The marine environment is vast, highly connected and the life within it diverse and mostly uncharacterised. The Marine bIOdiversity and Molecular Ecology group applies multidisciplinary approaches to investigate marine biodiversity. We investigate the genetic, taxonomic and functional diversity of organisms and communities, with emphasis on defining processes at different scales and how these are influenced by changing environments and human impacts. 

We have an emphasis on developing and applying molecular approaches to understanding marine biodiversity. These may be either within or between species. Within putative species, we apply DNA barcoding approaches for uncovering cryptic diversity and genome skimming / organellar genomic phylogenetic approaches. Between species we emphasize qPCR and metabarcoding techniques on mixed template samples (faecal, gut content, eDNA/eRNA) for characterising species interactions (diet, co-occurrence, mutualism, parasitology) and community composition and dynamics. 

Current research projects include investigating the effect of marine protected areas on species interactions, the role of microbial processes in the breakdown of environmental DNA / RNA and the development of genome skimming techniques for measuring genetic composition. Our approach is united by developing and applying methods to map and explore coastal as well as deep-sea habitats, to find and monitor their biodiversity.

The group is led by Glenn Dunshea (molecular ecology, population & community ecology) and Torkild Bakken (marine invertebrate taxonomy and systematics).