Skúli Skúlason, MASTS Visiting Fellow
Skúli’s research focuses on the importance of intraspecific resource polymorphism and speciation in freshwater fishes, with emphasis on Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). He holds a MASTS Visiting Fellowship during his sabbatical at the School of Biology University of St Andrews from Hólar University College, Iceland. During his sabbatical Skúli explores the relationship between pattern- and process orientated approach in ecological and evolutionary studies of biological diversity, with a focus on fish. He specifically examines the dynamic nature of this diversity and in what way increased knowledge of this dynamism can orientate future research, as well as management and conservation, of aquatic biodiversity. This is relevant, considering the growing awareness of anthropogenic environmental effects such as overfishing and climatic change and the need to constructively develop sustainable approaches in this respect. As a part of this project there will be a workshop on this topic in St Andrews at the end of February 2013.
