Danielle Sloan

Multi-disciplinary connectivity investigation of Priority Marine Features in Scottish waters using bio-physical modelling and population genomics

PhD Aim:

By combining particle tracking and hydrodynamic modelling with habitat suitability models and population genomics this project aims to investigate how Scottish flame shell (Limaria hians) beds are connected.

PhD Objectives:

The mitochondrial genome of Limaria hians (flame shell) will be characterised and described for the first time.
Broad-scale contemporary connectivity, gene flow and genetic diversity within and between flame shell beds will be investigated using haplotypes.
A Lagrangian particle tracking model will be forced with output from the hydrodynamic Scottish Shelf Model to investigate the mechanisms behind population connectivity.
Data from the genomic analyses will be used to validate the outcomes of the larval dispersal model.

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