JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Catarina Silva

About

My research interests are related to understanding the interactions between genotype, phenotype and environment. I use genetic and ecological approaches to study the complex mechanisms driving the distribution and adaptation of organisms (e.g. examining patterns of connectivity, gene flow, plastic responses and signatures of local adaptation). My applied research interests are related to fisheries, aquaculture and conservation. I am interested in translating the results of the research to inform conservation and management decisions.

Currently at the Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture I am using genomic tools to investigate neutral and adaptive processes influencing the genetic structure and divergence patterns of a range of commercially important lobster species. I also apply genomic tools to tackle challenging issues and opportunities in fisheries and aquaculture.

Experience

2023 to present - Researcher, Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
2021 to present - Adjunct Research Fellow, James Cook University
2017 to 2020 - Postdoctoral Research Fellow, James Cook University (Australia)
2015 to 2017 - Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Helsinki (Finland)
2012 to 2015 - Research and Teaching Assistant, Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand)
2011 to 2015 - PhD, Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand)
2009 to 2011 - MSc, Federal University of Parana (Brasil)
2003 to 2008 - BSc, University of Aveiro (Portugal)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2014 - VUW PhD Submission Scholarship
2014 - Kathleen Stewart Postgraduate Scholarship
2011 to 2014 - Victoria Doctoral Scholarship
2013 - VUW Faculty of Science Strategic Research Grant
2012 to 2013 - Society for Conservation Biology Travel Award
2012 to 2013 - Victoria University of Wellington Students Association Sponsorship
2011 - CNPq – National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development
2009 to 2011 - CAPES – Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (MSc scholarship)
2008 to 2009 - ERASMUS – Student Mobility for Placements

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Arbon P, Silva C, Jones D, Jaccoud D, Gervis M, Jerry D and Strugnell J (2021) Development and validation of a SNP-based genotyping tool for pedigree establishment in Australian greenlip abalone Haliotis laevigata Donovan, 1808. Aquaculture Reports, 20.
Gardner J, Nunes Soares Silva C, Norrie C and Dunphy B (2021) Combining genotypic and phenotypic variation in a geospatial framework to identify sources of mussels in northern New Zealand. Scientific Reports, 11.
Lau S, Strugnell J, Sands C, Silva C and Wilson N (2021) Evolutionary innovations in Antarctic brittle stars linked to glacial refugia. Ecology and Evolution, 11 (23). pp. 17428-17446
Silva C, Young E, Murphy N, Bell J, Green B, Morley S, Duhamel G, Cockcroft A and Strugnell J (2021) Climatic change drives dynamic source–sink relationships in marine species with high dispersal potential. Ecology and Evolution, 11 (6). pp. 2535-2550
Silva C, Murphy N, Bell J, Green B, Duhamel G, Cockcroft A, Hernández C and Strugnell J (2021) Global drivers of recent diversification in a marine species complex. Molecular Ecology, 30 (5). pp. 1223-1236
Vu N, Zenger K, Nunes Soares Silva C, Guppy J and Jerry D (2021) Population structure, genetic connectivity, and signatures of local adaptation of the giant black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) throughout the indo-pacific region. Genome Biology and Evolution, 13 (10).
Lau S, Wilson N, Silva C and Strugnell J (2020) Detecting glacial refugia in the Southern Ocean. Ecography, 43 (11). pp. 1639-1656
Vu N, Zenger K, Guppy J, Sellars M, Nunes Soares Silva C, Kjeldsen S and Jerry D (2020) Fine-scale population structure and evidence for local adaptation in Australian giant black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) using SNP analysis. BMC Genomics, 21.
Kosch T, Silva C, Brannelly L, Roberts A, Lau Q, Marantelli G, Berger L and Skerratt L (2019) Genetic potential for disease resistance in critically endangered amphibians decimated by chytridiomycosis. Animal Conservation, 22 (3). pp. 238-250
Nowland S, Silva C, Southgate P and Strugnell J (2019) Mitochondrial and nuclear genetic analyses of the tropical black-lip rock oyster (Saccostrea echinata) reveals population subdivision and informs sustainable aquaculture development. BMC Genomics, 20.
Silva C, Villacorta-Rath C, Woodings L, Murphy N, Green B, Hartmann K, Gardner C, Bell J and Strugnell J (2019) Advancing our understanding of the connectivity, evolution and management of marine lobsters through genetics. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 29 (3). pp. 669-687
Silva C, Macdonald H, Hadfield M, Cryer M and Gardner J (2019) Ocean currents predict fine-scale genetic structure and source-sink dynamics in a marine invertebrate coastal fishery. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 76 (4). pp. 1007-1018

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 18+ research outputs authored by Dr Catarina Silva from 2011 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Fisheries Research & Development Corporation - Annual Competitive Round

Testing established methods of early prediction of genetic merit in abalone broodstock

Indicative Funding: $85,422 over 3 years
Summary: There is a need in the abalone industry to improve production animals. However, abalone are relatively slow growing animals and take several years to reach harvest size. This means that during the establishment of foundation broodstock populations it may be several years before the relative genetic merit of each of the broodstock can be determined and the first selection decisions made. Researchers at JCU have addressed this time-lag problem of obtaining accurate genetic estimated breeding values (gEBV) in other species. They have shown that broodstock gEBV can be estimated accurately from larvae as early as 18 days through the targeting of growth processes at the cellular level that predict genetic-determined long-term growth. This method is as yet untested in abalone, but if successful, has great potential in helping screen broodstock. This project will test the efficacy of this early prediction method in abalone. The impact of this early detection method would be to save costs by assisting in the selection of superior broodstock individuals which would produce faster growing offspring. Currently new broodstock animals are unevaluated with regard to their genetic merit.
Investigators: Jan Strugnell, Dean Jerry, Jose Domingos and Catarina Silva (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Abalone; Genetics

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Completed

Quaternary evolutionary persistence of Southern Ocean benthic taxa (2022, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.