Ana Rita Amaral

PhD Student

Molecular Ecology Lab
Macquarie University
Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia
Phone: 61 (2) 9850 8205; Fax: 61 (2) 9850 8245
E-mail: aamaral@bio.mq.edu.au

Centre for Environmental Biology
University of Lisbon
Portugal
E-mail: aramaral@fc.ul.pt

Education

- PhD candidate. September 2007-present. Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University and Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon (Cotutelle program)

- MSc. in Evolutionary Biology 2007. Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon. Portugal

- BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology 2005. Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon. Portugal.

Research Interests

I am currently interested in aspects of cetacean population history and phylogeography, particularly in the subfamily Delphininae. My research has focused mainly in common dolphins (genus Delphinus), a group that I have been trying to address several questions regarding the geographic distribution of genetic lineages. In my present research I am trying to develop new molecular markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms in order to elucidate the population history, phylogeography and speciation processes in this genus.

Previous Research Experience

I was previously involved in a phylogeographic study of several Iberian freshwater fish species as well as in a project which aims to generate DNA Barcodes for all aquatic life in Portuguese waters.

Research Project

- A novel, multi-gene approach for elucidating phylogenetic relationships and population history of common dolphins, genus Delphinus. Focus on the populations inhabiting northeast Atlantic and Indo-Pacific waters.

Publications

-Amaral, A.R.; Coelho, M.M.; Marugán-Lóbon, J. & Rohlf F.J. (2008) Cranial shape differentiation in three closely related delphinid cetacean species: insights into evolutionary history. Zoology. In press.

- Amaral, A.R; Sequeira, M. & Coelho, M.M. (2007) A first approach to the usefulness of COI barcodes in the identification of closely related delphinid cetacean species. Marine and Freshwater Research, 58: 505-510.

- Amaral, A.R.;Sequeira, M.; Martínez-Cedeira, J. & Coelho, M.M. (2007) New insights on population genetic structure of Delphinus delphis from the Northeast Atlantic and phylogenetic relationships within the genus inferred from two mitochondrial markers. Marine Biology, 151: 1967-1976.

- Mirimin, L., Viricel, A., Amaral, A.R., Murphy, S., Ridoux, V., & Rogan, E. (2007) Stock structure in the common dolphin Delphinus delphis in the Northeast Atlantic: analysis of genetic material. NECESSITY Contract 501605 Periodic Activity Report No 2 – Annex 8.1.a