SBoardman.co.uk

My latest research project investigated whether the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis shows lateralized behaviour in the form of a turning preference and if this behaviour is genetically controlled. Using a series of experiments I showed that turning behaviour is lateralised and that there is some heritable component which may be linked to the shell coil direction.

As an undergrad I investigated whether habitat preference in response to predation could create a selection pressure between ecotypes in the Littorina saxatilis system.  I found that ecotypes differentiated on their preference for submerged or exposed habitats which could cause reduced gene flow between the ecotypes aiding a possible speciation event.  I then studied the phenomenon of ring speciation for my dissertation; I found that very few genetic studies supported the ring species identified by phenotype.