Research

Our group is interested in the role of sexual reproduction in the origin and conservation of biodiversity.

We study the evolution of reproductive strategies and, in particular, our research interests focus on understanding how events ocurring after copulation and before fertilisation influence male reproductive success, both in competitive and non-competitive contexts. Males compete after copulation when females mate with more than one male during a single reproductive cycle, a widespread phenomenon known as sperm competition. We study how sperm competition has favoured adaptations at the behavioural, physiological, cellular and molecular level. Male adaptations to sperm competition may have adverse effects on females, leading to a conflict of interests between the sexes which may promote rapid co-evolution and divergence between populations in reproductive traits. We are interested in understanding how such processes may eventually lead to speciation.

Work on biodiversity conservation concentrates on two areas. First, we study the effects of inbreeding upon male reproduction in endangered species. Second, we develop reproductive biotechnologies (assisted reproductive techniques) for endangered species to facilite the exchange of genes between populations (both captive and natural).

Specific projects focus on:

1. Sperm competition and the evolution of gametes among mammals(ESPESEX)

2. Sperm signalling and function

3. The evolution of parental care

4. Male fertility in natural populations of red deer

5. Reproduction in endangered ungulates (RUPEX)

6. Genetic resource bank for endangered Iberian species (BanGES)

7. Genetic resource bank for South American felines