Dr Mark Chapman is a lecturer in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and his research focusses on ‘working out what genes do’. He works with a range of plants (and some animals) and carrys out detailed genetic and genomic investigations comparing populations or species. His research identifies the genes that are important for adaptation, speciation and domestication; therefore it is important for the fields of evolutionary biology, genomics and mitigating climate change.
Career History
2013-present: Lecturer. University of Southampton, UK. 2011-2013: Postdoctoral Researcher. University of Oxford, UK. 2004-2010: Postdoctoral Researcher/Assistant Research Scientist. University of Georgia, USA/Vanderbilt University, USA.
Academic Qualifications
2004: PhD. St. Andrews University, UK. 2000: BSc. University of Leicester, UK.
Research
Publications
Teaching
Contributions
Enterprise
Contact
Research interests
I am interested in using genomic technologies to investigate patterns and processes in evolution, primarily concerning adaptation, speciation and domestication in plants.
PhD/MPhil Supervision
Anna Page (2014-2017) Project Title: Parallel domestication as a model to understand the repeatability of phenotypic evolutions Funding: University of Southampton
Oliver White (2015-2018) Project Title: Using transcriptomics to understand adaptation and speciation in an island radiation Funding:University of Southampton/Natural History Museum
Rachael Graham (2015-2018) Project Title: Plant adaptation to temperature, and implications for crop breeding Funding: University of Southampton/Natural History Museum
Alex Watson-Lazowski (2nd supervisor) Project Title: Using Next Generation Sequencing to Understand Plant Acclimation and Adaption to a Changing Environment Funding: ExpeER, NERC.
Annabelle Damerum (2nd supervisor) Project Title: Molecular breeding to improve the quality of Lactuca sativa. Funding: Vitacress Salads, Shamrock Seeds, Sainsbury's.
Libby Rowland (2nd supervisor) Project Title: Improving the water sustainability and quality of potted herbs through better crop irrigation scheduling Funding: University of Southampton, Vitacress Salads
Kevin Staniland (2nd supervisor) Project Title: Adaptations to elevated CO2 Funding: Self-funded
Jasmine Saban (2nd supervisor) Project Title: Acclimation and Adaption to elevated CO2 Funding: SPITFIRE
Steven Bourne (2nd supervisor) Project Title: The genomics of adaption and its influence on marine biological invasions Funding: SPITFIRE
Member of: Elizabeth Arnold (2nd supervisor) Project Title: Improving the sustainability of water use in baby leaf salad crops Funding: University of Southampton/BBSRC
This studentship will use a homoploid hybrid Argyranthemum species from the Canary Islands as an exemplary scenario with which to investigate the genomics of adaptation, reproductive isolation and hybrid speciation.
Using plants from a natural CO2 as a model to study the long term responses of plants to atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations predicted for the end of the 21st Century.
Watson-Lazowski, A. J., Lin, Y., Edwards, R., DeWoody, J., Miglietta, F., Chapman, M., & Taylor, G. (2014). Plant acclimation and adaptation to a high CO2 world. Paper presented at Plant & Animal Genome XXII, United States.
BIOL1004 Patterns of Life and their evolution BIOL2001 Evolution BIOL3056 Global Change Biology: Molecules to Ecosystem BIOL3010 Topics in Ecology and Evolution
University of Southampton
Organiser of "Plants, Ecology and the Environment" Lunchtime Seminars. Member of ‘The Career Development of Researchers' Working Group. Level 5 representative, General Lab and building committee
Understanding the genetic basis of adaptation has the potential for application to agronomy and crop breeding. If we can understand which genes confer adaptations to high salinity, high temperatures or low nutrients we have the potential to investigate which crops might be of use under a climate change scenario. My work with underutilised crops is helping to reveal how some of the world’s less well-known crops manage to grow in extreme environments, also paving the way for the identification of novel germplasm with extreme environmental tolerances.
Dr Mark A Chapman Biological Sciences Faculty of Natural & Environmental Sciences Life Sciences Building 85 University of Southampton Highfield Campus Southampton SO17 1BJ
