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Overview
Affiliations
AffiliationTelephone
Professor in the Department of Biosciences+44 (0) 191 33 41325

Biography

Research in the Molecular Ecology Group covers a wide range of studies and species, but our focus is on evolutionary process and genetic structure in natural populations. We use modern and ancient DNA markers to better understand the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of population structure and population dynamics in the context of ecological factors and changing environments. We use similar approaches to investigate the relationship between genetic diversity and fitness, and to better understand the role of individual behaviour in these processes. We apply this work to the development of more effective conservation strategies, and to improve our understanding of the origin and evolution of biodiversity within and among populations.

Research interests

  • conservation genetics
  • evolutionary biology
  • population genetics and molecular ecology
  • Ancient DNA

Esteem Indicators

  • 2000: Editorial Board member: Aquatic Mammals (2005-), Open Ecology Journal (2008-), Marine Genomics (2008-), International Journal of Evolutionary Biology (2009-), Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B (2000 - 2007) & Biology Letters (2003-2005).
  • 2000: Journal Editor: Editor in Chief & Founding Editor of Conservation Genetics, Springer Publishing (2000 -). Founding Editor of Conservation Genetics Resources, Springer Publishing (2009-). Associate editor for Marine Biology Research (2006-) & Marine Mammal Science (2004 - 2007)

Publications

Authored book

Edited book

Journal Article

Supervision students