Research Themes
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, and to detect invasive species and parasites harmful to human health.
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, and to detect invasive species and parasites harmful to human health.
Climate change and fisheries
Using long-term fisheries datasets we are determining how climatic warming has changed fish assemblages, and which species have been most affected. We are using modelling approaches to predict how future climate change will affect the ecology of European and Antarctic ecosystems over the next 50 to 100 years.
Using long-term fisheries datasets we are determining how climatic warming has changed fish assemblages, and which species have been most affected. We are using modelling approaches to predict how future climate change will affect the ecology of European and Antarctic ecosystems over the next 50 to 100 years.
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 the tilapine cichlids which support both capture fisheries and aquaculture across the continent.
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 the tilapine cichlids which support both capture fisheries and aquaculture across the continent.
Speciation and adaptive radiation
We are using African cichlids as a model to understand the processes that drive and constrain evolutionary divergence. Over the last 10 years we have become increasingly interested in the evolution of cichlids in crater lakes of southern Tanzania, such as crater Lake Masoko, and the role of phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic mechanisms.
We are using African cichlids as a model to understand the processes that drive and constrain evolutionary divergence. Over the last 10 years we have become increasingly interested in the evolution of cichlids in crater lakes of southern Tanzania, such as crater Lake Masoko, and the role of phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic mechanisms.
