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Marine and conservation genomics group

Marine ecosystems are under increasingly threat of climate change and human activities.

Genomic tools provide powerful insights into past species’ responses and patterns of adaptation, informing on their vulnerability and resilience to environmental change. In contrast, simulations and habitat modelling can be used to predict their future responses to climate change and human disturbance.

Genomics and simulations thus provide the integrated framework for understanding marine ecosystem dynamics and guiding effective conservation strategies in a rapidly changing marine environment.

Our research

Research Areas: Population Analysis and Monitoring

Research Subjects: Climate change, Evolution, Population genetics, Conservation

Our research focuses on the evolution and conservation of marine species in the Baltic and North Atlantic.

By analysing genetic variation through time and space, we aim to 1) monitor changes in overall genomic variation and assess patterns of genome erosion in declining populations and, 2) assess the adaptive responses of species to climate and associated environmental changes. This knowledge allows to assess the resilience of marine ecosystems to climate change and inform conservation strategies for marine ecosystems.

To address these questions, we integrate whole genome analyses from modern and historical/ancient material, past demographic reconstructions, genomic indicator estimation, tests of selection and genome-informed simulations. We also use metabarcoding and metagenomics approaches to study marine ecosystem biodiversity through time and space. Target species include marine mammals, fish, birds and invertebrates.

While our current research has a strong focus on marine ecosystems, we also have experience and interest in terrestrial systems and other conservation topics (e.g. small population genomics, see PI’s publications).

Research topics

  • Genomic monitoring of marine mammals
  • Genome erosion in declining populations
  • Use of genetic indicators in applied conservation
  • Demographic responses to past climate change
  • Adaptation to rapid climate and environmental change
  • Metabarcoding/metagenomics for diet analyses, species detection and population genomics

Potential projects

If you are looking for a Master’s, PhD or PostDoctoral project using natural history collections, eDNA, genomics, and bioinformatics, we list below potential project ideas:

  • Adaptation along environmental clines in fish
  • Population structure and management units in fish (e.g. pike)
  • Past dynamics and genome erosion in small marine populations (e.g. birds, mammals)
  • Genomic monitoring of marine birds and mammals
  • eDNA for genomic monitoring and population genomics
  • Diet analyses of marine mammals (e.g. seals)

Recent publications

Find recent publications at Scholar.google.com External link.

Financial support

Naturvårdsverket, Formas, Vetenskapsrådet

Principal Investigator

Nicolas Dussex | Researcher

Team

Niclas Gyllenstrand
Enrico Bazzicaluppo
Morgan McCarthy
William Englund

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