The Ecology and Conservation Group
Cheeho Wong
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Postgraduate StudentPhD StudentEmail: Building 5, Gate 4, Oteha Rohe, Albany Campus, Massey University. Tel: +64 9 414 0800 ext 41197 Fax: +64 9 443 9790 Supervisors: Dr Weihong Ji & Assoc Prof Dianne Brunton Advisor: Dr Rod Hitchmough (Department of Conservation) |
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RESEARCHThe effect of population size on genetic diversity and fitness in a New Zealand endemic reptile, Hoplodactylus maculatus, on the mainland and offshore islands.This project aims to investigate the relationship between population size and genetic diversity in a New Zealand viviparous gecko species, Hoplodactylus maculatus. Once common, like many native species, their populations have been greatly reduced and fragmented on the mainland caused by habitat degradation and predation by introduced predators. Populations of high density are found on many offshore islands. Some of these islands are very small in size. Remnant populations on the mainland and that on small islands may face reduced genetic diversity through random genetic drift, inbreeding, low level of gene flow, and increased Allee effect, therefore may reduce the fitness of these populations and may increase their chance of extinction. Hoplodactylus maculatus has been regarded as a species complex. The phylogenetic relationship between populations in different regions are not clear. This study will not only contribute to ecological theory on the effect of population size on reptile population genetics and conservation management, but will also help to understand the phylogenetic relationship between H. maculatus populations in New Zealand. |
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FUNDING BODY
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