Ecology and Evolution Seminar Series - Jonathan Waters
Ecology and Evolution Seminar Series - Jonathan Waters
Date: 26 May 2016 Time: 12.00 pmJonathan Waters (University of Otago) presents Ancient DNA reveals New Zealand’s changing marine ecosystems
New Zealand’s marine ecosystems have experienced rapid and dramatic changes over recent centuries. Notably, DNA comparisons of New Zealand’s archaeological versus modern pinniped and penguin assemblages have revealed sudden spatio-temporal genetic shifts, apparently in response to human-mediated extirpation events. These rapid biological changes in our marine environment apparently underscore the role of ‘founder takes all’ processes in shaping biogeographic distributions. Specifically, established high-density populations are seemingly able to exclude individuals dispersing from distant sources. Conversely, extirpation events, including those driven by human pressure and environmental change, can provide opportunities for range expansion of surviving lineages. The recent self-introductions of penguins and pinniped lineages from trans-oceanic sources highlight the dynamic biological history of coastal New Zealand.
For more information, please contact Dr Heiko Wittmer at heiko.wittmer@vuw.ac.nz