Position
Population Biologist; Fish Ecologist
Email
info@mdfrc.org.au
Research Themes
Rick Stoffels has conducted research in a broad range of biological disciplines (from experimental ethology to mathematical population genetics), but can be broadly classified as a population biologist. He has experience in the two major sub-disciplines of population biology: population genetics and population ecology. Rick uses experiments, descriptive studies and mathematical models to improve our understanding of the structure and dynamics of populations.
Rick joined the MDFRC in 2007, where he has specialised as a freshwater fish population biologist. His specific research interests at the Centre include:
- Flow-demography relationships in freshwater fishes.
- Bioenergetics of freshwater fishes.
- Population biology of freshwater fishes.
- Quantitative/mathematical conservation planning for freshwater fish populations.
- Population biology of vertebrate immunity and disease.
- Population modelling, both theoretical and applied
Please contact Rick if you are thinking of undertaking an Honours degree or PhD and would like to focus on the biology of freshwater fishes.
Tertiary Qualifications
2005 - ongoing: Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) University of Otago, New Zealand (2/3rd of degree requirements complete. Average grade: A-)
2004: Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) completed 1st year of degree, University of Queensland, Australia (Dean’s Commendation for High Achievement).
2004: PhD (Zoology) University of Otago, New Zealand.
1999: Bachelor of Science (Hons, 1st class), Environmental Management and Ecology, LaTrobe University, VIC., Australia.
Reports and Publications
Peer-Reviewed Publications:
Stoffels, R.J. and H.G. Spencer. (2008) An asymmetric model of heterozygote advantage at major histocompatibility complex genes: Degenerate pathogen recognition and intersection advantage. Genetics in press
Star, B., R.J. Stoffels and H.G. Spencer (2007) Evolution of fitnesses and allele frequencies in a population with spatially heterogeneous selection pressures. Genetics 177: 1743-1751.
Star, B., R.J. Stoffels and H.G. Spencer. (2007) Single-locus polymorphism in a heterogeneous two-deme model. Genetics 176: 1625-1633.
Stoffels RJ, Clarke KR, Closs GP. (2005). Spatial scale and benthic community organisation in the littoral zones of large lakes: potential for cross-scale interaction. Freshwater Biology 50(7): 1131-1145.
Stoffels, R.J., Closs, G.P. and Burns, C.W. (2003). Multiple scales and the relationship between density and spatial aggregation in littoral zone communities. Oikos 103: 81-92.
David, B.O. and Stoffels, R.J. (2003). Spatial organisation and behavioural interaction of giant kokopu (Galaxias argenteus) in two stream pools differing in fish density. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 37(2): 315-322.
Stoffels, R.J. and Humphries, P. (2003). Ontogenetic variation in the diurnal food and habitat associations of an endemic and an exotic fish in floodplain ponds: consequences for niche partitioning. Environmental Biology of Fishes 66(3): 293-305.
Stoffels, R.J., Karbe, S. and Paterson, R.A. (2003). Length-mass models for some common New Zealand littoral-benthic macroinvertebrates, with a note on within-taxon variability in parameter values among published models. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 37(2): 449-460.
Stoffels, R.J. and Closs, G.P. (2002). Abundance of brown trout as related to littoral zone gradient in Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 36(2): 455-458.
