Dr Deborah Dawson
School of Biosciences
Research Associate
+44 114 222 0106
Full contact details
School of Biosciences
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
91探花
S10 2TN
- Profile
-
I have been the Manager of the since it was established in 1998. The facility supports genetic studies of the natural world, within NERCs environmental remit. Any UK researcher can apply for access to our facilities, consumables, training and expertise (projects do not need to be NERC funded).
Each year we support ten to twenty projects at 91探花. These cover a wide range of studies and techniques. We have supported over 250 projects from 56 institutes and provided training for over 200 PhD students. Over 500 publications have resulted from work we have supported in 91探花, including articles in Nature and Science.
In addition to managing the facility, our staff and supervising facility-supported projects, I lead several research projects.
- Research interests
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- Conservation genetics
- Mating systems and reproductive behaviour
- Avian sex chromosomes and genomic architecture
- Development of markers and techniques to enhance studies of molecular ecology
- Studies of historical and contemporary population structure & genetic bottlenecks
- Identification of species, hybrids, molecular systematics and phylogenetics
- Investigations of species diversity and ecosystems using environmental DNA (eDNA)
- Studies of wildlife using non-invasive samples
- Studies of diet and habitat quality using next-generation sequencing of faecal samples
- Assessments of river health using eDNA samples
- Development of markers and techniques to enhance studies of molecular ecology
- Mating systems & behaviour
- Genomic architecture and investigation of the avian sex chromosomes
- Studies of historical and contemporary population structure & genetic bottlenecks
- Identification of species, hybrids, molecular systematics & phylogenetics
Research projects and collaborators
Year Project title Collaborators 2020 PI Andrew Singer (CEH) heads a group of CoIs from around the UK 2020 River Reconnections Dr Ed Shaw (), Dr Paul Parsons (UoS) 2020 Falcon Forensics Dr Lucy Webster (SASA, Scottish Government, Edinburgh), Lucy Knowles (UoS) 2019 Salmon of Steel - Sara Peixoto (UoS, now at the University of Hull)
- Dr Ed Shaw ()
- Chris Firth ()
- Neil Trudgill ()
- Katie Burnham ()
- Dr Ben Aston ()
- Dr Rachel Naden ()
2018 Otter distribution in the Peak District - Darcie Cowap (UoS)
- Dr Douglas Ross (UoS volunteer)
2017 The diet of urban and rural otters - Lucy Knowles (UoS), Dr Douglas Ross (UoS volunteer)
- Angela Maccarinelli (Dept of Archaeology, UoS)
- John Rochester (Academic Unit of Medical Education, UoS)
- Barry Soames (microscopic photography expert)
- Dr Nicky Rivers, Paul Richards, Sara Blackburn & volunteers
2016 The origins of badgers on the Isle of Arran - Tom Bellis (University of Leeds)
Roger Cottis ()
Dr Hannah Dugdale (University of Leeds)
2016 A DNA-based survey of otters in 91探花 - Amy Withers (University of Leeds)
- Dr Nicky Rivers, Paul Richards, Sara Blackburn & volunteers
- ,
- Dr Douglas Ross (UoS volunteer)
- Dr Hannah Dugdale (University of Leeds)
2015 A DNA study of the 91探花 Peregrines Databases
We have created three databases:
BIRDMARKER - Identification of microsatellite markers for birds from testing primer sets in over 100 species.
Bird sex-typing - A list of the results of PCR sex-typing over 100 species of birds using various primer sets. PCR protocols are also supplied.
New microsatellites isolated - A list of the species for which we have isolated new microsatellite loci from genomic libraries.
- Publications
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Journal articles
- . Journal of Animal Ecology.
- . Molecular Biology Reports, 49(1), 783-788.
- . Ibis.
- . Ecology and Evolution.
- . Mammalian Biology.
- . Conservation Genetics.
- . Scientific Reports, 10.
- . Behavioral Ecology, 31(3), 798-806.
- . Journal of Applied Ecology, 57(4), 707-716.
- . Scientific Reports, 10(1).
- . Molecular Biology Reports, 47(2), 1543-1550.
- . Genes, 10(10).
- . Behavioral Ecology, 30(2), 301-312.
- . Molecular Ecology.
- . BMC Research Notes, 11(1).
- . BMC Research Notes, 10(1).
- . BMC Research Notes, 10(1).
- . Molecular Ecology, 26(20), 5716-5728.
- . Journal of Ornithology, 158(3), 811-821.
- . BMC Research Notes, 10.
- . Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ci锚ncias, 0-0.
- . Conservation Genetics.
- . Ibis.
- . Zoo Biology.
- . Ecography, 39(9), 884-893.
- . European Journal of Wildlife Research, 62(4), 501-509.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 8(1), 85-87.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 7(4), 881-886.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 7(4), 887-894.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 7(4), 917-944.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 7(2), 599-603.
- . Molecular Ecology, 24(13), 3316-3328.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 7(2), 337-343.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 7(4), 899-907.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 7(1), 107-111.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 7(1), 85-87.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 7(1), 273-278.
- . European Journal of Wildlife Research, 60(5), 843-850.
- . Ecology Letters, 17(9), 1141-1148.
- . Journal of Insect Conservation, 18(5), 771-779.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 6(3), 751-754.
- . PLoS One, 9(6), e93387.
- . Evolution, 68(10), 3020-3029.
- . Avian Biology Research, 7(2), 91-98.
- . Mol Ecol, 23(5), 1028-1039.
- . Diversity and Distributions.
- . CONSERVATION GENETICS RESOURCES, 5(4), 1013-1018.
- . CONSERVATION GENETICS RESOURCES, 5(4), 1179-1184.
- . Ecology Letters.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 5(3), 723-727.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 5(3), 687-692.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 5(3), 825-829.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 5(3), 767-770.
- . Mol Ecol, 22(18), 4644-4662.
- . Biological Conservation, 161, 28-38.
- . BMC Genomics, 14, 176.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 5(2), 555-560.
- . Conservation Genetics Resources, 5(2), 519-524.
- . J Anim Ecol, 82(2), 389-398.
- . CONSERVATION GENETICS RESOURCES, 4(3), 605-612.
- . CONSERVATION GENETICS RESOURCES, 4(3), 763-771.
- . CONSERVATION GENETICS RESOURCES, 4(2), 225-229.
- . Mol Ecol Resour, 12(3), 501-523.
- . Mol Ecol Resour, 12(3), 532-548.
- . PLoS One, 7(2), e31667.
- . PLoS ONE, 7(8).
- . Heredity, 109(3), 163-172.
- Postcopulatory mechanisms of inbreeding avoidance in the island endemic hihi (Notiomystis cincta). Behavioral Ecology, 23(2), 278-284.
- . J Evol Biol, 25(1), 149-156.
- . Mol Ecol, 20(22), 4643-4653.
- . CONSERV GENET RESOUR, 3(4), 711-716.
- . PLOS ONE, 6(7).
- . CONSERV GENET RESOUR, 3(3), 515-518.
- . PLOS ONE, 6(7).
- . Mol Ecol Resour, 11(3), 481-493.
- . Marine Biology, 158(10), 2199-2208.
- . Mol Ecol, 19(23), 5172-5185.
- . Mol Ecol, 19(24), 5484-5496.
- . AUK, 127(4), 832-840.
- . CONSERV GENET, 11(5), 1837-1846.
- . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 10(3), 475-494.
- . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 10(3), 516-532.
- . J ORNITHOL, 151(2), 513-517.
- Molecular sex-typing in shorebirds: a review of an essential method for research in evolution, ecology and conservation.. Wader Study Group Bulletin, 117, 109-118.
- . Acta Chiropterologica, 12(2), 471-483.
- The utility of existing passerine microsatellite markers for genetic studies in endangered species: as demonstrated for a critically endangered forest bird endemic to R茅union Island, the R茅union cuckooshrike (Coracina newtoni). Conservation Genetics Resources, 1-4.
- Isolation, characterisation and predicted genome locations of Light-bellied Brent goose (Branta bernicla hrota) microsatellite loci (Anatidae, AVES). Conservation Genetics Resources, 1-7.
- . HEREDITY, 104(1), 67-78.
- . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 10(1), 142-149.
- . BMC Genomics, 11, 218.
- . CONSERV GENET, 10(6), 1903-1906.
- . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 9(6), 1513-1519.
- . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 9(6), 1520-1526.
- . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 9(6), 1530-1535.
- . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 9(6), 1493-1497.
- . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 9(6), 1506-1512.
- . BIOL CONSERV, 142(10), 2250-2257.
- . Infect Genet Evol, 9(5), 971-975.
- . Proc Biol Sci, 276(1666), 2403-2410.
- . OECOLOGIA, 160(4), 795-806.
- . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 9(4), 1231-1235.
- . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 9(4), 1255-1258.
- . Mol Ecol, 18(12), 2728-2739.
- . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 9(1), 308-311.
- . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 9(1), 333-335.
- . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 8(5), 1015-1019.
- . J ANIM ECOL, 77(5), 905-915.
- . CONSERV GENET, 9(3), 751-756.
- . BMC GENOMICS, 9.
- . FORENSIC SCI INT-GEN, 2(1), 47-53.
- . CONSERV GENET, 9(5), 1363-1367.
- . BMC Genet, 9, 55.
- . BMC Genomics, 9, 502.
- Characterization of microsatellite loci in the African fig Ficus sycomorus L. (Moraceae). MOL ECOL NOTES, 7(6), 1175-1177.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 7(6), 1319-1322.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 7(4), 711-715.
- . MOL BIOL EVOL, 24(7), 1537-1552.
- . INSECT MOL BIOL, 16(2), 175-185.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 7(2), 333-336.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 7(1), 35-39.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 6(4), 1047-1050.
- . MOL ECOL, 15(10), 3035-3043.
- . MOL BIOCHEM PARASIT, 148(2), 210-218.
- . Mol Ecol, 15(5), 1299-1320.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 6(1), 104-106.
- Stable isotopes indicate sex-specific and long-term individual foraging specialisation in diving seabirds. MAR ECOL-PROG SER, 311, 157-164.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 5(3), 650-653.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 5(2), 289-297.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 5(2), 298-301.
- . Mol Ecol, 14(1), 273-284.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 4(1), 96-100.
- Isolation of 39 polymorphic microsatellite loci and the development of a fluorescently labelled marker set for the Eurasian badger (Meles meles) (Carnivora : Mustelidae). MOL ECOL NOTES, 3(4), 610-615.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 3(3), 360-362.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 3(3), 420-424.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 3(2), 199-202.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 3(2), 270-273.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 3(2), 191-195.
- . MOL ECOL NOTES, 2(4), 514-517.
- Isolation of polymorphic microsatellites in the stemless thistle (Cirsium acaule) and their utility in other Cirsium species. MOL ECOL NOTES, 2(4), 589-592.
- . The Auk, 119(3), 858-863.
- Mating patterns and reversed size dimorphism in Southern Skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi). AUK, 119(3), 858-863.
- . Conservation Genetics, 3(1), 85-87.
- Microsatellite loci in the crested newt (Triturus cristatus) and their utility in other newt taxa. CONSERV GENET, 3(1), 87-89.
- A critique of avian CHD-based molecular sexing protocols illustrated by a Z-chromosome polymorphism detected in auklets. MOL ECOL NOTES, 1(3), 201-204.
- . Mol Ecol, 9(12), 2226-2231.
- Polymorphic microsatellites in the blue tit Parus caeruleus and their cross-species utility in 20 songbird families. MOL ECOL, 9(11), 1941-1944.
- Contrasting levels of extra-pair paternity in mainland and island populations of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus): is there an 'island effect'?. BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, 68(1-2), 303-316.
- Characterisation of 33 chicken microsatellite loci: 20 new locations on reference maps. ANIM GENET, 30(5), 391-393.
- Further development of chicken microsatellite loci: 21 markers mapped. ANIM GENET, 30(3), 238-241.
- The isolation and mapping of 19 tetranucleotide microsatellite markers in the chicken. ANIM GENET, 30(3), 183-189.
- Characterization and mapping of 15 novel chicken microsatellite loci.. Anim Genet, 29(2), 159-160.
- Microsatellite typing reveals mating patterns in the brood parasitic great spotted cuckoo (Clamator glandarius). MOL ECOL, 7(3), 289-297.
- . Animal Genetics, 28(6), 401-417.
- . Animal Genetics, 28(6), 401-417.
- Chicken microsatellite markers isolated from libraries enriched for simple tandem repeats.. Anim Genet, 28(6), 401-417.
- Nine novel chicken microsatellite loci and their utility in other Galliformes.. Anim Genet, 28(4), 311-313.
- Finding the fathers in the least faithful bird: A microsatellite-based genotyping system for the superb fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus. MOL ECOL, 6(7), 691-693.
- . Anim Genet, 26(6), 443-444.
- . Conservation Genetics.
- . Evolutionary Ecology.
- . Conservation Biology.
- . Molecular Ecology.
- . Environmental Science & Technology.
- . Journal of Avian Biology.
- . Molecular Ecology Notes, 0(0), 070621074211164-???.
- . Molecular Ecology Notes, 0(0), 070621074211210-070621074211210.
Preprints
- Research group
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Name Date Status Institute Project title Jennifer Stagg 2024 - 2025 MRes Student University of 91探花 Water vole monitoring to support conservation (in collaboration with the ) Louise Gibney 2023 - 2024 MRes Student University of 91探花 Otter Dispersal and Barriers to Movement in the Peak District Lucy Knowles 2020 Research Technician University of 91探花 Falcon Forensics Dr Paul Parsons 2020 Research Technician University of 91探花 River Reconnections Sara Peixoto 2019 Erasmus+ Internee Visiting from the University of Porto, Portugal Developing eDNA approaches to monitor biodiversity in the waterways surrounding 91探花 Darcie Cowap 2018 - 2019 MRes Student Dept of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of 91探花 A DNA-based assessment of otter numbers and seasonal movement in the Peak District Lucy Knowles 2017 - 2018 MRes Student Dept of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of 91探花 A comparison of the diet of urban and rural otters using next-generation sequencing Amy Withers 2017 MSc Student
Joint supervisor: Dr Hannah DugdaleVisiting from the University of Leeds The distribution of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) on the river Don in 91探花
(In collaboration with the )Tom Bellis 2017 MSc Student
Joint supervisor: Dr Hannah DugdaleVisiting from the University of Leeds Genetic origins of the badger population on the Isle of Arran, Scotland
(In collaboration with )Brian Hanotte 2017 Undergraduate Summer Volunteer Visiting from Bangor University, Wales A DNA study of the diet of Pine Marten (Martes martes) on the Isle of Skye, Scotland Dr Sabuj Bhattacharyya 2016 - 2017 British Commonwealth Fellow Visiting 91探花 from the Indian Institute of Science Gracie Adams 2015 Undergraduate Summer Volunteer Dept of Biomedical Sciences, University of 91探花 Assessment of microsatellite markers for parentage and population studies of the Asian elephant Elephas maximus Teresa Santos 2013 - 2014 Erasmus Research Internee Visiting from the University of Aveiro, Portugal Assessing genetic markers for studying and comparing shrew populations and mating systems. Filipa Martins 2011 Leonardo Scholarship Visiting from the University of Lisbon, Portugal Genetic studies of the Australian Brush-turkey Alectura lathami (Megapodiidae, AVES) Ged Poland 2010 MSc Student
Joint Supervisor: Dr Umberto AlbarellaDepartment of Archaeology, University of 91探花 Assigning sex to avian osteological remains: a review of current methods and an investigation into a novel, independent, biomolecular method. Anna Bone 2010 Undergraduate Summer Volunteer Visiting from the University of Oxford Assessment of microsatellite markers for parentage and population studies of birds of prey Alex Ball 2009 MSc Student
Joint Supervisor: Prof Terry BurkeDept of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of 91探花. Recombination levels and gene order in the zebra finch homologues of the chicken chromosomes Gga1, Gga2 and Gga9
- Teaching interests
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I supervise and support facility-funded projects and provide one-to-one training as required. I am keen to encourage and facilitate knowledge exchange.
I manage and contribute to training courses including introducing Molecular Ecology Techniques - in which I present lectures covering marker development, DNA profiling, genetic sex-typing, data validation and an introduction to parentage and population analyses.
- Teaching activities
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I take part in numerous outreach events during the year to showcase the work we do at the University.
Presentations in 2020 (postponed):
13th March 2020 - Discovery Night, EVENT UoS, Who dung it, Fishing for DNA, Amazing Otters
20th October 2020 - GHS, Grindleford, TALK - The Return of the Otter to the Peak District
16th November 2020 - , Darley Dale, TALK - The Return of the Otter
Past events:
at Victoria Quays, 91探花 (2019).
Discovery Night at the University of 91探花 (2018 & 2019).
Nature Detectives at , 91探花 (2018).
The 91探花 Peregrine Evening with the (2017 & 2018).
91探花's Bioblitz and .
events, including at Rutland Water (2018 & 2019).
Our studies of otters have invoked a lot of public interest. I have presented lectures discussing our research on otters to the public at numerous venues. I have also contributed to articles in local and national newspapers and been interviewed on BBC Radio4, Radio91探花 and RadioDerby.
- Professional activities and memberships
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- 1996鈥98: Research Associate, Department of Biology (Zoology), University of Leicester
- 1996-97: Research Associate, Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Israel
- 1994鈥96: Research Assistant, Department of Zoology, University of Leicester
- 1991鈥94: Research Technician, Department of Genetics, University of Leicester