Korjent van Dijk

Research Interests

Genetics Marine and Estuarine Ecology Marine Biology & Hydrobiology Plant Systematics and Taxonomy Population, Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics

Dr Korjent van Dijk

Grant-Funded Researcher (A)

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

I am a research associate in Prof. Michelle Waycott research group. I am leading research into population genetics and evolution of plants, and specialised seagrasses. I utilise molecular genetic techniques –traditional and NGS– to establish the relationship among species, populations and genetic individuals. In the recent years we have been developing Hybrid Capture methods (OzBaits) to assess phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships among plants using dozens of nuclear and plastid loci. We have also been testing if this targeted approach can be used for environmental (eDNA) or ancient (aDNA) DNA.

Date Position Institution name
2012 - ongoing Postdoctoral Research Fellow The University of Adelaide
2009 - 2012 Postdoctoral Research Fellow James Cook University

Language Competency
Dutch; Flemish Can read, write and speak
Spanish - Latin American Can read, write and speak

Date Institution name Country Title
2001 - 2009 The National Autonomous University of Mexico Mexico PhD
1993 - 1999 University of Groningen The Netherlands Master of Biological Sciences

Year Citation
2025 Nge, F. J., Biffin, E., Rye, B. L., Wilson, P. G., van Dijk, K. -J., Thiele, K. R., . . . Barrett, M. D. (2025). Australian biogeography, climate-dependent diversification and phylogenomics of the spectacular Chamelaucieae tribe (Myrtaceae). Australian Systematic Botany, 38(1), SB24014-1-SB24014-30.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5
2025 Hammer, T. A., Biffin, E., van Dijk, K. -J., Thiele, K. R., & Waycott, M. (2025). A framework phylogeny of the diverse guinea-flowers (Hibbertia, Dilleniaceae) using high-throughput sequence data. Australian Systematic Botany, 38(2), SB24009-1-SB24009-20.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3
2025 Kireta, D., van Dijk, K. -J., Crotty, S., Malik, A., Bell, K., Hogendoorn, K., & Lowe, A. J. (2025). A Novel Approach for Pollen Identification and Quantification Using Hybrid Capture-Based DNA Metabarcoding.. Ecology and Evolution, 15(4), e71311-1-e71311-15.
DOI
2025 Werner, L. E., Kleemann, S. L., Dix, S. K., Van Dijk, K., Biffin, E., Waycott, M., . . . Taggart, D. A. (2025). The influence of season, habitat and diet on the faecal microbiome of the yellow-footed rock-wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus xanthopus). Australian Journal of Zoology, 73(4), 17 pages.
DOI
2025 Williamson, L. T., Biffin, E., Hammer, T. A., van Dijk, K. -J., Conran, J. G., & Waycott, M. (2025). Phylogenomics of Australian sundews (Drosera: Droseraceae). Australian Systematic Botany, 38(4), SB24016-1-SB24016-20.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2025 Nge, F. J., Biffin, E., Thornhill, A. H., van Dijk, K. J., & Waycott, M. (2025). Phylogenomic incongruence leads to different spatial phylogenetic patterns: an Australian continental scale case study with Isopogon and Petrophile (Proteaceae). Australian Systematic Botany, 38(5), 18 pages.
DOI
2024 Foster, N. R., Jones, A. R., Serrano, O., Lafratta, A., Lavery, P. S., van Dijk, K. -J., . . . Waycott, M. (2024). Environmental DNA identifies coastal plant community shift 1,000 years ago in Torrens Island, South Australia. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1), 11 pages.
DOI Scopus2 WoS1
2024 Zuntini, A. R., Carruthers, T., Maurin, O., Bailey, P. C., Leempoel, K., Brewer, G. E., . . . Baker, W. J. (2024). Phylogenomics and the rise of the angiosperms. Nature, 629(8013), 843-850.
DOI Scopus225 WoS234 Europe PMC175
2024 Khan, R., Biffin, E., van Dijk, K. -J., Hill, R. S., Liu, J., & Waycott, M. (2024). Development of a Target Enrichment Probe Set for Conifer (REMcon). Biology, 13(6), 361.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC5
2023 van Dijk, K. -J., Waycott, M., Biffin, E., Creed, J. C., Albertazzi, F. J., & Samper-Villarreal, J. (2023). Phylogenomic Insights into the Phylogeography of Halophila baillonii Asch.. Diversity, 15(1), 111.
DOI Scopus6 WoS7
2023 Hernawan, U. E., van Dijk, K. -J., Kendrick, G. A., Feng, M., Berry, O., Kavazos, C., & McMahon, K. (2023). Ocean connectivity and habitat characteristics predict population genetic structure of seagrass in an extreme tropical setting.. Ecology and evolution, 13(7), e10257.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2022 Foster, N. R., van Dijk, K. -J., Biffin, E., Young, J. M., Thomson, V. A., Gillanders, B. M., . . . Waycott, M. (2022). A targeted capture approach to generating reference sequence databases for chloroplast gene regions.. Ecology and evolution, 12(4), 1-10.
DOI Scopus7 WoS7 Europe PMC5
2022 Simpson, J., Conran, J. G., Biffin, E., van Dijk, K. J., & Waycott, M. (2022). The Crinum flaccidum (Amaryllidaceae) species complex in Australia. Australian Systematic Botany, 35(5), 395-402.
DOI WoS3
2022 Young, J. M., Liddicoat, C., van Dijk, K. -J., Tabernero, P., Caillet, C., White, N. J., . . . Newton, P. N. (2022). Environmental DNA as an innovative technique to identify the origins of falsified antimalarial tablets—a pilot study of the pharmabiome. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 13 pages.
DOI Scopus7 WoS7 Europe PMC3
2021 Evans, R. D., McMahon, K. M., van Dijk, K. J., Dawkins, K., Nilsson Jacobi, M., & Vikrant, A. (2021). Identification of dispersal barriers for a colonising seagrass using seascape genetic analysis. Science of the Total Environment, 763, 1-11.
DOI Scopus10 WoS10 Europe PMC2
2021 Sinclair, E. A., Sherman, C. D. H., Statton, J., Copeland, C., Matthews, A., Waycott, M., . . . Kendrick, G. A. (2021). Advances in approaches to seagrass restoration in Australia. Ecological Management & Restoration, 22(1), 10-21.
DOI Scopus35 WoS31
2021 Foster, N. R., van Dijk, K. -J., Biffin, E., Young, J. M., Thomson, V. A., Gillanders, B. M., . . . Waycott, M. (2021). A Multi-Gene Region Targeted Capture Approach to Detect Plant DNA in Environmental Samples: A Case Study From Coastal Environments. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9, 735744-1-735744-12.
DOI Scopus14 WoS12
2021 Hernawan, U. E., Lavery, P. S., Kendrick, G. A., van Dijk, K. J., Ulumuddin, Y. I., Triandiza, T., & McMahon, K. M. (2021). Predictors of marine genetic structure in the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 47, 11 pages.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5
2021 Waycott, M., van Dijk, K. J., Calladine, A., Bricker, E., & Biffin, E. (2021). Genomics-based phylogenetic and population genetic analysis of global samples confirms Halophila johnsonii Eiseman as Halophila ovalis (R.Br.) Hook.f.. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 1-13.
DOI Scopus12 WoS11
2020 van Dijk, J., Waycott, M., Quarmby, J., Bickerton, D., Thornhill, A. H., Cross, H., & Biffin, E. (2020). Genomic Screening Reveals That the Endangered Eucalyptus paludicola (Myrtaceae) Is a Hybrid. Diversity, 12(12), 1-13.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6
2020 Digiantonio, G., Blum, L., McGlathery, K., van Dijk, J., & Waycott, M. (2020). Genetic mosaicism and population connectivity of edge-of-range Halodule wrightii populations. Aquatic Botany, 161, 103161-1-103161-11.
DOI Scopus7 WoS7
2020 Dormontt, E. E., Jardine, D. I., van Dijk, K. -J., Dunker, B. F., Dixon, R. R. M., Hipkins, V. D., . . . Lowe, A. J. (2020). Forensic validation of a SNP and INDEL panel for individualisation of timber from bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum Pursch).. Forensic science international. Genetics, 46, 7 pages.
DOI Scopus23 WoS19 Europe PMC11
2020 Tan, Y. M., Dalby, O., Kendrick, G. A., Statton, J., Sinclair, E. A., Fraser, M. W., . . . Sherman, C. D. H. (2020). Seagrass restoration is possible: insights and lessons from Australia and New Zealand. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 617-1-617-21.
DOI Scopus151 WoS136
2019 Dunker, B., Dormontt, E., van Dijk, K., Dixon, R., Jardine, D., Kireta, D., . . . Lowe, A. (2019). A set of 156 SNP markers for teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.). Conservation Genetics Resources, 12(2), 205-207.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6
2018 van Dijk, K., Digiantonio, G., & Waycott, M. (2018). New microsatellite markers for the seagrass Amphibolis antarctica reveal unprecedented genetic diversity. Aquatic Botany, 148, 25-28.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3
2018 van Dijk, K., Bricker, E., van Tussenbroek, B., & Waycott, M. (2018). Range-wide population genetic structure of the Caribbean marine angiosperm Thalassia testudinum. Ecology and Evolution, 8(18), 9478-9490.
DOI Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC3
2018 Bijak, A., Dijk, K., & Waycott, M. (2018). Population structure and gene flow of the tropical seagrass, Syringodium filiforme, in the Florida Keys and subtropical Atlantic region. PLoS ONE, 13(9), 18 pages.
DOI Scopus10 WoS9 Europe PMC4
2018 Dormontt, E., van Dijk, K., Bell, K., Biffin, E., Breed, M., Byrne, M., . . . Lowe, A. (2018). Advancing DNA barcoding and metabarcoding applications for plants requires systematic analysis of herbarium collections-an Australian perspective. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 6(SEP), 1-12.
DOI Scopus71 WoS61
2017 McMahon, K., Evans, R., Van Dijk, K., Hernawan, U., Kendrick, G., Lavery, P., . . . Waycott, M. (2017). Disturbance is an important driver of clonal richness in tropical seagrasses. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, 2026-1-2026-14.
DOI Scopus35 WoS34 Europe PMC13
2017 York, P., Smith, T., Coles, R., McKenna, S., Connolly, R., Irving, A., . . . Whitehead, S. (2017). Identifying knowledge gaps in seagrass research and management: An Australian perspective. Marine Environmental Research, 127, 163-172.
DOI Scopus80 WoS73 Europe PMC22
2017 Hernawan, U., van Dijk, K., Kendrick, G., Feng, M., Biffin, E., Lavery, P., & McMahon, K. (2017). Historical processes and contemporary ocean currents drive genetic structure in the seagrass Thalassia hemprichii in the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Molecular Ecology, 26(4), 1008-1021.
DOI Scopus50 WoS46 Europe PMC24
2016 Van Tussenbroek, B., Valdivia-Carrillo, T., Rodríguez-Virgen, I., Sanabria-Alcaraz, S., Jiménez-Durán, K., Van Dijk, K., & Marquez-Guzmán, G. (2016). Coping with potential bi-parental inbreeding: limited pollen and seed dispersal and large genets in the dioecious marine angiosperm Thalassia testudinum. Ecology and Evolution, 6(15), 5542-5556.
DOI Scopus20
2016 Cross, H., Biffin, E., Van Dijk, K., Lowe, A., & Waycott, M. (2016). Effective application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches in systematics and population genetics: case studies in Eucalyptus and Acacia. Australian Systematic Botany, 29(3), 235-246.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3
2016 Jardine, D., Blanc-Jolivet, C., Dixon, R., Dormontt, E., Dunker, B., Gerlach, J., . . . Lowe, A. (2016). Development of SNP markers for Ayous (Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum) an economically important tree species from tropical West and Central Africa. Conservation Genetics Resources, 8(2), 129-139.
DOI Scopus13 WoS13
2015 Jardine, D., Dormontt, E., van Dijk, K., Dixon, R., Dunker, B., & Lowe, A. (2015). A set of 204 SNP and INDEL markers for Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum Pursch). Conservation Genetics Resources, 7(4), 797-801.
DOI Scopus7 WoS6
2014 Ranjbar, M., Hajmoradi, F., Waycott, M., & Van Dijk, K. (2014). A phylogeny of the tribe Caraganeae (Fabaceae) based on DNA sequence data from ITS. Feddes Repertorium, 125(3-4), 78-84.
DOI Scopus8
2014 Bijak, A., van Dijk, K., & Waycott, M. (2014). Development of microsatellite markers for a tropical seagrass, Syringodium filiforme (Cymodoceaceae). Applications in Plant Sciences, 2(10), 1400082-1-1400082-4.
DOI Scopus6 WoS8 Europe PMC3
2014 McMahon, K., van Dijk, K., Ruiz-Montoya, L., Kendrick, G., Krauss, S., Waycott, M., . . . Duarte, C. (2014). The movement ecology of seagrasses. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences, 281(1795), 20140878-1-20140878-9.
DOI Scopus144 WoS124 Europe PMC57
2014 van Dijk, K., Mellors, J., & Waycott, M. (2014). Development of multiplex microsatellite PCR panels for the seagrass Thalassia hemprichii (Hydrocharitaceae). Applications in Plant Sciences, 2(11), 1400078-1-1400078-5.
DOI Scopus11 WoS7 Europe PMC4
2014 Collier, C., Villacorta-Rath, C., van Dijk, J., Takahashi, M., & Waycott, M. (2014). Seagrass proliferation precedes mortality during hypo-salinity events: a stress-induced morphometric response. PLoS One, 9(4), 1-11.
DOI Scopus45 WoS43 Europe PMC14
2012 Kendrick, G., Waycott, M., Carruthers, T., Cambridge, M., Hovey, R., Krauss, S., . . . Verduin, J. (2012). The central role of dispersal in the maintenance and persistence of seagrass populations. Bioscience, 62(1), 56-65.
DOI Scopus270 WoS251
2011 Waycott, M., Jones, B. L., Van Dijk, J. K., Robson, H. L., & Calladine, A. (2011). Microsatellite markers in the Australian desert plant, Solanum centrale (Solanaceae). American Journal of Botany, 98(4), e81-e83.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC1
2010 van Dijk, J. K., & van Tussenbroek, B. I. (2010). Clonal diversity and structure related to habitat of the marine angiosperm Thalassia testudinum along the Atlantic coast of Mexico. Aquatic Botany, 92(1), 63-69.
DOI Scopus42
2009 van Dijk, J., van Tussenbroek, B., Jiménez-Durán, K., Márquez-Guzmán, G., & Ouborg, J. (2009). High levels of gene flow and low population genetic structure related to high dispersal potential of a tropical marine angiosperm. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 390, 67-77.
DOI Scopus61
2008 Van Tussenbroek, B., Barba Santos, M., van Dijk, J., Sanabria Alcaraz, S., & Tellez Calderon, M. (2008). Selective elimination of rooted plants from a tropical seagrass bed in a back-reef lagoon: a hypothesis tested by Hurricane Wilma (2005). Journal of Coastal Research, 24(1), 278-281.
DOI Scopus33
2007 van Tussenbroek, B. I., & van Dijk, J. K. (2007). Spatial and temporal variability in biomass and production of psammophytic Halimeda incrassata (bryopsidales, chlorophyta), in a Caribbean reef lagoon. Journal of Phycology, 43(1), 69-77.
DOI Scopus50
2007 van Dijk, J., Waycott, M., van Tussenbroek, B., & Ouborg, J. (2007). Polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Caribbean seagrass Thalassia testudinum Banks ex König. Molecular Ecology Notes, 7(1), 89-91.
DOI Scopus12 WoS12 Europe PMC3
2006 van Tussenbroek, B. I., Barba Santos, M. G., & van Dijk, J. K. (2006). Unusual synchronous spawning by green algae (Bryopsidales), after the passage of Hurricane Wilma (2005). Botanica Marina, 49(3), 270-271.
DOI Scopus6

Year Citation
2010 Tussenbroek, B. I. V., Barba Santos, M., Wong, J., van Dijk, J., & Waycott, M. (2010). Guía de los pastos marinos tropicales del Atlántico oeste. Mexico: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico.
2010 van Tussenbroek, B. I., Santos, M. G. B., Wong, J. G. R., van Dijk, J. K., & Waycott, M. (2010). A guide to the tropical seagrasses of the Western Atlantic. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

Year Citation
2018 McMahon, K., Sinclair, E., Sherman, C., van Dijk, J., Hernawan, U., Verduin, J., & Waycott, M. (2018). Genetic connectivity in tropical and temperate Australian seagrass species. In A. Larkum, G. Kendrick, & P. Ralph (Eds.), Seagrasses of Australia: Structure, Ecology and Conservation (pp. 155-194). Switzerland: Springer.
DOI Scopus11

Year Citation
2015 Jardine, D. I., Dormontt, E. E., Gerlach, J., van dijk, J. K., Degen, B., & Lowe, A. J. (2015). Genographic mapping of an African tropical Hardwood - application to DNA tracking. Poster session presented at the meeting of World Forestry Congress. Durban, South Africa.

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2018 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Restoring Bee Diversity and Pollination Services through Revegetation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Dona Kireta

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