Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Office: Agricultural  Sciences R 8-26

Tel: 012-420-3259

Fax: 012-362-5302

E-mail: paulette.bloomer [at] up.ac.za 

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ResearcherID

Teaching subjects: 
GTS 354 Genome evolution (2014-2016)
GTK700 Honours coordinator (2010, 2016)
GTS 354 Genome evolution and phylogenetics

Molecular Ecology and Evolution Programme (MEEP)

 

 

My research group (MEEP) was established in 1999 and we are interested to know how genetic diversity contributes to speciation, population functioning and adaptation. Typical questions we ask are: What processes have driven speciation? Why do species occur where they are found today? What is a population? What is the extent of gene flow within and among populations? What are the micro-evolutionary processes linked to adaptation? We use data from different disciplines to identify processes that may underlie the patterns of genetic diversity we observe. Our phylogeographic research contributes to several biodiversity issues in South Africa and regionally, amongst others, the conservation of threatened species, the sustainable utilisation of living resources, and an improved understanding of ecosystem functioning.

Research interests:
Conservation, vertebrate diversity, population functioning, adaptation

Areas of expertise:
Phylogeography, phylogenetics, conservation genetics

Postgraduate students:
Postdocs: Deon de Jager (UP Genetics, NRF Freestanding), Susan Miller (UCT), Samantha Mynhardt (UP Zoology/MRI), Connor Stobie (UP Genetics/SARChI Chair in Inland Fisheries and Freshwater Ecology, SAIAB)

(Primary supervision only)
PhD students: Amanda Maswanganye (Zoology), Moloko Matlala, Bornwell Seemani (2019-)
MSc students: Claire Lenahan, Tessa Potgieter, Monique Swanepoel
Honours student: Amber Tulloch