ecological selection on regulatory divergence is shaping clinal variation in senecio on Mount Etna
  Muir, G., Osborne, O. G., Sarasa, J., Hiscock, S. J. & Filatov, D. A., 31 Oct 2013, In: Evolution. 67, 10, p. 3032-42 11 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review