Conservation genetics & biodiversity of Western Australian sea snakes
Immerse yourself in both lab and field work as you explore the conservation genetics and biodiversity of Western Australian sea snakes.
This project has significant links to natural resource agencies and industry.
Kate's group focuses on speciation, trait evolution and biodiversity discovery/conservation, especially in aquatic snakes. Current projects involve:
- Sequencing sea snake genomes to uncover population history and genomic patterns of speciation.
- Reconstructing morphological evolution in sea snakes, especially the remarkably frequent origin of ‘microcephalic’ burrowing-prey specialists and possible role in promoting reproductive isolation and rapid species diversification.
- Molecular evolution of sensory systems in the transition to aquatic habitats in snakes, including vision, skin photoreception and chemoreception.
- Sea snake conservation genetics and management in partnership with Western Australian trawl fisheries.
Our research has a substantial fieldwork component focused primarily in Indonesia and Western Australia.
Supervisors
Dr Kate Sanders | Dr Mathew Hourston (co-supervisor - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development)
Research area: Evolution and conservation of reptiles
Recommended honours enrolment: Honours in Evolution and Palaeobiology