Curriculum Vitae
- 2016–Present: PhD Researcher, London NERC DTP, Institute of Zoology and Queen Mary University
- 2012–2013: MRes in Biodiversity and Conservation, University of Leeds
- 2009–2012: BSc in Zoology, University of Derby
- 2015–2016: In-country Project Manager: Mountain Chicken Project: Dominica – ZSL
- 2015: Science Leader: Peru – British Exploring Society
- 2014: Research Assistant: Christmas Island – Australian National University
- 2014: Science Leader: Namibia – British Exploring Society
- 2014: Tropical Ecologist: Honduras – Operation Wallacea
- 2014: Research Assistant: Thailand – National University of Singapore
ResearchGate
Google Scholar
Research Interests
I am predominantly interested in evolutionary ecology, focusing on natural selection and phenotypic variance.
Current Research
How species will cope with climate change is a hotly contested subject. There can be no doubt that for many species, the consequences of climate warming and greater environmental extremes will be detrimental. Certain species are more at risk than others, tropical ectotherms are one such “high risk” group of organisms as they are susceptible to temperature increase and temperature fluctuations, particularly at the time frame of current temperature changes. Whether evolution can help mitigate this susceptibility to climate change and how it might do so is not fully understood. My PhD investigates the evolutionary ecology of an Anolis species under environmental change, focusing on selection pressures and how/if it influences evolution. Anolis apletophallus populations have been transplanted from mainland Panama to small islands across Lake Gatun (Panama). These islands have different environmental conditions to the mainland. Morphological traits are being measures for all individuals across multiple generations and compared to the mainland population, to assess changes in the population. Ultimately this project will ascertain how and if the change in environment influences evolution and what this might mean for tropical ectotherms.
Supervisors
Dr Rob Knell, QMUL
Prof Trent Garner, IoZ
Dr Michael Logan, STRI
Publications
Nicholson, D.J. Tapley, B. Jayson, S. Dale, J. Harding, L. Spencer, J. Sulton, M. Durand, S. and Cunningham, A.A., 2018. In-situ live food production for the mountain chicken frog (Leptodactylus fallax; Müller, 1926) in Dominica, West Indies; nutritional quality over prey species quantity. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. 11(2), 59-68.
Nicholson, D.J. Hassall, C. Frazier, J.A., 2015. Comparison of a native and a non-native insular reptile species. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 31(6), pp563-566.
Recent News
Appointed as a Smithsonian Pre-doctoral Fellow: June–November 2018: $20,000
