Dr Paul Nevill

Research themes:

Academic background:

I started at Kings Park in February 2009 after completing my PhD at the University of Melbourne. In my thesis, I examined genetic variation across the range of Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans), the world’s tallest angiosperm.

Using nuclear and chloroplast genetic markers I examined: 1) range-wide population genetic structure in E. regnans; 2) changes in the species distribution in response to past climate change; and 3) geographic patterns of hybridization between E. regnans and other co-occurring eucalypt species. A major aim of my thesis was to provide molecular data to improve gene pool management guidelines for VicForests and Forestry Tasmaina.

I am interested in both fundamental and applied research. I use molecular tools to study the evolution of plant species and also use the data to develop guidelines for the management of species. I am particularly interested in studying the response of species to past and present climatic changes and how we should manage our plant genetic resources under changing environments.

2010-

Adjunct Lecturer, School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia

2009-

Research Scientist, Botanical Gardens and Parks Authority

2005-2010

PhD, School of Forest and Ecosystem Science, University of Melbourne

(A/Prof Gerd Bossinger and Dr Peter Ades).

2001-2004

B NRM 1st class Honours, University of Melbourne

(Dr Rebecca Ford and Dr Steve Hamilton).

Current research projects:

The assessment of population genetic variation and structure of Acacia karina, and its phylogenetic relationship to other Acacia species.

The delineation of local provenance for effective restoration of three key tree species (Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus victrix and Melaleuca argentea), in the Pilbara region.

Potential student projects:

How did Pleistocene climatic oscillations effects the distribution and population size of Pilbara Eucalypt species?

Climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene had a strong influence on species distributions and evolution. During the Last Glacial Maximum, plant species are thought to have responded to changing climate by contracting to suitable refugia and then re-colonising the landscape when conditions became more favourable. These range contraction and recolonisation events should have left genetic signatures in the genomes of these species. This project will determine the chloroplast DNA haplotypes of eucalypt species, found across the Pilbara region, using chloroplast microsatellite DNA markers. The effect of aridity and lower temperatures associated with the Last Glacial Maximum, on the distribution of Pilbara eucalypt species is unknown. Geographic patterns in haplotype diversity and differentiation eucalypt species will be examined. The findings of this study will have implications for the conservation and management of eucalypt genetic resources, and be an important component of seed sourcing guidelines.

Supervisors: Dr Paul Nevill; Dr Siegy Krauss.

Students:

Current:

PHD STUDENTS:

• Alison Ritchie (2010- )(Associate supervision). A genetic assessment of ecological restoration success of Banksia woodlands. University of Western Australia, Australia.

• Jessica Stingemore (2009- )(Associate supervision). The effect of plant density on genetic variation, realized mating and dispersal: implications for ecological restoration. University of Western Australia, Australia.

3rd YEAR AND HONOURS STUDENTS:

• Anna Williams (2011- )(Hons, Principal supervision). Comparative phylogeography of mid-west Acacia species. University of Western Australia, Australia.

Past:

• Anna Williams (2010) (3rd year project, Principal supervision). How did Pleistocene climatic oscillations affect the distribution and population size of the Swan Coastal Plain endemic, Eucalyptus gomphocephala? University of Western Australia, Australia.

• Sandi Kerbler (2010) (3rd year project, Principal supervision). The effect of population size on the breeding system of the recently discovered and highly localized species Acacia karina. University of Western Australia, Australia.

• Michael Basson (2008) (3rd year project, Associate supervision). Fine scale spatial genetic structure of Eucalyptus regnans. University of Melbourne, Australia.

• Tiphaine Despres (2008) (Internship, Principal supervision). Evidence for widespread introgression in subgenus Eucalyptus species. University of Melbourne, Australia.

• Lachlan Clarke (2007) (3rd year project, Associate supervision). Nuclear microsatellites detect parentage in Eucalyptus obliqua. University of Melbourne, Australia.

Publications:

Refereed Publications:

• Nevill, PG., Wallace, M., Krauss, SL., and Miller, J. DNA barcoding for conservation and management of Acacia species in a biodiversity and mining hotspot (in preparation for submission to Conservation Biology).

• Nevill, PG., Williams, A., Krauss, SL., and Bradbury, D. Patterns of chloroplast variation in Eucalyptus gomphocephala suggest colonisation of a late Pleistocene, coastal geomorphic unit (in preparation for submission to Molecular Ecology).

• Nevill, PG., and Ades, PK. Population structure and genetic diversity in Eucalyptus regnans: intermediary species act as stepping-stones for recolonisation after Last Glacial Maximum. (in preparation for submission to Molecular Ecology).

• Bloomfield, JA., Nevill, PG., Potts, BM., Vaillancourt, RE., and Steane, DA. (In press) Genetic variation in a widespread, morphologically variable forest tree species, Eucalyptus obliqua (Myrtaceae). Australian Journal of Botany.

• Shirley, LJ., Bayly, MJ., Nevill, PG., and Vesk, PA. Multi-species phylogeography reveals interspecific gene flow, topographic effects, and fine-scale diversity among eucalypt trees in an isolated refugium in southeastern Australia. Submitted to Journal of Biogeography.

• Nevill, PG., Despres, T., Bayly, MJ., Bossinger, G., and Ades, PK. Comparative phylogeography of three south-east Australian Eucalyptus species with different ecological tolerances: signals of shared responses to past climate change and chloroplast introgression during recolonisation. Submitted to New Phytologist.

• Nevill, PG., Anthony, J., and Krauss, SL (2010). Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers for the banded ironstone endemic Acacia karina (Leguminosae: Mimosaceae) and cross-species amplification with A. stanleyi and A. jibberdingensis. Conservation Genetic Resources 2: 321-323.

• Nevill, PG., Bossinger, G., and Ades, PK (2010). Phylogeography of the world’s tallest angiosperm, Eucalyptus regnans: evidence for multiple isolated Quaternary refugia. Journal of Biogeography 37: 179-192.

• Nevill, PG., Reed, A., Bossinger, G., Vaillancourt, RE., Larcombe, M., and Ades, PK (2008). Cross-species amplification of Eucalyptus microsatellite loci. Molecular Ecology Resources 8: 1277-1280.

Popular articles:

• Nevill, PG and Krauss, SL (2010). Barcode of Life. Issue 69, p20-21. Friends of Kings Park. Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, West Perth.

• Nevill, PG and Krauss, SL (2009). Plants not planes bring research scientist back to Perth. Issue 65, p12-13. Friends of Kings Park. Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, West Perth.

Unrefereed reports:

• Nevill, PG., Commander, L., and Krauss, SL (2010). Genetic composition of key tree species at Weeli Wolli Creek. Nov 2010 Six monthly project progress report. 
BGPA Science Directorate. Report prepared for Rio Tinto Hammersley Iron Pty Ltd.

• Nevill, PG and Krauss, SL (2010). The assessment of population genetic variation and structure of Acacia karina, and its phylogenetic relationship to other Acacia species. BGPA Science Directorate. Jul 2010 Eighteen month project progress report. Report prepared for Karara Mining Pty Ltd.

• Nevill, PG and Krauss, SL (2010). The assessment of population genetic variation and structure of Acacia karina, and its phylogenetic relationship to other Acacia species. Jan 2010 Six monthly project progress report. BGPA Science Directorate. Report prepared for Karara Mining Pty Ltd.

• Nevill, PG and Krauss, SL (2009). The assessment of population genetic variation and structure of Acacia karina, and its phylogenetic relationship to other Acacia species. Jul 2009 Six monthly project progress report. BGPA Science Directorate. Report prepared for Karara Mining Pty Ltd.