Qualifications

PhD at The University of Edinburgh
MSc at The University of Edinburgh

Personal Profile

2012-Date Senior Lecturer - Anglia Ruskin University

2010/2012 Postdoctoral Research Associate - QMUL

2007-2010 Postdoctoral Molecular Ecologist - University of Bristol

2007-2007 Postdoctoral Research Associate - University of Cambridge

2006-2007 Postdoctoral Research - The University of Edinburgh/British Deer Society

2003-2006 PhD Evolutionary Biology - The University of Edinburgh/The Macaulay Institute

2001-2002 MSc Biodiversity & Taxonomy of Plant - The University of Edinburgh/RBGE

1992-1998 B.Sc. Biology - Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Teaching

Practical Applications of DNA-based Technology (M.Sc. Animal Behaviour: Applications for Conservation, Level 7)

Behavioural Ecology (Level 6)

Wildlife Conservation (Level 6)

Conservation Genetics (Level 5)

Research Interests

My main research interests lie on the application of molecular tools to address ecological and evolutionary biology questions with a view to assist conservation and management programs. Main research projects that I have been involved include the study of dispersal (gene flow), landscape genetics and the effect of introduction of non-native species on Scottish red deer populations; landscape genetics and coevolution of neotropical army ants and their associates; development of a publications database within the EU-funded project ConGRESS (Conservation Genetic Resources for Effective Species Survival).

Current collaborations

• Deer research - Josephine Pemberton (The University of Edinburgh), Javier Pérez-Barbería (The James Hutton Institute)
• Landscape genetics - Jim McLeod (The James Hutton Institute)
• ConGRESS - Richard Nichols (Queen Mary, University of London)
• Phylogenetics and coevolution - Will Goodall-Copestake (British Antarctic Survey)
• Effects of zoochory on plant seed dispersal - collaboration with Dr. Luis Santamaría (IMEDEA, Spain) and Prof. R.A. Nichols (QMUL, UK)
• Ant research - Nigel Franks (University of Bristol)

Consultancy and other Professional Activity

IUCN Deer specialist
Scientific advisor British Deer Society
Member of the Genetics Society
Member of British Ecological Society

Publications

SCI Journals

Hoban S., Arntzen P., Bertorelle G., Bryja J., Fernandes M., Frith K., Gaggiotti O., Galbusera P., Godoy J.A., Hauffe H.C., Hoelzel R., Nichols R., Pérez-Espona S., Primmer C., Russo I.R. M., Segelbacher G., Siegismund H.R., Sihvonen M., Sjögren-Gulve P., Vernesi C., Vilà C., Bruford M.W. Conservation Genetic Resources for Effective Species Survival (ConGRESS): A web resource for bridging the divide between conservation genetics research and practice (submitted to Conservation Biology).

Hoban S., Hauffe H.C., Pérez-Espona S., Bertorelle G., Gaggiotti O., Galbusera P., Nichols R., Primmer C., Segelbacher G., Siegismund H., Sihvonen M., Vilà C., the ConGRESS Consortium, Bruford M.K. Bringing genetic diversity to the forefront of conservation policy and management assessing the priorities of decision markers (submitted to Conservation Genetics Resources).

Pérez-Espona S., McLeod J.E., Franks N.R. Landscape genetics of a top neotropical predator. Molecular Ecology (in press).

Pérez-Espona S., Hall R., Pérez-Barbería F.J., Bell B., Pemberton J.M. The impact of past introductions on an iconic and economically important species. Journal of Heredity (in press).

Pérez-Espona S., Pérez-Barbería F.J., Pemberton J.M. (2011). Assessing the impact of wapiti introductions into Scottish Highland red deer populations using a Y chromosome marker. Mammalian Biology 76: 640-643.

Haanes H., RøedK.H., Pérez-Espona S., Rosef O. (2011). Low genetic variation support bottlenecks in Scandinavian red deer. European Journal of Wildlife Research 57: 1137-1150.

Goodall-Copestake W.P., Pérez-Espona S., Harris D.J., Hollingsworth P.M. (2010).The early evolution of the mega-diverse genus Begonia (Begoniaceae) inferred from organelle phylogenies. The Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 101: 243-250.

Pérez-Espona S., Pérez-Barbería F.J., Gordon I.J., Jiggins C.D., Pemberton J.M. (2010). Variable extent of sex-biased dispersal in a strongly polygynous mammal. Molecular Ecology 19: 3101-3113.

Baxter S.W., Nadeau N., Maroja L., Wilkinson P., Counterman B.A., Dawson A., Beltrán M., Pérez-Espona S., Chamberlain N., Fergurson L., Clark R., Davidson C., Glithero R., Mallet J., McMillan W.O., Kronforst M., Joron M., ffrench-Constant R.H., Jiggins C.D. (2010). Genomic hotspots for adaptation: the population genetics of Müllerian mimicry in the Heliconius melpomene clade. PLoS Genetics 6:e1000794.

Goodall-Copestake W., Pérez-Espona S., Clark M.S., Murphy E.J., Seear P.J., Tarling G.A. (2010). Swarms of diversity at the gene cox1 in Antarctic krill. Heredity 104:513-518.

Pérez-Espona S., Pemberton J.M., Putman R. (2009). Red and sika deer in the British Isles, current management issues and management policy. Mammalian Biology 74:247-262.

Pérez-Espona S., Pérez-Barbería F.J., Goodall-Copestake W.P., Gordon I.J., Jiggins C.D., Pemberton J.M. (2009). Genetic diversity and population structure of Scottish Highland red deer (Cervus elaphus) populations: a mitochondrial survey. Heredity 102:199-210.

Pérez-Espona S., Pérez-Barbería F.J., McLeod J., Gordon I.J., Jiggins C.D., Pemberton J.M. (2008). Landscape features affect gene flow of Scottish Highland red deer (Cervus elaphus). Molecular Ecology 17: 981-996.

Pérez-Espona S., Sales F., Hedge I, Moeller M. (2005). Phylogeny and Species relationships of Jasione (Campanulaceae) with emphasis on the 'montana-complex'. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 62: 29-51.

Non-SCI Journals

Pérez-Espona S., Pérez-Barbería F.J., Gordon I.J., Jiggins C.D., Pemberton J.M. (2010). Do stags disperse more than hinds? Deer, Autumn 10: 20-23.

Pérez-Espona S., Pérez-Barbería F.J., Goodall-Copestake W.P., Gordon I.J., Jiggins C.D., Pemberton J.M. (2009). Are there any native red deer left in mainland Scotland? Deer, Spring 09: 22-25.

Pérez-Espona S., Pérez-Barbería F.J., McLeod J., Gordon I.J., Jiggins C.D., Pemberton J.M. (2008). How do landscape features affect gene exchange among Scottish red deer populations? Deer, Autumn 08:38-41.

Book Reviews

Pérez-Espona S. (2010). Ant Ecology, by Lack, Parr & Abbott. Animal Behaviour 80:347.

Pérez-Espona S. (2011). Ant Encounters: Interaction Networks and Colony Behaviour, by Gordon. Animal Behaviour 81: 501.