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EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science (Advanced) Honours Class I
University of Sydney
RESEARCH
My research aims to formally validate and improve upon current methods to detect genetic population structure and gene flow among populations. In doing so, I aim to define the level of confidence that biologists may have in some of the most widely used molecular tools in conservation biology, evolutionary and population genetics.
Habitat fragmentation is recognized as a major contributing factor to the risk of population extinction in the wild. A consequence of habitat fragmentation is that genetic exchange (or gene flow) is limited between populations. Limited gene flow may promote genetic differentiation among sub-populations, resulting in genetic population structure. As the effects of habitat fragmentation can be detected via genetic indicators, current conservation efforts often rely on assessing the degree of population structure and genetic exchange between wild populations.
Whilst there is a wide range of genetic methods to estimate population structure and gene flow, none have been formally tested in live organisms. In addition to this, the assumptions made by these estimation methods are often, if not always, violated in real populations. We do not know what effect this has on the precision and accuracy of these estimators. I intend to carefully evaluate and improve upon the currently untested and potentially biologically unrealistic genetic methods used in wildlife management and related areas.
More generally, I am interested in the application of genetics to answer questions in ecology, evolution and conservation. I enjoy working with a range of model species (marsupials, birds, insects) and drawing upon a wide skill base that includes areas such as ecology, demography, zoology, cytogenetics, computer modelling, evolutionary theory and population genetics.
PUBLICATIONS
Holleley, C. E., Dickman, C. R., Crowther, M. S. and Oldroyd, B. P. (2006). Size breeds success: multiple paternity, multivariate selection and male semelparity in a small marsupial, Antechinus stuartii. Molecular Ecology 15: 3439-3448.
HONOURS THESIS
Reproductive Success and Strategies of the Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartii). (2003). Honours Thesis: University of Sydney.
SEE ALSO
CONTACT DETAILS
School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences (BEES) The University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Telephone: +61 (2) 9385 2198 Facsimile: +61 (2) 9385 1558 Email: c.holleley  unsw.edu.au
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