The benthic-to-pelagic habitat axis is a major environmental dimension along which fishes have diversified. Minnows (chubs, dace, and shiners) are a major component of fish communities throughout Alabama and the southeastern United States. A recent study published in Evolution co-authored by Drs. Burress and Hart in the Department of Biological Sciences, show that as minnows shifted from benthic (associated with the river bottom) to pelagic habitats (associated with the water column and water surface), these fishes exhibit faster speciation, but more similar phenotypes that arose more slowly over time. These results suggest that the pelagic zone may favor dispersal, geographic isolation, and subsequently, promote allopatric speciation, but ultimately provides a limited degree of ecological opportunity, as species are funneled into a few niches.