Prof. Rita Castilho

Líneas de investigación

I am interested in the evolutionary and ecological processes that give rise to and maintain extant biodiversity, employing molecular techniques. My research spans a broad range of specific questions, from reproductive isolation and gene flow between populations, to ecological issues such as dispersal and foraging ranges through to species delineation, phylogeny reconstruction, population genomics, phylogeography, seascape genetics and invasive species. One major component of my research is the assessment shifts of the geographical distribution range of target species and its consequences on the maintenance of genetic diversity. I am increasingly interested in how these processes operate in populations that are declining and thus of conservation concern, and how molecular techniques can inform conservation science both in an applied and theoretical context. My research focuses mainly on marine fish, including anchovies, seahorses and other small coastal fish.