Gyraulus janinensis (about 5 mm across), a species of aquatic mollusc that is endemic to Lake Pamvotis

Mountainous regions are often natural 'hotspots' of floral and faunal biodiversity and endemism. Much of this biological diversity is witnessed in the ancient lakes that exist (or previously existed) in those regions, which provide stable, long-lived arenas within which evolutionary processes can operate. Gastropod molluscs and ostracods are two groups that often demonstrate such diversity; their wide dispersal, morphological variability and relative ease of identification make them ideal candidates for addressing questions concerning patterns and processes of biodiversity and evolution over time. Furthermore, the fact that they are often well preserved in fossil sequences means that they can provide a temporal dimension to evolutionary investigation, something that is often difficult to resolve when using groups more traditionally associated with this kind of work (such as the cichlid fishes). Research at Sussex has focussed for some time on the aquatic fauna of Balkan lakes, but is currently expanding to incorporate invertebrate fauna from lakes in highland Peru and the endangered amphibia of Indian Ocean islands.

The endangered frog Sooglossus gardineri, endemic to the Seychelles

Current Projects

Investigating the evolution of Balkan freshwater ostracod faunas using morphometric analysis. Collaboration with Finn Viehberg (University of Cologne).

Publications

Frogley, M.R. & Preece, R.C. (2007). A review of the aquatic Mollusca from Lake Pamvotis, Ioannina, an ancient lake in NW Greece. Journal of Conchology 39 (3), 271-295.

Frogley, M.R. & Preece, R.C. (2004). A faunistic review of the modern and fossil molluscan fauna from Lake Pamvotis, Ioannina, an ancient lake in NW Greece: implications for endemism in the Balkans. In: Griffiths, H.I. & Krystufek, B. (eds.) Balkan Biodiversity. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp. 243-260.

Griffiths, H.I. & Frogley, M.R. (2004). Fossil ostracods and faunistics: implications for the evolution of regional biodiversity. In: Griffiths, H.I. & Krystufek, B. (eds.) Balkan Biodiversity. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp. 261-272.

Tzedakis, P.C., Frogley, M.R., Lawson, I.T., Preece, R.C., Cacho, I. & de Abreu, L. (2004). Ecological thresholds and patterns of millennial-scale climate variability: the response of vegetation in Greece during the last glacial period. Geology 32 (2), 109-112.

Frogley, M.R., Griffiths, H.I. & Martens, K. (2002). Modern and fossil ostracods from ancient lakes. In: Chivas, A.R. & Holmes, J.A. (eds.) The Ostracoda: Applications in Quaternary Research. Geophysical Monograph 131, 167-184. American Geophysical Union, Washington DC.

Tzedakis, P.C., Lawson, I.T., Frogley, M.R., Hewitt, G.M. and Preece, R.C. (2002). Response to comment on 'Buffered tree population changes in a Quaternary refugium: evolutionary implications'. Science 299, 825.

Tzedakis, P.C., Lawson, I.T., Frogley, M.R., Hewitt, G.M. & Preece, R.C. (2002). Buffered tree population changes in a Quaternary refugium: evolutionary implications. Science 297, 2044-2047.

Frogley, M.R., Griffiths, H.I. & Heaton, T.H.E. (2001). Historical biogeography and Late Quaternary environmental change of Lake Pamvotis, Ioannina (north-western Greece): evidence from ostracods. Journal of Biogeography 28, 745-756.