Dr Jane Squirrell is a molecular ecologist and conservation geneticist and a member of the Genetics and Conservation Section at RBGE
Jane's main research interests are in molecular ecology and conservation genetics, with a focus on the Scottish and UK flora. Research is largely guided by Scottish Biodiversity Strategies and UK Biodiversity Action Plans. Other areas of interest include investigating the population genetics and species differentiation in cryptogamic plants, particularly bryophytes, using genetic approaches (e.g. DNA barcoding) to test species concepts based on morphology and breeding behaviour.
Research to date has focussed on the taxonomic status of several endemic British species and their inclusion in the UK BAP process, the phylogenetic relationships of the Neottinae, and the evolution of breeding system transistions in Epipactis, and in addition the development of microsatellites from taxonomically disparate groups and the subsequent assessment of the evolutionary dynamics and information content of microsatellites compared to other commonly used genetic neutral markers.
Current projects
- Introgressive hybridisation
- The potential role of DNA barcoding
- The origin of intercontinental plant disjunctions
- Diversity assessment of ex-situ populations
Jane is also has an interest in British field botany and natural history and is an active member of Edinburgh Natural History Society, the Wild Flower Society and the Botanical Society of the British Isles and sits on the BSBI Committee for Scotland.
Contact Jane Squirrell
Publications
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Woodhead M, Russell J, Squirrell J, Hollingsworth PM, Cardle L, Gibby M and Powell W (2007) Development of EST-derived microsatellite markers for Arabidopsis thaliana subspecies petraea (L.) Molecular Ecology Notes, 7: 631-634.
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Squirrell J, Hollingsworth PM, Sears J, Banks B, Ferry B and de Graaf DTh (2006) Assessment of genetic diversity in populations of Crepis foetida L. (Asteraceae). Watsonia 26: 121-126.
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Hollingsworth PM, Squirrell J, Hollingsworth ML, Richards AJ, Bateman RM (2006) Taxonomic complexity, conservation and recurrent origins of self-pollination in Epipactis (Orchidaceae). In: Contributions to taxonomic research on the British and European Flora (ed. Bailey JP). BSBI, London.
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Long DG, Paton JA, Squirrell J, Woodhead M, Hollingsworth PM (2006) Morphological, ecological and genetic evidence for two species in one: Anastrophyllum joergensenii Schiffn. and A. alpinum Steph. (Hepaticae; Lophoziaceae). Journal of Bryology 28:108-117.
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Squirrell J, Mandegaran Z, Yokoya K, Roberts AV and Mottley J (2005) Cell lines and plants obtained after protoplast fusions of Rosa + Rosa , Rosa + Prunus and Rosa + Rubus. Euphytica 146: 223-231.
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Bateman RM, Hollingsworth PM, Squirrell J, Hollingsworth ML (2005) Tribe Neottiaeae: Phylogenetics. In: Genera Orchidacearum, volume 4 (eds. Pridgeon AM, Cribb PJ, Chase MW, Rasmussen FN), pp. 487-495. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
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Woodhead M, Russell J, Squirrell J, Hollingsworth PM, MacKenzie K, Gibby M and Powell W (2005). Comparative analysis of population genetic structure in Athyrium distentifolium (Pteridophyte) using AFLPs and SSRs from anonymous and transcribed gene regions. Molecular Ecology 14: 1681-169.
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Squirrell J, Woodhead M, Hollingsworth PM, Russell J, Gibby M and Powell W (2004) Isolation of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Alpine Lady Fern, Athyrium distentifolium Tausch ex Opiz, from an enriched genomic library. Conservation Genetics, 5: 283-286.
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Schill DB, Long DG, Moeller M and Squirrell J (2004) Phylogenetic relationships between Lophoziaceae and Scapaniaceae based on chloroplast sequences. In: Molecular systematics of bryophytes (eds. Goffinet B., Hollwell V., Magill R.) pp 141-149. Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
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Squirrell J, Hollingsworth PM, Woodhead M, Russell J, Lowe AJ, Gibby M and Powell W (2003) How much effort is required to isolate nuclear microsatellites from plants? Molecular Ecology, 12:1339-1348.
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Woodhead M, Russell J, Squirrell J, Hollingsworth PM, Cardle L, Ramsay L, Gibby M and Powell W (2003) Development of EST-SSRs from the Alpine Lady-fern, Athyrium distentifolium. Molecular Ecology Notes, 3: 287-290.
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Korbecka G, Vrieling K, Squirrell J, Hale ML and Wolff K (2003) Characterisation of six microsatellite loci in Echium vulgare (Boraginaceae). Molecular Ecology Notes, 3: 274-276.
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Squirrell J, Hollingsworth PM, Bateman RM, Tebbitt MC and Hollingsworth ML (2002) Taxonomic complexity and breeding system transitions: conservation genetics of the Epipactis leptochila complex (Orchidaceae). Molecular Ecology, 11: 1957-1964.
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Hale ML, Squirrell J, Borland AM and Wolff K (2002) Isolation of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the genus Clusia (Clusiaceae). Molecular Ecology Notes, 2: 50 6-508.
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Hughes M, Hollingsworth PM and Squirrell J (2002). Isolation of polymorphic microsatellite markers for Begonia sutherlandii Hook. f. Molecular Ecology Notes, 2: 185-186.
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Squirrell J, Hollingsworth PM, Bateman RM, Dickson JH, Light MHS, MacConaill M and Tebbitt MC (2001) Partitioning and diversity of nuclear and organelle markers in native and introduced populations of Epipactis helleborine (Orchidaceae). American Journal of Botany 88: 1409-1418. (erratum)
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Squirrell J and Wolff K (2001) Isolation of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Plantago major and P. intermedia. Molecular Ecology Notes 1: 179-181.
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Squirrell J (1998) Molecular genetic studies of species, cultivars and somatic hybrids of rose. PhD thesis, University of East London.
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Mottley J, Yokoya K, Mathews D, Squirrell J and Wentworth J (1996) Protoplast fusion and its potential role in the genetic improvement of roses. Second International Symposium on Roses. Acta Horticulturae 424: 393-397.
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Stace CA, Gornall RJ, Squirrell J and Shi Y (1995) Chromosome numbers in Hieracium L. section Alpina (Fries) F. N. Williams. Watsonia 20: 367-377.
