Research

I have a broad interest in evolutionary biology. Presently I carry out two main research projects.

1. Genetics of bird migration. It is firmly established that the migratory routs of songbirds to a large extent are genetically coded. But how a DNA sequence can make a bird to perform precisely directed flights for more than a month, crossing deserts or oceans, remains a major unsolved problem. By combining data from tracking birds with tiny loggers and in parallel sequence their genomes, we can uncover the genetic basis of the diverse migratory phenotypes. My focal species are the willow warbler and the chiffchaff. Both these closely related species have several so-called migratory divides in northern Europe where we can study the migration and genetics of hybrids between populations that fly to different wintering quarters.
2. Host-parasite evolution of bird malaria parasites. There are thousands of bird malaria species. In contrast to human malaria that is restricted to more tropical regions, bird malaria has active transmission also at high latitudes. Because of this diversity and the well-characterized host system (birds), studies of these parasites will contribute with important understanding of the evolution of host-specificity, host shifts and virulence. An important resource in this research field is the online database MalAvi that I created in 2009 and maintain curating. This database contains worldwide records of >5000 BarCoded parasite lineages in >2000 bird species.

Background

I received my PhD in 1993 based on data from the still ongoing study of great reed warblers that we have carried out at lake Kvismaren since 1983. DNA-fingerprinting for paternity analyses opened my eyes for the use of molecular techniques in ecology and evolution. As a post-doc at University of California, San Diego in 1994, I isolated microsatellite markers from a Himalayan songbird. Since then I have added a diversity of techniques to my Molecular Ecology tool-box.

Group members

Violeta Caballero-Lopez (PhD)

Max Lundberg (Researcher)