Dr Aline Finger
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Dr Aline Finger, Molecular Ecologist
My research focus is conservation and ecological genetics of threatened and important plant species. I’m using a combination of genetic and ecological methods to help their protection and to inform conservation and management decisions. My aim is to ensure that our conservation efforts lead to species’ persistence as self-sustaining, viable populations in the wild. RBGE has a wealth of experience working on rare plants and significant ex-situ collections. Using genetic information I inform on the quality of these collections (e.g. quantify genetic diversity) and help maximising the success of conservation translocations (e.g. avoid inbreeding and outbreeding depression). My work helps identifying contemporary and future risks for plant biodiversity which is faced with environmental threats.
Research Interests
- Conservation and ecological genetics
- Landscape genetics and population dynamics
- Inbreeding and outbreeding effects in small populations
- Restoration genetics
Google scholar profile
Contact: AFinger@rbge.org.uk
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- Publications
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2021
Trense, D., Habel, J.C., Finger, A., Fischer, K. (2021) Contrasting genetic responses to habitat fragmentation for two Lycaenid butterfly species. Insect Conservation and Diversity 1-11. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12556.
Potouroglou, M., Unsworth, R.K.F., Finger, A., Jones, B., Lilley, R., Bull, J.C., Ward, E., Collins, K., Thomas, O., Burton, S. (2021) Seagrass restoration: An introduction. In: Seagrass Restoration Handbook (Eds. Maria Potouroglou, Richard Unsworth, Sam Rees, Ian Hendy, Federica Ragazzola, Richard Lilley, Hanna Nuuttilla, Joanne Preston, Celine Gamble, Alison Debney, Azra Glover & Emma Jackson). Zoological Society of London, London, UK. Available from: https://catchmentbasedapproach.org/learn/seagrass-restoration-handbook/
Bertelli, C., Bull, J., Finger, A., Glover, A., Inman, I., Jackson, E., McCormick, H., Nuuttila, H., O’Neill, L, Unsworth, R., Ward, E., Gamble, C. (2021) Getting started: Restoration project design, planning, permitting, licensing and funding. In: Seagrass Restoration Handbook (Eds. Maria Potouroglou, Richard Unsworth, Sam Rees, Ian Hendy, Federica Ragazzola, Richard Lilley, Hanna Nuuttilla, Joanne Preston, Celine Gamble, Alison Debney, Azra Glover & Emma Jackson). Zoological Society of London, London, UK. Available from: https://catchmentbasedapproach.org/learn/seagrass-restoration-handbook/
Hendy, I., Ragazzola, F., Finger, A., Green, B., Bull, J.C., Collins, K., Thomas, O., Potouroglou, M., Preston, J. (2021) Monitoring a seagrass restoration project. In: Seagrass Restoration Handbook (Eds. Maria Potouroglou, Richard Unsworth, Sam Rees, Ian Hendy, Federica Ragazzola, Richard Lilley, Hanna Nuuttilla, Joanne Preston, Celine Gamble, Alison Debney, Azra Glover & Emma Jackson). Zoological Society of London, London, UK. Available from: https://catchmentbasedapproach.org/learn/seagrass-restoration-handbook/
2020
Hollingsworth, P.M., O'Brien, D., Ennos, R.A., Ahrends, A., Ballingall, K.T., Brooker, R.W., Burke, T., Cavers, C., Dawson, I.K., Elston, D.A., Kerr, J., Marshall, D.F., Neaves, L., Pakeman, R.J., Trivedi, C., Wall, E., Wright, F., Yahr, R., Bean, C., Blake, D., Campbell, R., Comont, R., Finger, A., Fraser, K., Genney, D., Hall, J., Hannah, A., Jehle, R., Jones, S., Kohn, D., Llewellyn, M., Lurz, P., Macdonald, I., McIntosh, J., Mitchell, R., O'Dell, J., Page, S., Pemberton, J., Pérez-Espona, S., Piertney, S., Sime, I., Thompson, D., Ogden, R. (2020) Scotland’s Biodiversity Progress to 2020 Aichi targets: Aichi target 13-Genetic Diversity Maintained-Supplementary Report 2020. Technical Report. Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness
Scott, M., Finger, A. (2020) Alpine Blue-sowthistle and the challenge of upland management. British Wildlife, Volume 32, Number 1, 16-17.
Finger, A. (2020) Habitat connectivity and genetic diversity of Salix lapponum and Salix myrsinites. The Scrubber’s Bulletin 14, 36-43. Bulletin of the Mountain Woodland Action Group. Available here: http://www.msag.org.uk/publications.html
2016
Ruhsam, M., Clark, A., Finger, A., Wulff, A.S., Mill, R.R., Thomas, P.I., Gardner, M.F., Gaudeul, M., Ennos, R.A., Hollingsworth, P.M. (2016) Hidden in plain view: cryptic diversity in the emblematic Araucaria of New Caledonia. American Journal of Botany 103(5): 888-98. doi: 10.3732/ajb.1500487.
2015
Tito de Morais, C., Ghazoul, J., Bagchi, R., Maycock, C.R., Khoo, E., Burslem, D.F.R.P., Akira, I., Nanami, S., Finger, A., Ismail, S., Kettle, C.J. (2015) Understanding local patterns of genetic diversity in dipterocarps using a multi-site, multi-species approach: Implications for forest management and restoration. Forest Ecology and Management. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2015.07.023
2014
Finger, A., Kaiser-Bunbury, C.N.*, Kettle, C.J.*, Valentin, T. & Ghazoul, J. (2014) Genetic connectivity of the moth pollinated tree Glionnetia sericea in a highly fragmented habitat. PloS ONE 9(10): e111111. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111111 * Both authors contributed equally
Habel, J., Husemann, M., Finger, A., Danley, P. D., Zachos, F. (2014) The relevance of time series in molecular ecology and conservation biology. Biological Reviews 89: 484-492. doi: 10.1111/brv.12068
Finger, A., Radespiel, U., Habel, J., Kettle C. (2014) Forest fragmentation genetics. In: C.J. Kettle and L.P. Koh (Eds) Global Forest Fragmentation (pp. 51-68). Wallingford, U.K.: CABI.
Habel, J., Finger, A., Meyer, M., Schmitt, T. (2014) Isolated but unique: The conservation value of extant populations of Lycaena helle at the species’ western distribution edge. In: J.C. Habel and M. Meyer (Eds) Jewels in the mist - A synopsis on the endangered Violet Copper butterfly Lycaena helle (pp. 127-136). Bulgaria: PENSOFT.
Finger, A. & Kettle, C. (2014) How genetics can contribute to conservation. In: J.C. Habel and M. Meyer (Eds) Jewels in the mist - A synopsis on the endangered Violet Copper butterfly Lycaena helle (pp. 125-126). Bulgaria: PENSOFT.
Finger, A. as member of the PCA (2011) The Year of Forests - Seychelles plant species: Manglye Gran Bwa. Newspaper article, TODAY, Seychelles.
Finger, A. as member of the PCA (2011) The Year of Forests - Seychelles plant species: Bwa Meduse. Newspaper article, TODAY, Seychelles.
2012
Kettle, C.J. & Finger, A. (2012) Fragmentation Genetics in the Tropics. Conservation Genetics Resources. doi: 10.1007/s12868-012-9771-x.
Finger, A., Kettle, C.J., Kaiser-Bunbury, C.N., Valentin, T., Mougal, J. & Ghazoul, J. (2012) Forest fragmentation genetics in a formerly widespread island endemic tree: Vateriopsis seychellarum (Dipterocarpaceae). Molecular Ecology 21: 2369-2382. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05543.x.
Finger, A., Kettle, C., Kaiser-Bunbury, C., Valentin, T., Doudee, D., Matatiken, D., Ghazoul, J. (2012) The importance of genetic information for three Seychelles endemic tree species. Kapisen November edition 2012.
2011
Finger, A., Kaiser-Bunbury, C.N., Kettle, C.J. (2011) Development of polymorphic microsatellite markers of the Seychelles endemic tree Glionnetia sericea (Rubiaceae). Conservation Genetics Recourses. doi: 10.1007/s12686-011-9515-3.
Finger, A., Kettle, C.J., Kaiser-Bunbury, C.N., Valentin, T., Doudee, D., Matatiken, D. & Ghazoul, J. (2011) Back from the brink: potential for genetic rescue in a critically endangered tree. Molecular Ecology 20: 3773–3784. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05228.x.
2010
Habel, J. C., Schmitt, T., Meyer, M., Finger, A., Rödder, D., Assmann, T. & Zachos, F. E. (2010) Biogeography meets conservation: the genetic structure of the endangered lycaenid butterfly Lycaena helle (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 101: 155–168.
Habel, J.C., Finger, A., Schmitt, Th. & Nève, G. (2010) Survival of the endangered butterfly Lycaena helle in a fragmented environment: Genetic analyses over 15 years. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 49 (1): 25-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0469.2010.00575.x.
Finger A., Ismail S., Ghazoul J. & Kettle C.J. (2010) Development of polymorphic microsatellite markers of the endangered and endemic Vateriopsis seychellarum (Dipterocarpaceae), a relict canopy tree of the Seychelles. Conservation Genetic Resources 2, Supplement 1: 309-311 Doi: 10.1007/s12686-010-9213-6.
Finger, A., Ghazoul, J., Todd, M., Kaiser-Bunbury C. & Kettle, C.J. (2010) Development of thirteen polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Seychelles endangered and endemic jellyfish tree Medusagyne oppositifolia (Medusagynaceae). Conservation genetic resources 2: 173–175. doi 10.1007/s12686-009-9120-x.
Finger, A. & Klank, C. (2010) Molecular methods – Blessing or curse? In: J.C. Habel & T. Assmann (Eds) Relict Species - Phylogeography and Conservation Biology (pp. 309-320). Heidelberg, Germany: Springer.
2009
Finger, A., Schmitt, T., Meyer, M., Assmann, T., Zachos, F.E. & J.C. Habel (2009) The genetic status of the Violet Copper Lycaena helle, a relict of the cold past in times of global warming. Ecography 32: 382-390.
Habel, J.C., Zachos, F., Finger, A., Meyer, M., Louy, D., Assmann, T. & T. Schmitt (2009) Unprecedented long-term genetic monomorphism in an endangered relict butterfly species. Conservation Genetics 10: 1659-1665.
2008
Habel, J., Finger, A., Meyer M. & Assmann, T. (2008) Polymorphic microsatellite loci in the endangered butterfly Lycaena helle (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). European Journal of Entomology 105(2): 361-362.
Schmitt, T., Augenstein, B. & Finger, A. (2008) The influence of changes in viticulture management on the butterfly (Lepidoptera) diversity in a wine growing region of southwestern Germany. European Journal of Entomology 105: 249-255.
2007
Wipking, W., Finger, A. & Meyer, M. (2007) Habitatbindung und Bestandssituation des Blauschillernden Feuerfalters Lycaena helle (Denis & Schiffermüller) in Luxemburg (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). Bull. Soc. Nat. Luxemb. 108: 81-87.
- Research Group
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PhD students
Nadia Russel (2014 -)
Genetic rescue of Britain's rarest fern Woodsia ilvensisSelf funded
- Project web pages
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Increasing genetic diversity in wild populations using ex-situ collections and conservation genetics work on rare Scottish plants.
Dr Aline Finger
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