Current research (Conservation and Evolutionary Ecology Group)

• Behavioural ecology and conservation genetics of Atlantic salmon
• Environmental impacts of exotic aquaculture, in particular wildlife interactions
• Evolutionary consequences of domestication and fisheries exploitation
• Improving fitness in sea-ranching and captive breeding programs

Recent publications (full list here)

Thomas, G. R.: Taylor, J. & Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2013). Does the parasitic freshwater pearl mussel M. margaritifera harm its host? Hydrobiologia (in press) . doi: 10.1007/s10750-013-1515-8

Marco-Rius, F.: Caballero, P.; Morán, P. & Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2013). Mixed-effects modelling of scale growth profiles predicts the occurrence of early and late fish migrants. PLoS ONE 8(4): e61744. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061744

Ellison, A.; Garcia de Leaniz, C. & Consuegra, S. (2013). Inbred and furious: negative association  between aggression and genetic diversity in a highly inbred fish. Molecular Ecology 22: 2292–2300. doi: 10.1111/mec.12238.

Karlsson, S; Hagen, M.; Eriksen, L.; Hindar, K.; Jensen,  A.J.; Garcia de Leaniz, C.; Cotter, D.; Guðbergsson, G.; Kahilainen, K. ; Guðjónsson, S; Romakkaniemi, A. & Ryman, N. (2013). A genetic marker for the maternal identification of Atlantic salmon x brown trout hybrids. Conservation Genetics Resources 5: 47-49. doi:10.1007/s12686-012-9730-6

Marco-Rius, F.; Caballero, P.; Morán, P.; Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2012). And the last shall be first: heterochrony and compensatory marine growth in sea trout (Salmo trutta). PLoS ONE  7(10): e45528. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0045528. 

Verspoor,E.; Consuegra,S.; Fridjonsson,O.; Hjorleifsdottir,S.; Knox,D.; Olafsson,K.; Tompsett,S.; Wennevik,V.; Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2012).  Regional mtDNA SNP differentiation in European Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): an assessment of potential utility for determination of natal origin. ICES Journal of Marine Science 69: 1625-1636.doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fss029 10.1093/icesjms/fss029

Vanhaecke,D.; Garcia de Leaniz,C.; Gajardo,G.; Thomas,C.J.; Consuegra,S. (2012). Metapopulation dynamics of a diadromous galaxiid fish and potential effects of salmonid aquaculture. Freshwater Biology 57: 1241-1252.

Vanhaecke,D.; Garcia de Leaniz,C.; Gajardo,G.; Young,K.; Sanzana,J.; Orellana,G.; Fowler,D.; Howes,P.; Monzon-Arguello,C.; Consuegra,S. (2012). DNA barcoding and microsatellites help species delimitation and hybrid identification in endangered galaxiid fishes. PLoS ONE 7 (3): e32939.

Consuegra,S., Philllips, N., Gajardo, G., & Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2011) Winning the invasion roulette: escapes from fish farms increase admixture and facilitate establishment of non-native rainbow trout. Evolutionary Applications 4, 660-671

Ellis,J.S., Gilbey, J., Balstad, T., Cherbonnel, C., Consuegra, S., Coughlan, J., Cross, T. F., Crozier, W., Dillane, E., Ensing, D., García de Leániz, C., Garcia-Vazquez, E., Griffiths, A. M., Hindar, K., Hjorleifsdottir, S., Knox, D., Machado-Schiaffino, G., McGinnity, P., Meldrup, D., Nielsen, E. E., Primmer, C. R., Prodöhl, P., Vähä, J.-P., Verspoor, E., Wennevik, V., & Stevens, J. R. (2011) Microsatellite standardization and genotyping error in a large multi-partner research programme for conservation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Genetica 139, 353-367

Fridjonsson,O., Tompsett, S., Olafsson, K., Bjornsdottir, S., Consuegra, S., Knox, D., Garcia de Leaniz, C., Magnusdottir, S., Olafsdottir, G., Verspoor, E., & Hjorleifsdottir, S. (2011) Detection and mapping of mtDNA SNPs in Atlantic salmon using high throughput DNA sequencing. BMC Genomics 12, 179

Roberts,L.J. & Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2011) Something smells fishy: predator-naïve salmon use diet cues, not kairomones, to recognise a sympatric mammalian predator. Animal Behaviour 82, 619-625

Roberts,L.J., Taylor, J., & Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2011) Environmental enrichment reduces maladaptive risk-taking behavior in salmon reared for conservation. Biological Conservation 144, 1972-1979

Schröder,V. & Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2011) Discrimination between farmed and free-living invasive salmonids in Chilean Patagonia using stable isotope analysis. Biological Invasions 13, 203-213

Vanhaecke,D., Allainguillaume, J., Croxford, A., Garcia de Leaniz, C., & Consuegra, S. (2011) Development of 13 microsatellite markers for the threatened galaxiid fish Aplochiton zebra (Jenyns, 1842). Molecular Ecology Resources 11,  219-222

Garcia de Leaniz,C., Gajardo, G., & Consuegra, S. (2010) From Best to Pest: changing perspectives on the impact of exotic salmonids in the Southern Hemisphere. Systematics and Biodiversity 8, 447-459

Kuparinen,A., Tufto, J., Consuegra, S., Hindar, K., Merilä, J., & Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2010) Effective size of an Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)  metapopulation in Northern Spain. Conservation Genetics 11, 1559-1565

Robson,A.A., Garcia de Leaniz, C., Wilson, R. P., & Halsey, L. G. (2010) Effect of anthropogenic feeding regimes on activity rhythms of laboratory mussels exposed to natural light. Hydrobiologia 655, 197-204

Robson,A.A., Garcia de Leaniz, C., Wilson, R. P., & Halsey, L. G. (2010) Behavioural adaptations of mussels to varying levels of food availability and predation risk. Journal of Molluscan Studies 76, 348-353

Thomas,G.R., Taylor, J., & Garcia de Leániz, C. (2010) Captive breeding of the endangered freshwater pearl mussel,  Margaritifera margaritifera (L.). Endangered Species Research 12, 1-9

Young,K.A., Dunham, J. B., Stephenson, J. F., Terreau, A., Thailly, A. F., Gajardo, G., & Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2010) A trial of two trouts: comparing the impacts of rainbow and brown trout on a native galaxiid. Animal Conservation 13, 399-410

Research Students and collaborators (full list here)

PhD

Elgan John (Swansea University, Swansea, UK), 2011- present. Disentangling the effects of climate change and exploitation on Atlantic salmon .   Funding: KESS, Environment Agency Wales

Rebecca Stringwell (Swansea University, Swansea, UK), 2011- present. Salmonid Domestication. Funding: KESS, Environment Agency Wales 

Gethin Thomas (Swansea University, Swansea, UK), 2007—2011.  Conservation of the Endangered Freshwater Pearl Mussel. Endangered Species Research  (2010) 12: 1-9; Aquatic Biology  (2009) 6: 191-200.; Hydrobiologia

Laura Roberts (Swansea University, Swansea, UK). 2006 – 2010. Improving the survival and fitness of hatchery-reared salmonids in restoration programmes. Funding: NERC, Environment Agency Wales. Animal Behaviour (2011) 82: 619-625; Biological Conservation (2011) 144: 1972-1979; Fisheries Management and Ecology (2009) 16: 10-13. 

Delphine Vanhaecke (Aberystwyth University, UK), 2008- present.  Landscape genetics of salmonid invasions. Co-supervisor with Dr Sofia Consuegra, Prof. Chris Thomas. Funding: Aberystwyth University, DEFRA-Darwin Initiative. Molecular Ecology Resources (2011) 11: 219-222.; Freshwater Biology 57: 1241-1252; PLoS ONE 7 (3): e32939

Anthony Robson (Swansea University, Swansea, UK). 2006 – 2009. Behavioural ecology of the blue mussel. Co-supervisor with Prof. Rory Wilson. Funding: ESF, Swansea University. Journal of Molluscan Studies (2010) 76: 348-353; Hydrobiologia (2010) 655: 197-204; Aquatic Biology (2009) 6: 191-200; Marine Biology (2007) 151: 1195-1204.

Kate Ciborowski (University of Reading, UK). 2003 - 2007. Patterns of genetic variability during the decline of Iberian Atlantic salmon populations. Co-supervisor with Dr. Bill Jordan, Dr. Sofia Consuegra, Prof. Mark Beaumont, Dr. Jinliang Wang. Funding: NERC. Biology Letters (2007) 3: 554-557; Conservation Genetics (2007) 8: 1355-1367.

Recent and current research funding

2010-2011. Protecting galaxiids from salmonid invasions in Chile and the Falklands. DEFRA Darwin Initiative Post-Project Award (http://www.biodiversity.cl)

2008-2010. SALSEA-MERGE . Advancing understanding of Atlantic salmon at sea: merging genetics and ecology to resolve stock-specific migration and distribution patterns EU FP7 (http://www.nasco.int/sas/salseamerge.htm)   . 

2007-08. Use of microsatellite genetic markers to evaluate the effectiveness of stocking early stage salmon fry in the upper Welsh Dee: a pilot study. Environment Agency Wales & Welsh Assembly Government

2007. Conservation strategies for Falkland Islands freshwater fish biodiversity DEFRA Darwin Scoping Award.

2006-2009. Reducing the Impact of Exotic Aquaculture on Chilean Aquatic Biodiversity. DEFRA Darwin Initiative (http://www.biodiversity.cl)

2006-2007. The importance of sexual selection and sperm competition for salmonid stock enhancement. The Atlantic Salmon Trust.

2006.  MHC diversity and parasite resistance in wild and domesticated Atlantic salmon. The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

2006. Assessing  the abundance and spawning migrations of Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout with the aid of infra-red Vaki counters. The Middle Dee Group.

Other Responsibilities

MSc and MRes admissions tutor

MSc and MRes coordinator

Biological Sciences representative in the School PG Committee

Senior Lecturer in Aquaculture