Speciation and adaptive radiation
We are using African cichlids and Neotropical catfishes as models to understand the processes that drive and constrain evolutionary divergence. We have focussed in recent years on the evolution of cichlids in crater lakes of southern Tanzania, such as crater Lake Masoko, and the role of phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic mechanisms in adaptive evolution.
Species coexistence
There are still fundamental questions to address related to the mechanisms that enable ecologically similar species to persist in species rich communities. The megadiverse assemblages of cichlids in African lakes provide a wealth of opportunity for novel investigations of species coexistence.
Conservation and biogeography of African freshwater faunas
By surveying the fish and invertebrate faunas of rivers we are getting a better understanding of their biodiversity, evolutionary history and conservation significance. We have a specific interest in species groups that support both capture fisheries and aquaculture across the continent.
Climate change and fish assemblages.
Using long-term survey datasets we are determining how climatic warming has changed marine and freshwater fish assemblages, and which species and populations have been most affected. We are using modelling approaches to predict how future climate change will affect the ecology of ecosystems over the next 50 to 100 years.
Environmental DNA in marine and freshwater systems.
We are developing and testing eDNA-based sampling approaches to uncover the biological diversity of aquatic organisms. We use these methods to describe the spatial and temporal structure in assemblages, to detect invasive species and parasites harmful to human health, and to monitor the diversity of new and restored habitats
We are using African cichlids and Neotropical catfishes as models to understand the processes that drive and constrain evolutionary divergence. We have focussed in recent years on the evolution of cichlids in crater lakes of southern Tanzania, such as crater Lake Masoko, and the role of phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic mechanisms in adaptive evolution.
Species coexistence
There are still fundamental questions to address related to the mechanisms that enable ecologically similar species to persist in species rich communities. The megadiverse assemblages of cichlids in African lakes provide a wealth of opportunity for novel investigations of species coexistence.
Conservation and biogeography of African freshwater faunas
By surveying the fish and invertebrate faunas of rivers we are getting a better understanding of their biodiversity, evolutionary history and conservation significance. We have a specific interest in species groups that support both capture fisheries and aquaculture across the continent.
Climate change and fish assemblages.
Using long-term survey datasets we are determining how climatic warming has changed marine and freshwater fish assemblages, and which species and populations have been most affected. We are using modelling approaches to predict how future climate change will affect the ecology of ecosystems over the next 50 to 100 years.
Environmental DNA in marine and freshwater systems.
We are developing and testing eDNA-based sampling approaches to uncover the biological diversity of aquatic organisms. We use these methods to describe the spatial and temporal structure in assemblages, to detect invasive species and parasites harmful to human health, and to monitor the diversity of new and restored habitats
