Molecular Ecology Lab Flinders University - MELFU

Molecular Ecology Lab Flinders University - MELFU We use information from genomics to address pure and applied research questions in conservation, management, ecology and evolution.

The Molecular Ecology Lab at Flinders University (MELFU) has become a focus for research in ecological, conservation and fisheries genomics in Australia, providing training to biologists and services to stakeholders interested in the conservation, management and evolution of biodiversity. Our work often explores questions about management practices, adaptive resilience and recent evolution of mari

ne and freshwater fish populations. We have worked with a variety of species and ecosystems around the world, with a focus on aquatic animals. Past and current research includes work on fishes from Amazonia, Patagonia, Pampas, and southern Africa, coastal dolphins, killer whales, sperm whales and blue whales from around the world, giant tortoises from the Galapagos, sharks, rays and sea turtles from Mexico and central America, lizards from the Brazilian Cerrado; and bony fishes, sharks, molluscs, crustaceans, tunicates and sea-urchins from Australia and New Zealand.

Our latest snapper paper highlights the importance of embayments for the regional recruitment and connectivity of fisher...
26/05/2026

Our latest snapper paper highlights the importance of embayments for the regional recruitment and connectivity of fisheries resources
🐟🧬🌊🌏
https://www.int-res.com/journals/meps/articles/meps15126

We combined population genomics with assessments of reproductive output to evaluate the contribution of embayment spawning aggregations to the adjacent open coast stock in the Australasian snapper (Chrysophrys auratus). Our results reveal the interplay between high connectivity and local recruitment and the important role of embayments to regional population recruitment.
https://bit.ly/meps15126

🧬 Research Highlight NEWLY PUBLISHED 🎉Silver trevally 🐟 in Australia 🇦🇺 ... how many populations are there? How connecte...
21/05/2026

🧬 Research Highlight NEWLY PUBLISHED 🎉
Silver trevally 🐟 in Australia 🇦🇺 ... how many populations are there? How connected are they? Why does it matter?
Fun fact: pdfs of our publications are always linked to read for FREE on our website. 🔗 link in bio
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2026.107751
Photo: Silver Trevally, Pseudocaranx georgianus, in the Solitary Islands, New South Wales. Source: Ian V. Shaw / Reef Life Survey. License: CC By Attribution

Our new study shows how environmental conditions in key spawning and nursery areas of snapper influenced genomic adaptat...
14/04/2026

Our new study shows how environmental conditions in key spawning and nursery areas of snapper influenced genomic adaptation. These findings have major implications for stock recovery and fisheries management under climate change. 🐟🌊☀️🧬

Paper is open access: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mec.70273

Snapper are central to coastal life across southern Australia, supporting fisheries, local businesses, and regional tourism. New Flinders University research has found that although snapper populations […]

Another MELFU-CEBEL top cited paper! 🐋 🧬 😀Our global conservation genomics study of blue whales is among the top 10 most...
09/04/2026

Another MELFU-CEBEL top cited paper! 🐋 🧬 😀
Our global conservation genomics study of blue whales is among the top 10 most-cited papers published in Animal Conservation.

Paper is open access: https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12935

Honours student Siena recently presented her Research Proposal on molecular detection & characterisation of chlamydia in...
09/04/2026

Honours student Siena recently presented her Research Proposal on molecular detection & characterisation of chlamydia in South Australian dolphins 🐬🧬 Follow us for more research, genomics & oppurtunities!

MELFU celebration today! Happy Birthday Yuma! 🥳🎂 (our Research Fellow in Bioinformatics🧬🐟)
02/04/2026

MELFU celebration today! Happy Birthday Yuma! 🥳🎂 (our Research Fellow in Bioinformatics🧬🐟)

Our editorial on Genetic Rescue is published! It covers empirical work, modelling, and theory of Genetic Rescue based on...
23/03/2026

Our editorial on Genetic Rescue is published! It covers empirical work, modelling, and theory of Genetic Rescue based on a wide range of plant and animal species across different ecological and social contexts. It also features perspectives and synthesis pieces.
🌏🤓🧬

Open Access:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eva.70225

TWO PHD SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE! Contact Email: luciano.beheregaray@flinders.edu.au Lab Website: https://molecularecology...
19/03/2026

TWO PHD SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE!
Contact Email: [email protected]
Lab Website: https://molecularecology.flinders.edu.au/
Remember our post about the new project funded by the ARC? This is your chance to study adaptive introgression & rapid evolution to climate change featuring Australian rainbowfish 🌈🐟

PhD candidate Zoriana is investigating the population & seascape genomics of the commercially important silver trevally ...
18/03/2026

PhD candidate Zoriana is investigating the population & seascape genomics of the commercially important silver trevally (Pseudocaranx georgianus) in Australia. Here she is presenting her Mid-Candidature Review 😊🧬🐟 Follow us for more research, genomics & oppurtunities!
https://www.instagram.com/molecularecologylab/

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Flinders University
Bedford Park, SA

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