Conservation genetics
We are engaged in a number of conservation genetics projects using genomic and molecular ecological techniques to investigate population structure, reconstruct demographic history, and dissect genetic processes associated with population management for conservation.
Former PhD student Lilith Zecherle investigated the conservation genomics of a reintroduced population of Asiatic wild ass, finding that the population doesn't appear to be genetically fragmented, despite potential landscape barriers to dispersal (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108845). They also may have benefited from subspecies hybridisation prior to reintroduction, which likely elevated their levels of genetic diversity (https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13191).
Former PhD student Martin Stoffel researched population bottlenecks of pinniped species, finding that current genetic diversity is tightly linked to previous human exploitation (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06695-z).
Current MRes student Sam Shove is investigating the factors that influence population connectivity in UK hedgehogs, working with the Gower Bird Hospital
I am also working with Dr Tammy Shadbolt at the Institute of Zoology and colleagues at the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust to understand the reintroduction of the UK's rarest amphibian: the pool frog, which has been recently reintroduced to the UK.
Former PhD student Lilith Zecherle investigated the conservation genomics of a reintroduced population of Asiatic wild ass, finding that the population doesn't appear to be genetically fragmented, despite potential landscape barriers to dispersal (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108845). They also may have benefited from subspecies hybridisation prior to reintroduction, which likely elevated their levels of genetic diversity (https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13191).
Former PhD student Martin Stoffel researched population bottlenecks of pinniped species, finding that current genetic diversity is tightly linked to previous human exploitation (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06695-z).
Current MRes student Sam Shove is investigating the factors that influence population connectivity in UK hedgehogs, working with the Gower Bird Hospital
I am also working with Dr Tammy Shadbolt at the Institute of Zoology and colleagues at the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust to understand the reintroduction of the UK's rarest amphibian: the pool frog, which has been recently reintroduced to the UK.