Ola Svensson

Institution/Department: Department of Zoology
Previous studies: Stockholm University, University of Hull.
Thesis: Sexual selection in Pomatoschistus - nests, sperm competition and paternal care.
Research areas: Behavioural Ecology, Evolution, Genetics, Speciation
Current research: Sexual selection in the sand gobies Pomatoschistus ­minutus and Pomatoschistus microps both belong to the so called sand goby group in which all species have exclusive paternal care. My research on the sand gobies is focused on different aspects important in sexual selection, e.g. nest building, sperm competition, paternity and paternal care, and their mutual ­interrelationships. Furthermore, I am also interested in paternal care per se, that is, outside of the framework of sexual selection.
The genetics of mate choice and speciation in African cichlids
There are hundreds of mouth brooding cichlid fish species unique to Lakes Malawi and Victoria in Africa. Many closely-related species can be crossed in the laboratory, but mate assortatively in nature, suggesting that speciation may ­often be influenced by mate choice behaviour. To unravel the genetic ­background of reproductive isolation we are designing and carrying out ­experimental crosses, assaying male phenotypes used in species recognition and carrying out experimental tests of mate preference using molecular ­paternity analysis.

E-mail address: ola.svensson@zool.gu.se
http://www.zoologi.gu.se/kontakta_oss/gastforskare_postdoc/Svensson_Ola