Professor Charles Daugherty

Position: Program Director ANZCoL
Email: Charles.Daugherty@vuw.ac.nz
Phone: +64 4 463 5572
Fax: +64 4 463 5331
Room: KK 505/608
School of Biological Sciences
Victoria University of Wellington
P.O. Box 600
Wellington, New Zealand.

Research Interests

My research interests focus on evolutionary and population biology of vertebrates, conservation genetics, and ecological restoration. The conservation biology of tuatara is a longstanding interest, and recent studies with my students have examined the ecological relationships of tuatara to seabirds and rats, temperature-dependent sex determination, and the re-establishment of tuatara in nature. With students and collaborators, I have also used allozyme electrophoresis to measure genetic variation and test taxonomies of an array of native species, and to assess the implications of those taxonomies for conservation.

Current Research Projects

Temperature-dependent Sex Determination

With a post-doctoral researcher and two graduate students, I am presently investigating the effects of incubation temperature on the sex and fitness of the only two egg-laying reptiles in New Zealand. We are asking whether incubation temperature not only affects sex in reptiles, but also compromises survival abilities of these species.

Diversity of New Zealand Birds and Reptiles

In collaboration with the New Zealand Department of Conservation, my students and I have described genetic variation and population structure of endangered native species, including tuatara, lizards, parakeets, kiwis, and ducks. We have identified many new species.

Conservation Biology of Tuatara

With post-doctoral researchers and graduate students, I have collected basic information on the biology of tuatara (an ancient New Zealand reptile of high conservation significance) to support their conservation. We have studied their reproductive biology, genetic variation, ecological relationships, and the role of rats in tuatara extinctions.

Ecological Restoration of New Zealand Islands: I supervise a program for captive incubation of eggs of endangered stocks of tuatara. Hatchlings are "head-started" for eventual return to nature to establish new populations. In 1995 and 1998, two new populations were established, the first ever for tuatara; three more are planned. My graduate students are monitoring their success and evaluating the methodologies. Additionally, working with the Department of Conservation and Maori tribes, we have eradicated rats on islands and begun the process of preparing these islands for the return of native species exterminated by introduced predators.

Recent & Current Student Projects

Post-Doctoral Fellows
Dr Nicola J. Nelson:	How will reptiles with temperature dependent sex determination cope with global warming? A case study - tuatara. Millennium Fellowship, Zoological Society of San Diego. (http://www.sandiegozoo.org/)
Dr Nicola J. Mitchell:	Temperature dependent sex determination in Brothers tuatara. Linnean Society of London.
Dr Ana Djorovic:	Symmetry, growth, and fitness of juvenile tuatara. New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Post-Doctoral Fellowship.
Dr R.A. Hitchmough:	Evolution, diversity, and biogeography of New Zealand geckos. Marsden Fund Post-Doctoral Fellowship.
Dr Alison Cree:	Reproductive physiology of tuatara. VUW Post-Doctoral Grant.
Dr M.B. Thompson:	Egg physiology of tuatara. VUW Post-Doctoral Grant.
PhD Students
Kelly Hare:	The nocturnality hypothesis in lizards.
Nicola J. Nelson :	Temperature-dependent sex determination and fitness of juvenile tuatara.
W-M. Boon:	Molecular systematics and conservation of Cyanorhamphus parakeets.
T. Markwell:	Ecological relationships of tuatara, lizards, and seabirds on Marlborough Sounds Islands.
R.A. Hitchmough:	A systematic revision of the New Zealand Gekkonidae.
R. Moorhouse:	Productivity, sexual dimorphism and diet of North Island Kaka on Kapiti Island.
J.M. Herbert:	Biochemical characterization of porina larvae ( Wiseana spp.) and implications for pest management.
>M.A. Richards:	Chromosomal and biochemical systematics of New Zealand wetas.
L.M. Milicich:	A taxonomic revision of the plant genus Bulbinella .
R. Ainsworth:	A revision of the Pharyngodoninae, nematodes of frogs and lizards.
S.J. Triggs:	Population and ecological genetics of the brush-tailed possum ( Trichosurus vulpecula ).
A. Cree:	Ecological physiology of native frogs ( Leiopelma ). (external supervisor, Waikato University)
M.Sc. (Honours) Students
C. Stephens:	Lizard communities on Stephens Island.
B. Blanchard:	Captive management of tuatara.
J. Huggins:	Genetic evaluation of taxonomy of the kaka.
K. Merrifield:	Translocation of tuatara to Matiu/Somes Island.
P. Phillpot:	The skinks of North Brother Island - abundance, habitat use, and species interactions.
A. Saunders:	Ecological restoration at selected sites on the New Zealand mainland: a review.
Z. Park:	Allozyme variation and systematics of NZ Clematis .
C. Miller:	Genetic inventory of skinks of the West Coast, South Island, New Zealand.
N. Nelson:	Conservation of the Brothers Island tuatara ( Sphenodon guntheri ).
R. Garthwaite:	A management strategy for the short term protection of kakapo ( Strigops habroptilus ) from kiore ( Rattus e. exulans Peale) in podocarp forest on Codfish Island (Whenoua Hou), New Zealand.
K. Tutt:	Reproductive biology of peripatus.
B. Dix:	Diet and movements of the New Zealand fur seal.