Michael Cunningham

Summary

My research interests are in the structuring of genetic diversity within populations and across landscapes. My aim is to infer aspects of landscape history and species ecology that are not easily accessed from other information. My PhD (2002) at the University of Queensland (Australia) was on Comparative Phylogeography and Systematics of AustraloPapuan rainforest frogs. Subsequently I moved to South Africa and worked as a research associate at University of Stellenbosch (1997-2001) on systematics of African Bufonid frogs. In 2002-2004 I worked as a post-doc at University of Pretoria on Comparative Phylogeography of the Cape Fold Mountain Herpetofauna, an area of high diversity and endemism. From 2004 - 2011 I was a lecturer at University of the Free State, where I continued working on Systematic Inventory and Comparative Phylogeography of the Maloti-Drakensberg Herpetofauna. In 2012 I moved back to a faculty position at the University of Pretoria, continuing work on phylogeography and molecular ecology of vertebrates in montane biodiversity hotspots of Southern Africa. My research interests extend to effects of breeding systems and population structure on genetic diversity. I have ongoing projects work on frogs, lizards, fish, birds and mammals

Animal Behavior Biogeography Bioinformatics Conservation Biology Ecology Evolutionary Studies Genetics Population Biology

Past or current institution affiliations