Caitlin Mudge
Higher Degree by Research Candidate
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
My research uses ancient DNA to understand population dynamics of extinct and extant mammals across Australia with a particular focus on the Holocene. The four chapters of my PhD focus on different aspects of faunal diversity within Australia. In particular I will be looking at the following:
1. The impact of gene flow across the Bassian Isthmus on thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) distribution
2. Mitochondrial phylogeography of the western quoll (Dasyurus geofforii) across southern Australia
3. Species history of two native rodent species (Pseudomys) from Wet Cave, Naracoorte.
The results from my research will help us understand the faunal landscape and historic diversity of these mammal groups during the Holocene.
During my Honours in 2018 I implemented ancient DNA techniques to recover degraded DNA from unknown museum artifacts to assess provenance in my thesis titled 'Phylogenetic Analysis of Historic Museum Samples with Unknown Origin'. I determined that 12 unknown kakapo skins were collected form the South Island of New Zealand and an unusual whaling artifact belonged to a sperm whale with the most common mitochondrial haplotype found in the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
My research uses ancient DNA to understand population dynamics of extinct and extant mammals across Australia with a particular focus on the Holocene. The four chapters of my PhD focus on different aspects of faunal diversity within Australia. In particular I will be looking at the following:
1. The impact of gene flow across the Bassian Isthmus on thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) distribution
2. Mitochondrial phylogeography of the western quoll (Dasyurus geofforii) across southern Australia
3. Species history of two native rodent species (Pseudomys) from Wet Cave, Naracoorte.
The results from my research will help us understand the faunal landscape and historic diversity of these mammal groups during the Holocene.
During my Honours in 2018 I implemented ancient DNA techniques to recover degraded DNA from unknown museum artifacts to assess provenance in my thesis titled 'Phylogenetic Analysis of Historic Museum Samples with Unknown Origin'. I determined that 12 unknown kakapo skins were collected form the South Island of New Zealand and an unusual whaling artifact belonged to a sperm whale with the most common mitochondrial haplotype found in the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
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Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2018 - 2018 The University of Adelaide Australia Honours -
Research Interests
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Journals
Year Citation 2021 Mitchell, K. J., Bover, P., Salis, A. T., Mudge, C., Heiniger, H., Thompson, M., . . . Meachen, J. A. (2021). Evidence for Pleistocene gene flow through the ice-free corridor from extinct horses and camels from Natural Trap Cave, Wyoming. Quaternary International, 647-648, 71-80.
Scopus2 WoS22021 Mudge, C., Gray, L. J., & Austin, J. J. (2021). Using mitochondrial DNA to identify the provenance of 19th century Kākāpō skins held in Australia’s oldest natural history collection, the Macleay. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 122(1), 1-11.
Scopus1 WoS12020 Mudge, C., Dallwitz, R., Llamas, B., & Austin, J. J. (2020). Using ancient DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating to determine the provenance of an unusual whaling artifact. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 8, 505233-1-505233-10.
Scopus1 WoS1
I was a volunteer demonstrator on the Evolutionary Biology III camp to Naracoorte in 2019.
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2019 - 2020 Board Member School of Biological Sciences Postgraduate Association The University of Adelaide Australia
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