Sam Speak
Conservation Scholar
- Qualifications BSc MSc
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Focus area
Populations
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Location
At the Zoo Madagascar and the Mascarenes
- Additional Information
PhD Environmental Science, University of East Anglia
Conservation genomics of endangered bird species in zoos.
I grew up in Cheshire and visited Chester Zoo throughout my childhood, so I am excited to be returning as a PhD student! I am currently studying my PhD at the University of East Anglia and in collaboration with Chester Zoo aim to use genomic techniques to help conserve endangered bird species, such as the pink pigeon. I initially completed a BSc in Biological Sciences at UEA, where I had the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics in ecology, conservation, and genetics, and completed fieldwork in both the UK and Eswatini. My masters by research used bioinformatic techniques to investigate both the loss of photosynthesis and the adaption to heat stress of marine diatoms. I also explored the role of low genetic diversity and high mutational load in the ultimate extinction of the passenger pigeon over 100 years ago.
For my PhD: Conservation genomics of endangered bird species in zoos, I will assess the genetic health of the pink pigeon and other endangered bird species, both in wild and captive populations, to ensure their future survival. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List classifies species’ extinction risks, however it currently uses no genetic data in its assessment, which can lead to an underestimation in the long-term effects of significant population bottlenecks on species recovery. The IUCN is committed to the One-Plan approach in conservation, managing wild and captive populations such as those in Chester Zoo, as a single gene pool to ensure the long-term protection of endangered species globally.
Therefore, in collaboration with Chester Zoo, this work will use studbook records and genome sequence data of the pink pigeon to calculate the current and past rates of inbreeding. This data will be used to produce models to assess the long-term extinction risk to these bird species. I will also work to measure the mutational load within the genomes of endangered bird species to ensure that the One-Plan approach can be applied whilst minimising the harmful mutational load within the population. Thereby allowing for a better assessment of endangered species genetic “health” and increasing their ability to recover from past, current and future population bottlenecks.
Supervisors
Professor Cock van Oosterhout (University of East Anglia)
Professor Diana Bell (University of East Anglia)
Prof Carl G. Jones (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust)
Dr Simon Tollington (Chester Zoo)
Dr Matt Clark (Natural History Museum)
Raymond van der Meer (EAZA)
Professor Jim Groombridge (University of Kent)