![Isa-Rita Russo](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/1209?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Isa-Rita Russo
Senior Lecturer
School of Biosciences
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
Growing up in South Africa, I have always been fascinated with the remarkable biodiversity across the plant and animal kingdoms. This interest led me to study Biology focussing on two disciplines, Zoology and Genetics. My main interests are in evolutionary genetics and understanding how landscape features influence patterns of genetic diversity and structure in both small and large mammals. I am also interested in how we can use genetic studies to inform the conservation and management of animal populations. To answer this, I use a range of genetic markers which include neutral markers (microsatellites), mitochondrial DNA markers, nuclear protein coding DNA markers, SNP markers and more recently whole genome sequences. I mainly work on wildlife (African dung beetles and lacewings, black and white rhinoceros, black and blue wildebeest, African buffalo, African small mammals, fish and Mascarene Island reptiles) but I have also worked on domestic taxa (cattle, sheep and goat) investigating adaptation to climatic extremes. I use a range of analytical techniques which include phylogenetic, population genetic methods and bioinformatics.
Roles
- Assessment Lead BI1051, 2019-
- Degree Scheme Lead (Zoology), 2021-
- Misconduct Committee, 2021-
- Fieldgroup Committee, 2021-
- PTY coordinator (Biological Sciences), 2022-
- Module Leader BI3154, 2020/2021; 2022-
Publication
2024
- Fedorca, A. et al. 2024. Dealing with the complexity of effective population size in conservation practice. Evolutionary Applications 17(12), article number: e70031. (10.1111/eva.70031)
- Mamba, M. L. et al. 2024. An annotated checklist of the mammals of the Chimanimani National Park, Mozambique. Check List 20(5), pp. 1222-1258. (10.15560/20.5.1222)
- Le Roux, R., Colmonero-Costeira, I., Deikumah, J. P., Thompson, L. J., Russo, I. M., Jansen van Vuuren, B. and Willows-Munro, S. 2024. High conservation importance of range-edge populations of Hooded Vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus). Scientific Reports 14(1), article number: 18040. (10.1038/s41598-024-68756-2)
- Mastretta‐Yanes, A. et al. 2024. Multinational evaluation of genetic diversity indicators for the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Ecology Letters 27(7), article number: e14461. (10.1111/ele.14461)
- Osmond, D. R., King, R. A., Russo, I. M., Bruford, M. W. and Stevens, J. R. 2024. Living in a post‐industrial landscape: repeated patterns of genetic divergence in brown trout ( Salmo trutta L.) across the British Isles. Diversity and Distributions 30(7), article number: e13854. (10.1111/ddi.13854)
- Wang, W., Ma, T., Russo, I., Sang, W. and Li, B. V. 2024. Editorial: Biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of protected areas. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 12, article number: 1454366. (10.3389/fevo.2024.1454366)
- Vlaic, B. A., Vlaic, A., Russo, I., Colli, L., Bruford, M. W., Odagiu, A. and Orozco-terWengel, P. 2024. Analysis of genetic diversity in Romanian Carpatina goats using SNP genotyping data. Animals 14(4), article number: 560. (10.3390/ani14040560)
- Bertola, L. D. et al. 2024. A pragmatic approach for integrating molecular tools into biodiversity conservation. Conservation Science and Practice 6(1), article number: e13053. (10.1111/csp2.13053)
2023
- Colmonero Costeira, I. et al. 2023. Notes on the conservation threats to the western lesser spot-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus petaurista buettikoferi) in the Bijagós Archipelago (Guinea-Bissau, West Africa). Primates 64, pp. 581-587. (10.1007/s10329-023-01090-9)
- Howard-McCombe, J. et al. 2023. Genetic swamping of the critically endangered Scottish wildcat was recent and accelerated by disease. Current Biology 33(21), pp. 4761-4769. (10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.026)
- Jamieson, A. et al. 2023. Limited historical admixture between European wildcats and domestic cats. Current Biology 33(21), pp. 4751-4760. (10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.031)
- Sánchez-Barreiro, F. et al. 2023. Historic sampling of a vanishing beast: Population structure and diversity in the Black Rhinoceros. Molecular Biology and Evolution 40(9), article number: msad180. (10.1093/molbev/msad180)
- Russo, I. M. et al. 2023. The contribution of digital sequence information to conservation biology: a Southern African perspective. Advanced Genetics 4(2), article number: 2200032. (10.1002/ggn2.202200032)
- Smith, R. M. et al. 2023. Assessment of genetic and morphological differentiation among populations of Diederik Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius). Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology 94(2), pp. 86-99. (10.2989/00306525.2023.2222230)
2022
- Moorhouse-Gann, R. J. et al. 2022. Impacts of herbivory by ecological replacements on an island ecosystem. Journal of Applied Ecology 59(9), pp. 2245-2261. (10.1111/1365-2664.14096)
- Tober, A. V., Govender, D., Russo, I. M. and Cable, J. 2022. The microscopic five of the big five: managing zoonotic diseases within and beyond African wildlife protected areas. In: Rollinson, D. and Stothard, R. eds. Advances in Parasitology Vol 117. Elsevier, pp. 1-46., (10.1016/bs.apar.2022.05.001)
- Mwale, M., Dalton, D. L., Kropff, A. S., Labuschagne, K., Russo, I. and Osinubi, S. T. 2022. Genetic and morphological variation of Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis reveals cryptic mitochondrial lineages and patterns of mitochondrial-nuclear discordance. Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology 93(3), pp. 192-207. (10.2989/00306525.2022.2066215)
2021
- Hoban, S. et al. 2021. Genetic diversity is considered important but interpreted narrowly in country reports to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Current actions and indicators are insufficient. Biological Conservation 261, article number: 109233. (10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109233)
- Laikre, L. et al. 2021. Authors’ reply to letter to the Editor: Continued improvement to genetic diversity indicator for CBD. Conservation Genetics 22, pp. 533-536. (10.1007/s10592-021-01359-w)
2020
- Moodley, Y. et al. 2020. Interspecific gene flow and the evolution of specialisation in black and white rhinoceros. Molecular Biology and Evolution 37(11), pp. 3105-3117. (10.1093/molbev/msaa148)
- Redihough, J. et al. 2020. Species separation within, and preliminary phylogeny for, the leafhopper genus Anoscopus with particular reference to the putative British endemic Anoscopus duffieldi (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Insects 11(11), article number: 799. (10.3390/insects11110799)
- D'Urban Jackson, J. et al. 2020. Population differentiation and historical demography of the threatened snowy plover Charadrius nivosus (Cassin, 1858). Conservation Genetics 21, pp. 387-404. (10.1007/s10592-020-01256-8)
- Brunke, J., Russo, I. M., Orozco-terWengel, P., Zimmermann, E., Bruford, M. W., Goossens, B. and Radespiel, U. 2020. Dispersal and genetic structures in a tropical small mammal, the Bornean tree shrew (Tupaia longipes), in a fragmented landscape along the Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Malaysia. BMC Genetics 21, article number: 43. (10.1186/s12863-020-00849-z)
- Laikre, L. et al. 2020. Post-2020 goals overlook genetic diversity. Science 367(6482), article number: 1083.2. (10.1126/science.abb2748)
2019
- Stranden, I., Kantanen, J., Russo, I. M., Orozco Ter Wengel, P., Bruford, M. W. and Consortium, C. 2019. Genomic selection strategies for breeding adaptation and production in dairy cattle under climate change. Heredity 123, pp. 307-317. (10.1038/s41437-019-0207-1)
- Brunke, J., Radespiel, U., Russo, I., Bruford, M. W. and Goossens, B. 2019. Messing about on the river: the role of geographic barriers in shaping the genetic structure of Bornean small mammals in a fragmented landscape. Conservation Genetics 20(4), pp. 691-704. (10.1007/s10592-019-01159-3)
- Fedorca, A. et al. 2019. Inferring fine-scale spatial structure of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) population in the Carpathians prior to infrastructure development. Scientific Reports 9, pp. -., article number: 9494. (10.1038/s41598-019-45999-y)
- Russo, I. et al. 2019. 'Intentional genetic manipulation' as a conservation threat. Conservation Genetics Resources 11(2), pp. 237-247. (10.1007/s12686-018-0983-6)
- Du Plessis, S. et al. 2019. Genetic diversity and cryptic population re-establishment: management implications for the Bojer's skink (Gongylomorphus bojerii). Conservation Genetics 20(2), pp. 137-152. (10.1007/s10592-018-1119-y)
- Stanton, D. W. G. et al. 2019. More grist for the mill?: Species delimitation in the genomic era and its implications for conservation. Conservation Genetics 20(1), pp. 101-113. (10.1007/s10592-019-01149-5)
2018
- Ma, T. et al. 2018. Walking in a heterogeneous landscape: Dispersal, gene flow and conservation implications for the giant panda in the Qinling Mountains. Evolutionary Applications 11(10), pp. 1859-1872. (10.1111/eva.12686)
- Moodley, Y. et al. 2018. Contrasting evolutionary history, anthropogenic declines and genetic contact in the northern and southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 285(1890), article number: 20181567. (10.1098/rspb.2018.1567)
- Mazoch, V., Mikula, O., Bryja, J., Konvicková, H., Russo, I., Verheyen, E. and Sumbera, R. 2018. Phylogeography of a widespread sub-Saharan murid rodent Aethomys chrysophilus: the role of geographic barriers and paleoclimate in the Zambezian bioregion. Mammalia 82(4), pp. 373-387. (10.1515/mammalia-2017-0001)
2017
- Kean, E. F., Bruford, M. W., Russo, I. M., Muller, C. T. and Chadwick, E. A. 2017. Odour dialects among wild mammals. Scientific Reports 7, article number: 13593. (10.1038/s41598-017-12706-8)
- Moodley, Y. et al. 2017. Extinctions, genetic erosian and conservation options for the black rhinoceros (Diceros biocornis). Scientific Reports 7, article number: 41417. (10.1038/srep41417)
- van Wyk, A. M. et al. 2017. Quantitative evaluation of hybridization and the impact on biodiversity conservation. Ecology and Evolution 7(1), pp. 320-330. (10.1002/ece3.2595)
2016
- Russo, I., Sole, C. L., Barbato, M., von Bramann, U. and Bruford, M. W. 2016. Landscape determinants of fine-scale genetic structure of a small rodent in a heterogeneous landscape (Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa). Scientific Reports 6, article number: 29168. (10.1038/srep29168)
2014
- Bluemel, J. K. et al. 2014. Integrating vibrational signals, mitochondrial DNA and morphology for species determination in the genus Aphrodes(Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Systematic Entomology 39(2), pp. 304-324. (10.1111/syen.12056)
2013
- Hoban, S. M. et al. 2013. Bringing genetic diversity to the forefront of conservation policy and management. Conservation Genetics Resources 5(2), pp. 593-598. (10.1007/s12686-013-9859-y)
- Hoban, S., Gaggiotti, O., Bertorelle, G. and Russo, I. M. 2013. Sample planning optimization tool for conservation and population genetics (SPOTG): a software for choosing the appropriate number of markers and samples. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 4(3), pp. 299-303. (10.1111/2041-210x.12025)
- Hoban, S. et al. 2013. Conservation Genetic Resources for Effective Species Survival (ConGRESS): bridging the divide between conservation research and practice. Journal for Nature Conservation 21(6), pp. 433-437. (10.1016/j.jnc.2013.07.005)
2010
- Russo, I., Chimimba, C. T. and Bloomer, P. 2010. Bioregion heterogeneity correlates with extensive mitochondrial DNA diversity in the Namaqua rock mouse, Micaelamys namaquensis (Rodentia: Muridae) from southern Africa - evidence for a species complex. BMC Evolutionary Biology 10(1), article number: 307. (10.1186/1471-2148-10-307)
2006
- Russo, I. M., Chimimba, C. T. and Bloomer, P. 2006. Mitochondrial DNA differentiation between two species of Aethomys (Rodentia: Muridae) from Southern Africa. Journal of Mammalogy 87(3), pp. 545-553. (10.1644/05-MAMM-A-222R3.1)
Articles
- Fedorca, A. et al. 2024. Dealing with the complexity of effective population size in conservation practice. Evolutionary Applications 17(12), article number: e70031. (10.1111/eva.70031)
- Mamba, M. L. et al. 2024. An annotated checklist of the mammals of the Chimanimani National Park, Mozambique. Check List 20(5), pp. 1222-1258. (10.15560/20.5.1222)
- Le Roux, R., Colmonero-Costeira, I., Deikumah, J. P., Thompson, L. J., Russo, I. M., Jansen van Vuuren, B. and Willows-Munro, S. 2024. High conservation importance of range-edge populations of Hooded Vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus). Scientific Reports 14(1), article number: 18040. (10.1038/s41598-024-68756-2)
- Mastretta‐Yanes, A. et al. 2024. Multinational evaluation of genetic diversity indicators for the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Ecology Letters 27(7), article number: e14461. (10.1111/ele.14461)
- Osmond, D. R., King, R. A., Russo, I. M., Bruford, M. W. and Stevens, J. R. 2024. Living in a post‐industrial landscape: repeated patterns of genetic divergence in brown trout ( Salmo trutta L.) across the British Isles. Diversity and Distributions 30(7), article number: e13854. (10.1111/ddi.13854)
- Wang, W., Ma, T., Russo, I., Sang, W. and Li, B. V. 2024. Editorial: Biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of protected areas. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 12, article number: 1454366. (10.3389/fevo.2024.1454366)
- Vlaic, B. A., Vlaic, A., Russo, I., Colli, L., Bruford, M. W., Odagiu, A. and Orozco-terWengel, P. 2024. Analysis of genetic diversity in Romanian Carpatina goats using SNP genotyping data. Animals 14(4), article number: 560. (10.3390/ani14040560)
- Bertola, L. D. et al. 2024. A pragmatic approach for integrating molecular tools into biodiversity conservation. Conservation Science and Practice 6(1), article number: e13053. (10.1111/csp2.13053)
- Colmonero Costeira, I. et al. 2023. Notes on the conservation threats to the western lesser spot-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus petaurista buettikoferi) in the Bijagós Archipelago (Guinea-Bissau, West Africa). Primates 64, pp. 581-587. (10.1007/s10329-023-01090-9)
- Howard-McCombe, J. et al. 2023. Genetic swamping of the critically endangered Scottish wildcat was recent and accelerated by disease. Current Biology 33(21), pp. 4761-4769. (10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.026)
- Jamieson, A. et al. 2023. Limited historical admixture between European wildcats and domestic cats. Current Biology 33(21), pp. 4751-4760. (10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.031)
- Sánchez-Barreiro, F. et al. 2023. Historic sampling of a vanishing beast: Population structure and diversity in the Black Rhinoceros. Molecular Biology and Evolution 40(9), article number: msad180. (10.1093/molbev/msad180)
- Russo, I. M. et al. 2023. The contribution of digital sequence information to conservation biology: a Southern African perspective. Advanced Genetics 4(2), article number: 2200032. (10.1002/ggn2.202200032)
- Smith, R. M. et al. 2023. Assessment of genetic and morphological differentiation among populations of Diederik Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius). Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology 94(2), pp. 86-99. (10.2989/00306525.2023.2222230)
- Moorhouse-Gann, R. J. et al. 2022. Impacts of herbivory by ecological replacements on an island ecosystem. Journal of Applied Ecology 59(9), pp. 2245-2261. (10.1111/1365-2664.14096)
- Mwale, M., Dalton, D. L., Kropff, A. S., Labuschagne, K., Russo, I. and Osinubi, S. T. 2022. Genetic and morphological variation of Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis reveals cryptic mitochondrial lineages and patterns of mitochondrial-nuclear discordance. Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology 93(3), pp. 192-207. (10.2989/00306525.2022.2066215)
- Hoban, S. et al. 2021. Genetic diversity is considered important but interpreted narrowly in country reports to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Current actions and indicators are insufficient. Biological Conservation 261, article number: 109233. (10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109233)
- Laikre, L. et al. 2021. Authors’ reply to letter to the Editor: Continued improvement to genetic diversity indicator for CBD. Conservation Genetics 22, pp. 533-536. (10.1007/s10592-021-01359-w)
- Moodley, Y. et al. 2020. Interspecific gene flow and the evolution of specialisation in black and white rhinoceros. Molecular Biology and Evolution 37(11), pp. 3105-3117. (10.1093/molbev/msaa148)
- Redihough, J. et al. 2020. Species separation within, and preliminary phylogeny for, the leafhopper genus Anoscopus with particular reference to the putative British endemic Anoscopus duffieldi (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Insects 11(11), article number: 799. (10.3390/insects11110799)
- D'Urban Jackson, J. et al. 2020. Population differentiation and historical demography of the threatened snowy plover Charadrius nivosus (Cassin, 1858). Conservation Genetics 21, pp. 387-404. (10.1007/s10592-020-01256-8)
- Brunke, J., Russo, I. M., Orozco-terWengel, P., Zimmermann, E., Bruford, M. W., Goossens, B. and Radespiel, U. 2020. Dispersal and genetic structures in a tropical small mammal, the Bornean tree shrew (Tupaia longipes), in a fragmented landscape along the Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Malaysia. BMC Genetics 21, article number: 43. (10.1186/s12863-020-00849-z)
- Laikre, L. et al. 2020. Post-2020 goals overlook genetic diversity. Science 367(6482), article number: 1083.2. (10.1126/science.abb2748)
- Stranden, I., Kantanen, J., Russo, I. M., Orozco Ter Wengel, P., Bruford, M. W. and Consortium, C. 2019. Genomic selection strategies for breeding adaptation and production in dairy cattle under climate change. Heredity 123, pp. 307-317. (10.1038/s41437-019-0207-1)
- Brunke, J., Radespiel, U., Russo, I., Bruford, M. W. and Goossens, B. 2019. Messing about on the river: the role of geographic barriers in shaping the genetic structure of Bornean small mammals in a fragmented landscape. Conservation Genetics 20(4), pp. 691-704. (10.1007/s10592-019-01159-3)
- Fedorca, A. et al. 2019. Inferring fine-scale spatial structure of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) population in the Carpathians prior to infrastructure development. Scientific Reports 9, pp. -., article number: 9494. (10.1038/s41598-019-45999-y)
- Russo, I. et al. 2019. 'Intentional genetic manipulation' as a conservation threat. Conservation Genetics Resources 11(2), pp. 237-247. (10.1007/s12686-018-0983-6)
- Du Plessis, S. et al. 2019. Genetic diversity and cryptic population re-establishment: management implications for the Bojer's skink (Gongylomorphus bojerii). Conservation Genetics 20(2), pp. 137-152. (10.1007/s10592-018-1119-y)
- Stanton, D. W. G. et al. 2019. More grist for the mill?: Species delimitation in the genomic era and its implications for conservation. Conservation Genetics 20(1), pp. 101-113. (10.1007/s10592-019-01149-5)
- Ma, T. et al. 2018. Walking in a heterogeneous landscape: Dispersal, gene flow and conservation implications for the giant panda in the Qinling Mountains. Evolutionary Applications 11(10), pp. 1859-1872. (10.1111/eva.12686)
- Moodley, Y. et al. 2018. Contrasting evolutionary history, anthropogenic declines and genetic contact in the northern and southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 285(1890), article number: 20181567. (10.1098/rspb.2018.1567)
- Mazoch, V., Mikula, O., Bryja, J., Konvicková, H., Russo, I., Verheyen, E. and Sumbera, R. 2018. Phylogeography of a widespread sub-Saharan murid rodent Aethomys chrysophilus: the role of geographic barriers and paleoclimate in the Zambezian bioregion. Mammalia 82(4), pp. 373-387. (10.1515/mammalia-2017-0001)
- Kean, E. F., Bruford, M. W., Russo, I. M., Muller, C. T. and Chadwick, E. A. 2017. Odour dialects among wild mammals. Scientific Reports 7, article number: 13593. (10.1038/s41598-017-12706-8)
- Moodley, Y. et al. 2017. Extinctions, genetic erosian and conservation options for the black rhinoceros (Diceros biocornis). Scientific Reports 7, article number: 41417. (10.1038/srep41417)
- van Wyk, A. M. et al. 2017. Quantitative evaluation of hybridization and the impact on biodiversity conservation. Ecology and Evolution 7(1), pp. 320-330. (10.1002/ece3.2595)
- Russo, I., Sole, C. L., Barbato, M., von Bramann, U. and Bruford, M. W. 2016. Landscape determinants of fine-scale genetic structure of a small rodent in a heterogeneous landscape (Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa). Scientific Reports 6, article number: 29168. (10.1038/srep29168)
- Bluemel, J. K. et al. 2014. Integrating vibrational signals, mitochondrial DNA and morphology for species determination in the genus Aphrodes(Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Systematic Entomology 39(2), pp. 304-324. (10.1111/syen.12056)
- Hoban, S. M. et al. 2013. Bringing genetic diversity to the forefront of conservation policy and management. Conservation Genetics Resources 5(2), pp. 593-598. (10.1007/s12686-013-9859-y)
- Hoban, S., Gaggiotti, O., Bertorelle, G. and Russo, I. M. 2013. Sample planning optimization tool for conservation and population genetics (SPOTG): a software for choosing the appropriate number of markers and samples. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 4(3), pp. 299-303. (10.1111/2041-210x.12025)
- Hoban, S. et al. 2013. Conservation Genetic Resources for Effective Species Survival (ConGRESS): bridging the divide between conservation research and practice. Journal for Nature Conservation 21(6), pp. 433-437. (10.1016/j.jnc.2013.07.005)
- Russo, I., Chimimba, C. T. and Bloomer, P. 2010. Bioregion heterogeneity correlates with extensive mitochondrial DNA diversity in the Namaqua rock mouse, Micaelamys namaquensis (Rodentia: Muridae) from southern Africa - evidence for a species complex. BMC Evolutionary Biology 10(1), article number: 307. (10.1186/1471-2148-10-307)
- Russo, I. M., Chimimba, C. T. and Bloomer, P. 2006. Mitochondrial DNA differentiation between two species of Aethomys (Rodentia: Muridae) from Southern Africa. Journal of Mammalogy 87(3), pp. 545-553. (10.1644/05-MAMM-A-222R3.1)
Book sections
- Tober, A. V., Govender, D., Russo, I. M. and Cable, J. 2022. The microscopic five of the big five: managing zoonotic diseases within and beyond African wildlife protected areas. In: Rollinson, D. and Stothard, R. eds. Advances in Parasitology Vol 117. Elsevier, pp. 1-46., (10.1016/bs.apar.2022.05.001)
Research
I am a population geneticist with experience in population and landscape genetics/genomics. My research focusses on how landscape variables affect gene flow and adaptation in a number of taxa. Knowledge of how landscape features interact with genetic variation at both the population and individual level is required to understand gene flow and adaptation to the environment. I use large-scale genetics and environmental data sets combined with population genetics/statistical analyses and bioinformatics to study the correlation between landscape features and gene flow/adaptation. I have used landscape genetics to study a variety of taxa, including brown bears, giant pandas and small mammals. These studies provide indirect information on the ecological function of animals within an ecosystem and has informed management and conservation decisions.
I am also interested in how genetic variation has been shaped due to past demographic events (population bottlenecks and expansion events) and changes in population size using Approximate Bayesian Computation and pairwise sequentially Markovian coalescent methods for microsatellite/SNP and whole genome sequencing data respectively. I have used these methods on a number of taxa including white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros and brown trout.
I am also involved in a number of projects led by members of the IUCN Conservation Genetics Specialist Group (CGSG). I am leading one of these projects and the study aims to collect, collate and interpret the current knowledge of genetic composition of southern African vertebrates and make this information accessible to conservation practitioners, the wildlife industry and governments as genetic management guidelines.
My aim over the next three years is to continue my research programme focusing on molecular ecology and spatial epidemiology by applying landscape genomics to model and predict patterns of disease emergence, spread and control in sub-Saharan African wildlife. My goal is to unite the fields of animal genomics, vector biology and epidemiology using mammalian reservoir species to build predictive models for disease outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa.
Teaching
Postgraduate teaching
- Skills for Ecology and Conservation (BIT050)
- Assessing Biodiversity and Ecosystems (BIT052)
Undergraduate teaching
- Biodiversity and Conservation Biology (BI3154)
- Conservation Biology (BI3114)
- Global Climate Change Ecology (BI3136)
- Genetics and Its Applications (BI2132)
- Genetics and Evolution (BI1051)
- Skills for Science: Statistics (BI1001)
Other teaching
- DESMAN (Durrell Endangered Species Management) course which is the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust’s flagship Jersey-based training programme for conservationists (course validated by the University of Kent as graduate certificate)
- University of South Wales (Conservation Genetics and Wildlife Management)
Biography
Education
- 2010: PhD Genetics (University of Pretoria, South Africa)
- 2003: MSc Genetics (University of Pretoria, South Africa)
- 2000: BSc Honours Genetics (University of Pretoria, South Africa)
- 1999: BSc (University of Pretoria, South Africa)
Honours and awards
- South African NRF Postdoctoral Fellowship (2010 - 2011)
- University of Pretoria Study Abroad for Postgraduates bursary (2006)
- SABI (South African Biodiversity Initiative) Travel Grant (2006)
- International Theriological Congress Bursary (2001)
- South African National Research Foundation (NRF) bursary - MSc (2000 - 2001) and PhD (2004 - 2006)
- University of Pretoria bursary - BSc Honours (1999), MSc (2000) and PhD (2004)
Professional memberships
- Member of the Frozen Ark Scientific Advisory Panel, 2020-present
- African co-coordinator for the IUCN Conservation Genetics Specialist Group, 2015-present
- Member of the Zoological Society of southern Africa, 2009
- Member of the International Affairs Committee of the Society for the Study of Evolution, 2007-present
- Member of the American Society of Mammologists, 2006
Academic positions
- 2021- present: Extraordinary Lecturer (University of Pretoria, South Africa)
- 2019 - present: Lecturer (Cardiff Univeristy)
- 2012 - 2018: Research Associate (Cardiff University)
- 2012 - 2013: Project Administrator for ConGRESS (Cardiff University)
- 2010 - 2011: South African National Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (Cardiff University)
Committees and reviewing
Journal Reviewer:
- African Zoology
- Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
- Biological Conservation
- Biology Letters
- Heredity
- Journal of Mammalogy
- Phylogenetics and Evolution
- Molecular Ecology
- Scientific Reports
Review Editor:
- Frontiers in Genetics (Editoral Board), Livestock Genomics
- Frontiers in Geneitcs (Editorial Board), Evolutionary and Population Genetics
Grant Reviewer:
- US-Israel Binational Science Foundation
Supervisions
Current postdoctoral fellows
- Anri van Wyk (University of Pretoria, South Africa). Making sense of hybridisation between blue and black wildebeest in South Africa. 2020-2022.
Current PhD students
- See list of students below for which I am the main supervisor.
- Co-supervisor for Stephanie Key, London School of Tropical Hygiene and Medicine. Pathogen pollution in critically endangered vultures in The Gambia, West Africa. 2023-2027.
- Co-supervisor for Daniel Osmond, University of Exeter, UK. Adapting to life in metal polluted rivers: implications for conservation, genetic diversity and fisheries management in the brown trout (Salmo trutta). 2020-2024.
I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:
- Conservation genetics
- Landsdape genetics/genomics
Current supervision
Anya Tober
Research student
Engagement
I engage in a range of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) outreach activties:
- Cardiff University news website, The Cardiffian, Genetic research in Cardiff could save the northern white rhino, 2019, https://jomec.co.uk/thecardiffian/
- The Welsh Government Journal for Science, Engineering and Technology, Advances Wales, New hope for the northern white rhino, 2018, https://businesswales.gov.wales/innovation/advances-wales/advances-wales-archive
- Wales Gene Park, Sixth Form Roadshow (2016, 2018 and 2020)
- BBC Rhys Jones Wildlife Patrol, Series 2, Episode 2, 2014
- BBC Summer of Wildlife Event, 2013. BBC and Cardiff University
- BBC and Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Event, 2013. BBC and Cardiff Univeristy
- Wales Gene Park, 3G Public Genetics & Genomics Conference, 2023
Contact Details
RussoIM@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 29208 76036
Sir Martin Evans Building, Room C/5.04, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX
+44 29208 76036
Sir Martin Evans Building, Room C/5.04, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX
