ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½

I teach behaviour, evolution and genetics, with the odd lecture on the philosophy of science  and research methods. I also go on field courses to encourage students to develop their skills in identification and natural history observation. I am keen to supervise undergraduate, masters and PhD projects on cichlid fish behaviour and systematics. 

I work on specation, behaviour, systematics and conservation genetics of African cichlid fishes, particularly in Lake Malawi and its satellite lakes. I am especially interested in the role of behaviour in adaptive evolution and speciation. I have a longstanding interest in the biology of tilapias in the wild: many species are threatened by overfishing and release of non-native farmed strains.

Methods include fieldwork in Africa, behavioural & breeding studies in the aquarium, morphological studies of preserved specimens and collaborative studies of genomics, gene expression and epigenetics. 

• 01/10/2020 – 01/08/2022 (Finished)

  Description

  This project aims to compile nation-wide distribution records for tilapia in Kenya and Tanzania using the free to download and use smartphone app 'TilapiaMap'. This will provide an easy to use resource for rapid identification of tilapia in the field accessible to all. These observations are mapped and data made available for free download, so that developments and species distributions can be monitored and ultimately made available to policy makers. The project will provide training in species identification and help with species verification.

  Links:

• 25/02/2019 – 01/08/2022 (Finished)

• 01/10/2016 – 31/08/2017 (Finished)

• 01/08/2016 – 12/08/2017 (Finished)

• 01/05/2016 – 05/07/2017 (Finished)

• 01/04/2015 – 30/09/2020 (Finished)

• 06/10/2014 – 28/02/2018 (Finished)

• 01/01/2012 – 31/08/2013 (Finished)