Principal investigators:
Title: A phylogenetic investigation of differentiation of the marine fish fauna of the South Western Indian Ocean at different temporal and spatial scales.
Project summary: A molecular phylogeographic and phylogenetic approach will be used to examine relationships among representatives of multiple co-distributed taxa (of differing life histories, habitat preferences and dispersal ability) collected from different localities within the SWIO and, where possible, to place this diversity within the broader context of the WIO. The programme is not only interested in the patterns of diversity across the region but also in the underlying processes, including vicariance and dispersal, driving species diversification as well as ongoing processes structuring marine fish populations.
Students:
Thierry Hoareau (Post Doc): Biogeography and phylogeography of selected marine fish fauna of the SWIO.
Carel Oosthuizen (PhD): Comparative phylogeography of sparid species representative of different life histories along the South African coast. Supervisor: Prof. Paulette Bloomer.
Kerry Reid (MSc): Microsatellite marker development in the Sparidae and population genetic structure of the hottentot seabream Pachymetopon blochii (Valenciennes, 1830) along the coast of South Africa. Supervisor: Prof. Paulette Bloomer.
Moqebelo Morallana (MSc): Regional connectivity, differentiation and biogeography of the genus Lutjanus in the South Western Indian Ocean. Supervisor: Dr. Gavin Gouws and Dr. Monica Mwale.
Interns:
Nosiphiwo Springbok: A molecular consideration of Western Indian Ocean connectivity and differentiation at multiple spatial and temporal scales using goatfish as model species.
Precotia Nyalungu
Glory Nkuna
Fieldtrip Report
Mozambique-March 2009.pdf