- Position:
- PhD student
- Phone:
- 61 8 9480 3919
- Fax:
- 61 8 9480 3641
- Email:
- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
RESEARCH THEMES:
- Population genomics
- Conservation and population genetics
- Restoration genetics
- Seed germination of Australian species
BACKGROUND:
Completed a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Botany and Zoology from The University of Western Australia (UWA) in 2004.
Received First Class Honours in Botany from UWA in 2006.
Held a Research Assistant position in Seed Biology and Conservation Genetics at Kings Park and Botanic Garden from July 2004 to December 2006, then a Research Officer position with UWA, based at Kings Park and Botanic Garden, from April to October 2007.
Honours research project involved characterising the degree of spatial genetic structure among populations of an Australian coastal shrub Scaevola crassifolia (Goodeniaceae) using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), a selectively neutral DNA marker. This was coupled with seed germination trials and a reciprocal growth trial to test for local adaptation in the form of home-site advantage in quantitative traits.
Commenced a PhD research project with UWA, based at Kings Park and Botanic Garden, in March 2007 focused on population genomics of Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala D.C.).
CURRENT RESEARCH:
PhD project entitled: "The power of population genomics to detect functionally important genetic variation and its utility for the conservation of Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala D.C.)".
There is much debate in the literature regarding whether patterns of neutral genetic variation can be used as a surrogate to infer patterns of functional, adaptive genetic variation. The emerging discipline of ‘population genomics' can allow researchers to search for the genetic basis of adaptation directly at the genome level without a priori knowledge of candidate genes or selected traits. This is a long-standing goal of evolutionary biology and more recently of biodiversity conservation.
Population genomics, or ‘genome scans' can facilitate the detection of ‘outlier loci' that exhibit the effects of natural selection. These loci behave differently to the rest of the genome and may be important for fitness, local adaptation or speciation. This method is particularly useful for non-model organisms of conservation interest where limited genome information is available, and where understanding of both neutral and adaptive components of genetic variation can better inform conservation decisions, depending on the desired outcome.
In this research project I will conduct a ‘genome scan' to detect outlier loci among populations of a non-model species, Eucalyptus gomphocephala (Tuart) in Western Australia. This species is currently suffering severe decline, and there is little genetic information available to guide conservation and restoration decisions.
I will genotype individuals using microsatellite markers derived from expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of known function. I will also conduct reciprocal growth trials in the field to measure variation in performance among seed provenances, and measure environmental variables at all sites to test whether quantitative and environmental traits correlate with patterns in neutral and putatively adaptive genetic diversity.
PUBLICATIONS:
Conference Presentations:
- Bradbury, D., Butcher, P.A., Merritt, D. and Krauss, S.L. (2007) Does the genetic composition of ex situ seed collections change during storage? Poster presented at Seed Ecology II, The 2nd International Society for Seed Science Meeting on Seeds and the Environment, Perth, Western Australia, 9-13 September 2007.
- Butcher, P. A., Bradbury, D., and Krauss, S. (2007) Assessment of genetic structure and pollen dispersal highlights potential impacts of mining on the rare ironstone endemic Tetratheca paynterae. Extended Abstract presented at Ecological Society of Australia 2007 Conference - Adapting to Change: Society, Environment, Science, 25-30 November 2007, Perth, Western Australia.
Unrefereed Reports:
- Butcher, P. A., Bradbury, D. and Krauss, S. L. (2005) An integrated research program focussed on practical outcomes for the ex situ and in situ conservation, restoration and translocation of the declared DRF Tetratheca paynterae (Tremandraceae). Third six-monthly report to Portman Iron Ore Ltd. Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Perth.
- Barrett, M., Anthony, J., Bradbury, D., Barrett, R., Messina, G., Krauss, S. and Dixon, K. (2006) An integrated research program into practical outcomes for the ex situ and in situ conservation, restoration and translocation of the Lepidosperma sp. Mt. Gibson, phase one: Genetic Variation. Submitted to Mt Gibson Mining Limited, Sept 2006. Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Perth.