Hi Jim, thanks for being this month’s Staff Spotlight! Can you tell us about your role and what initially made you want to join DICE?
I am a Professor of Biodiversity Conservation, and I also manage DICE’s Conservation Genetics research laboratory. I wanted to join DICE because of its strong reputation in practical, applied conservation science and the track record that the institution has for solving difficult problems that involve people and wildlife. I was also inspired by DICE’s staff and researchers, who I saw as people that not only talked about conservation biology but also practised it and therefore had a potent mix of a solid grasp of conservation theory as well as hands on practical experience. And of course, a track record in successful species recovery, which is a main area of my own interests within conservation science.
What are your research interests?
I mainly focus on endangered species recovery, involving genetic and genomic studies to help guide for conservation management of critically endangered species in many different parts of the world including birds in Mauritius, Seychelles and Hawaii, as well as large mammals in Oman and Mongolia. Conservation genetics and genomic tools can be applied in all sorts of different ways to answer a wide range of questions. For example we have used DNA metabarcoding to tell us about the diversity of plant species that form the diet of Mauritius parakeets. We have also sequenced the microbiome of these parakeets to understand the positive effects that forest restoration can have on enriching the gut environments of these birds – and ultimately their fitness. We are also working on larger collaborative genomic projects with the University of East Anglia and the University of Copenhagen, sequencing the genomes of many individuals of a number of iconic bird species in Mauritius that have been restored as a consequence of many decades of conservation management, such as the Mauritius kestrel, pink pigeon and Mauritius parakeet. What is particularly exciting is that these studies are paving the way for opportunities to apply genetic rescue techniques, which can promote the long-term recoveries of these species.
What is a fun fact about you?
As a young field worker in Mauritius chasing Mauritius kestrels, I used to ride down the mountain roads on a very old bicycle which unfortunately had no brakes. Therefore, before I set off home from the top of the mountain, I would scan the winding road below with my binoculars to check for any cars, before mounting my bike and hanging on for dear life!!
Read more about Jim and his work with DICE on his staff profile.