Staff profile

Professor AR Hoelzel

Professor in the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Telephone: +44 (0) 191 33 41325

Fax: +44-334 1201

Member of the Centre for the Coevolution of Biology and Culture

Contact (email at a.r.hoelzel@durham.ac.uk)

Biography

Research in the Molecular Ecology Group covers a wide range of studies and species, but our focus is on evolutionary process and genetic structure in natural populations. We use modern and ancient DNA markers to better understand the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of population structure and population dynamics in the context of ecological factors and changing environments. We use similar approaches to investigate the relationship between genetic diversity and fitness, and to better understand the role of individual behaviour in these processes. We apply this work to the development of more effective conservation strategies, and to improve our understanding of the origin and evolution of biodiversity within and among populations.

Research Groups

CCBC Disease
Evolution, Ecology & Behaviour

Research Interests

Conservation genetics
Evolutionary biology
Population genetics and molecular ecology
Ancient DNA

Indicators of Esteem

Editorial Board member: Aquatic Mammals (2005-), Open Ecology Journal (2008-), Marine Genomics (2008-), International Journal of Evolutionary Biology (2009-), Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B (2000 - 2007) & Biology Letters (2003-2005).
Journal Editor: Editor in Chief & Founding Editor of Conservation Genetics, Springer Publishing (2000 -). Founding Editor of Conservation Genetics Resources, Springer Publishing (2009-). Associate editor for Marine Biology Research (2006-) & Marine Mammal Science (2004 - 2007)

Publications

Books: authored

Hoelzel, A.R. & Stern, S.J. 2000. Minke Whales. Grantown-on-Spey: Colin Baxter.
Hoelzel, A.R. & Dover, G.A. 1991. Molecular Genetic Ecology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Books: edited

Hoelzel, A.R. 2002. Marine Mammal Biology; an Evolutionary Approach. Oxford: Blackwell Science.
Carrington, M. & Hoelzel, A.R. 2001. Molecular Epidemiology; a Practical Approach. Practical Approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hoelzel, A.R. 1998. Molecular Genetic Analysis of Populations; a Practical Approach. Practical Approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hoelzel, A.R. 1992. Molecular Genetic Analysis of Populations; a Practical Approach. Practical Approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hoelzel, A.R. 1991. Genetic Ecology of Whales and Dolphins. IWC Special Issues. Cambridge: International Whaling Commission.

Journal papers: academic

Vassilakos, D, Natoli, A, Dahlheim, M & Hoelzel, AR 2009. Balancing and Directional Selection at Exon-2 of the MHC DQB1 Locus among Populations of Odontocete Cetaceans. Molecular Biology And Evolution 26(3): 681-689. (Additional information)
Knutsen, H, Jorde, PE, Sannaes, H, Hoelzel, AR, Bergstad, OA, Stefanni, S, Johansen, T & Stenseth, NC 2009. Bathymetric barriers promoting genetic structure in the deepwater demersal fish tusk (Brosme brosme). Molecular Ecology 18(15): 3151-3162. (Additional information)
Ring, AK, Knutsen, H, Fiani, D, Hoelzel, AR & Andre, C 2009. Development of 10 microsatellite loci in the ling (Molva molva). Molecular Ecology Resources 9(5): 1401-1403. (Additional information)
White, TA, Stamford, J & Hoelzel, AR 2009. Nine new microsatellite loci for the orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus). Conservation Genetics 10(3): 601-603. (Additional information)
Walker, NF, Hulme, PE & Hoelzel, AR 2009. Population genetics of an invasive riparian species, Impatiens glandulifera. Plant Ecology 203(2): 243-252. (Additional information)
de Bruyn, M, Hall, BL, Chauke, LF, Baroni, C, Koch, PL & Hoelzel, AR 2009. Rapid Response of a Marine Mammal Species to Holocene Climate and Habitat Change. Plos Genetics 5(7): 11. (Additional information)
White, TA, Stefanni, S, Stamford, J & Hoelzel, AR 2009. Unexpected panmixia in a long-lived, deep-sea fish with well-defined spawning habitat and relatively low fecundity. Molecular Ecology 18(12): 2563-2573. (Additional information)
Natoli, A, Canadas, A, Vaquero, C, Politi, E, Fernandez-Navarro, P & Hoelzel, AR 2008. Conservation genetics of the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in the Mediterranean Sea and in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. Conservation Genetics 9(6): 1479-1487. (Additional information)
Knutsen, H, Le Goff-Vitry, M, Fiani, D & Hoelzel, AR 2008. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the deep-sea marine fish, the roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris). Molecular Ecology Resources 8(5): 993-995. (Additional information)
Natoli, A, Peddemors, VM & Hoelzel, AR 2008. Population structure of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) impacted by bycatch along the east coast of South Africa. Conservation Genetics 9(3): 627-636. (Additional information)
Foote, AD, Osborne, RW & Hoelzel, AR 2008. Temporal and contextual patterns of killer whale (Orcinus orca) call type production. Ethology 114(6): 599-606. (Additional information)
Topf, AL, Gilbert, MTP, Fleischer, RC & Hoelzel, AR 2007. Ancient human mtDNA genotypes from England reveal lost variation over the last millennium. Biology Letters 3(5): 550-553. (Additional information)
Hoelzel, AR, Hey, J, Dahlheim, ME, Nicholson, C, Burkanov, V & Black, N 2007. Evolution of population structure in a highly social top predator, the killer whale. Molecular Biology and Evolution 24(6): 1407-1415. (Additional information) (View publication online)
Nichols, C, Herman, J, Gaggiotti, OE, Dobney, KM, Parsons, K & Hoelzel, AR 2007. Genetic isolation of a now extinct population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Proceedings Of The Royal Society B-biological Sciences 274(1618): 1611-1616. (Additional information)
Magnussen, JE, Pikitch, EK, Clarke, SC, Nicholson, C, Hoelzel, AR & Shivji, MS 2007. Genetic tracking of basking shark products in international trade. Animal Conservation 10(2): 199-207. (Additional information)
Knutsen, H, Fiani, D, Sannae, H & Hoelzel, AR 2007. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in a marine fish species, the tusk (Brosme brosme). Molecular Ecology Notes 7(5): 851-853. (Additional information)
Knutsen, H, Jorde, PE, Albert, OT, Hoelzel, AR & Stenseth, NC 2007. Population genetic structure in the North Atlantic Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides): influenced by oceanic current systems? Canadian Journal Of Fisheries And Aquatic Sciences 64(6): 857-866. (Additional information)
Gaspari, S, Airoldi, S & Hoelzel, AR 2007. Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) in UK waters are differentiated from a population in the Mediterranean Sea and genetically less diverse. Conservation Genetics 8(3): 727-732. (Additional information)
Gaspari, S, Azzellino, A, Airoldi, S & Hoelzel, AR 2007. Social kin associations and genetic structuring of striped dolphin populations (Stenella coeruleoalba) in the Mediterranean Sea. Molecular Ecology 16(14): 2922-2933. (Additional information)
Hall, BL, Hoelzel, AR, Baroni, C, Denton, GH, Le Boeuf, BJ, Overturf, B & Topf, AL 2006. Holocene elephant seal distribution implies warmer-than-present climate in the Ross Sea. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 103(27): 10213-10217. (Additional information)
Foote, AD, Griffin, RM, Howitt, D, Larsson, L, Miller, PJO & Hoelzel, AR 2006. Killer whales are capable of vocal learning. Biology Letters 2(4): 509-512. (Additional information)
Hoelzel, AR, Shivji, MS, Magnussen, J & Francis, MP 2006. Low worldwide genetic diversity in the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus). Biology Letters 2(4): 639-642. (Additional information)
Natoli, A, Canadas, A, Peddemors, VM, Aguilar, A, Vaquero, C, Fernandez-Piqueras, P & Hoelzel, AR 2006. Phylogeography and alpha taxonomy of the common dolphin (Delphinus sp.). Journal Of Evolutionary Biology 19(3): 943-954. (Additional information)
Lewis, R, O'Connell, TC, Lewis, M, Carnpagna, C & Hoelzel, AR 2006. Sex-specific foraging strategies and resource partitioning in the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina). Proceedings Of The Royal Society B-biological Sciences 273(1603): 2901-2907. (Additional information)
Topf, AL, Gilbert, MTP, Dumbacher, JP & Hoelzel, AR 2006. Tracing the phylogeography of human populations in Britain based on 4th-11th century mtDNA genotypes. Molecular Biology And Evolution 23(1): 152-161. (Additional information)
Topf, AL & Hoelzel, AR 2005. A Romani mitochondrial haplotype in England 500 years before their recorded arrival in Britain. Biology Letters 1(3): 280-282. (Additional information)
Hoelzel, AR 2005. Ancient genomes. Genome Biology 6(12): 3. (Additional information)
Natoli, A, Birkun, A, Aguilar, A, Lopez, A & Hoelzel, AR 2005. Habitat structure and the dispersal of male and female bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Proceedings Of The Royal Society B-biological Sciences 272(1569): 1217-1226. (Additional information)
Fabiani, A, Galimberti, F, Sanvito, S & Hoelzel, AR 2004. Extreme polygyny among southern elephant seals on Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands. Behavioral Ecology 15(6): 961-969. (Additional information)
Natoli, A, Peddemors, VM & Hoelzel, AR 2004. Population structure and speciation in the genus Tursiops based on microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA analyses. Journal Of Evolutionary Biology 17(2): 363-375. (Additional information)
Foote, A.D., Osborne, R.W. & Hoelzel, A.R. 2004. Whale-call response to masking boat noise. Nature 428(6986): 910. (View publication online)
Pang, JF, Wang, YZ, Zhong, Y, Hoelzel, AR, Papenfuss, TJ, Zeng, XM, Ananjeva, NB & Zhang, YP 2003. A phylogeny of Chinese species in the genus Phrynocephalus (Agamidae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics And Evolution 27(3): 398-409. (Additional information)
Pang, JF, Hoelzel, AR, Song, YL, Zeng, ZG & Zhang, YP 2003. Lack of mtDNA control region variation in Hainan Eld's deer: Consequence of a recent population bottleneck? Conservation Genetics 4(1): 109-112. (Additional information)
Fabiani, A, Hoelzel, AR, Galimberti, F & Muelbert, MMC 2003. Long-range paternal gene flow in the southern elephant seal. Science 299(5607): 676-676. (Additional information)
Walker, NF, Hulme, PE & Hoelzel, AR 2003. Population genetics of an invasive species, Heracleum mantegazzianum: implications for the role of life history, demographics and independent introductions. Molecular Ecology 12(7): 1747-1756. (Additional information)
Hoelzel, A.R., Fleischer, R.C., Campagna, C., Le Beouf, B.J. & Alvord, G. 2002. Direct Evidence for the Impact of a Population Bottleneck on Symmetry and Genetic Diversity in the Northern Elephant Seal. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 15: 567-575.
Hoelzel, A.R., Natoli, A., Dahlheim, M., Olavarria, C., Baird, R.W. & Black, N. 2002. Low world-wide genetic diversity in the killer whale (Orcinus orca); Implications for demographic history. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 269(1499): 1467-1473. (View publication online)
Van der Walt, JM, Nel, LH & Hoelzel, AR 2001. Characterization of major histocompatibility complex DRB diversity in the endemic South African antelope Damaliscus pygargus: a comparison in two subspecies with different demographic histories. Molecular Ecology 10(7): 1679-1688. (Additional information)
Hoelzel, AR, Campagna, C & Arnbom, T 2001. Genetic and morphometric differentiation between island and mainland southern elephant seal populations. Proceedings Of The Royal Society Of London Series B-biological Sciences 268(1464): 325-332. (Additional information)
Wynen, LP, Goldsworthy, SD, Insley, SJ, Adams, M, Bickham, JW, Francis, J, Gallo, JP, Hoelzel, AR, Majluf, P, White, RWG & Slade, R 2001. Phylogenetic relationships within the eared seals (Otariidae Carnivora): Implications for the historical biogeography of the family. Molecular Phylogenetics And Evolution 21(2): 270-284. (Additional information)
Hoelzel AR, LeBoeuf, BJ, Reiter, J & Campagna, C 1999. Alpha-male paternity in elephant seals. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 46 298-306
Hoelzel AR 1999. Impact of population bottlenecks on genetic variation and the importance of life-history: a case study of the northern elephant seal. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 68 23-39
Hoelzel AR, Stephens, JC & O'Brien, SJ 1999. Molecular genetic diversity and evolution at the MHC DQB locus in four species of pinnipeds. Molecular Biology and Evolution 16 (5) 611-618
Hoelzel AR, Potter, CW & Best, PB 1998. Genetic differentiation between parapatric 'nearshore' and 'offshore' populations of the bottlenose dolphin. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B 265 1177-1183
Hoelzel, A.R. 1998. Genetic structure of cetacean populations in sympatry, parapatry and mixed assemblages; implications for conservation policy. Journal of Heredity 89: 451-458.
Hoelzel, AR, Dahlheim, M & Stern, SJ 1998. Low genetic variation among killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the eastern North Pacific and genetic differentiation between foraging specialists. Journal Of Heredity 89(2): 121-128. (Additional information)
Slade, RW, Moritz, C, Hoelzel, AR & Burton, HR 1998. Molecular population genetics of the southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina. Genetics 149(4): 1945-1957. (Additional information)
Hoelzel AR 1994. Ecology and genetics of whales and dolphins. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 25: 377-399.
HOELZEL, AR 1994. IMPROVED RESOLUTION OF (CAC)(N) DNA FINGERPRINTS. Nucleic Acids Research 22(7): 1315-1315. (Additional information)
HOELZEL, AR, LOPEZ, JV, DOVER, GA & OBRIEN, SJ 1994. RAPID EVOLUTION OF A HETEROPLASMIC REPETITIVE SEQUENCE IN THE MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA CONTROL REGION OF CARNIVORES. Journal Of Molecular Evolution 39(2): 191-199. (Additional information)
HOELZEL, AR, HALLEY, J, OBRIEN, SJ, CAMPAGNA, C, ARNBOM, T, LEBOEUF, B, RALLS, K & DOVER, GA 1993. ELEPHANT SEAL GENETIC-VARIATION AND THE USE OF SIMULATION-MODELS TO INVESTIGATE HISTORICAL POPULATION BOTTLENECKS. Journal Of Heredity 84(6): 443-449. (Additional information)
HOELZEL, AR 1993. FORAGING BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL GROUP-DYNAMICS IN PUGET-SOUND KILLER WHALES. Animal Behaviour 45(3): 581-591. (Additional information)
Hoelzel, A.R., Hancock, J.M. & Dover, G.A. 1993. Generation of VNTRs and heteroplasmy by sequence turnover in the mitochondrial control region of two elephant seal species. Journal of Molecular Evolution 37: 190-197.
AMOS, B & HOELZEL, AR 1992. APPLICATIONS OF MOLECULAR GENETIC TECHNIQUES TO THE CONSERVATION OF SMALL POPULATIONS. Biological Conservation 61(2): 133-144. (Additional information)
Hoelzel, AR 1992. Conservation genetics of whales and dolphins. Molecular Ecology 1(2): 119-125. (Additional information)
HOELZEL, AR, FORD, JKB & DOVER, GA 1991. A PATERNITY TEST CASE FOR THE KILLER WHALE (ORCINUS-ORCA) BY DNA FINGERPRINTING. Marine Mammal Science 7(1): 35-43. (Additional information)
HOELZEL, AR, HANCOCK, JM & DOVER, GA 1991. EVOLUTION OF THE CETACEAN MITOCHONDRIAL D-LOOP REGION. Molecular Biology And Evolution 8(4): 475-493. (Additional information)
HOELZEL, AR & DOVER, GA 1991. GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN SYMPATRIC KILLER WHALE POPULATIONS. Heredity 66: 191-195. (Additional information)
HOELZEL, AR 1991. KILLER WHALE PREDATION ON MARINE MAMMALS AT PUNTA-NORTE, ARGENTINA - FOOD SHARING, PROVISIONING AND FORAGING STRATEGY. Behavioral Ecology And Sociobiology 29(3): 197-204. (Additional information)
Hoelzel AR 1991. Whaling in the dark. Nature 352(481).
HOELZEL, AR 1989. TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOR OF THE ROBIN ERITHACUS-RUBECULA - THE IMPORTANCE OF VEGETATION DENSITY. Ibis 131(3): 432-436. (Additional information)
HOELZEL, AR, DORSEY, EM & STERN, SJ 1989. THE FORAGING SPECIALIZATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL MINKE WHALES. Animal Behaviour 38: 786-794. (Additional information)
Hoelzel, A.R. & Amos, W. 1988. DNA fingerprinting and 'scientific' whaling. Nature 333: 305.
HOELZEL, AR 1986. SONG CHARACTERISTICS AND RESPONSE TO PLAYBACK OF MALE AND FEMALE ROBINS ERITHACUS-RUBECULA. Ibis 128(1): 115-127. (Additional information)