Alejandra Arana

I am a Peruvian PhD student in the Genetics and Genomics program at R(D)SVS.  I was born in Lima, Peru, and have always found a lot of joy in nature and travelling. I did my Masters in Zoology (Ecology and Conservation) at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM), where I analysed the environmental drivers of phylogenetic diversity of avian communities in the Peruvian Amazonia. This project was part of a wider collaboration with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the Natural History Museum UNMSM to build a molecular library for birds and mammals from the Peruvian Amazonia. I’ve also participated in other projects focused on bird ecology, camera traps, behaviour and DNA barcoding.Since my undergraduate dissertation I've been working on conservation genomics, aiming to inform wildlife conservation management actions with the aid of molecular tools. My Professional Diploma thesis project - under the supervision of Dr Jorge L. Ramirez - focused on the study of population genomics of a critically endangered gecko, endemic to my hometown. Since then, I am particularly interested in population genomics of endangered species. 

PhD PROJECT

During my PhD, my research will focus on studying conservation genomics and speciation processes of manta and devil rays (mobulids) using genome wide data. This project will shed light on the speciation process of a putative new manta ray species, therefore providing evidence so that this population can be managed as an evolutionary independent unit and make conservation strategies more efficient. Likewise, population genomic analysis of the Spinetail Devil Ray and the Bentfin Devil Ray will support management planning for these two devil ray species. Finally, based on the acquired information, this project will also design traceability tools for the purpose of identifying key locations where mobulids are being fished, regardless of CITES and CMS conventions regulations. Overall, this project will provide crucial tools for the conservation of these iconic species. 

My PhD is part of the E4 NERC Doctoral Training Programme and is co-funded by the Manta Trust (CASE Partner). My supervisory team includes Dr Emily Humble, Prof Rob Ogden, and Dr Guy Stevens.