RESEARCH FIELD

Molecular Ecology

Molecular ecology applies genetic and genomic tools to ecological and evolutionary questions, revealing the genetic architecture of populations, the hidden diversity of biological communities, and the adaptive responses of species to changing environments. Environmental DNA methods detect the presence of species from water or soil samples without physical capture, transforming biodiversity surveys and invasive species monitoring. Landscape genomics identifies loci under natural selection associated with local adaptation to climate, elevation, or salinity, informing the assisted migration of genetically suited individuals to future habitats. Kinship analyses from SNP data estimate population connectivity and effective sizes with statistical rigor inaccessible to traditional mark-recapture studies. Molecular ecology underpins evidence-based conservation management globally.