Rivers, Malin C.
Job Title
Postgraduate Researcher
Department
Herbarium, Directorate
Section
Science Teams:
Joined Kew:
2004Foreign Language(s):
SwedishQualifications & Appointments
BSc (Hons), Biology, Imperial College London, 2002
MSc, Conservation & Utilisation of Plant Genetic Resources, Univ. Birmingham, 2003
PhD, University of St Andrews 2011
Role
Biodiversity informatics and GIS techniques to study patterns of plant diversity and conservation priority.
Currently carrying out post-doctoral research at Kew using biodiversity informatics and GIS techniques to study patterns of plant diversity and conservation priority. Research interest build on those addressed during the doctoral research on ‘ground truthing’ herbarium-based conservation assessments using range-wide analysis of the spatial distribution and genetic diversity of Leguminosae in Madagascar (funded by NERC). This project involved the development and analysis of over 10,000 herbarium records covering more than 500 species, which has given new insights into producing reliable conservation assessments of plants. Peer-reviewed outputs include methodological recommendations for estimating subpopulations using herbarium records and insight into how many herbarium specimens are needed for robust range estimates in IUCN Red List assessments.
Selected Recent Publications
Rivers, M. C., Taylor, L., Brummitt, N. A., Meagher, T. R., Roberts, D. L. & Nic Lughadha, E. (2011). How many herbarium specimens are needed to detect threatened species? Biological Conservation 144: 2541–2547.
Rivers, M. C., Brummitt, N. A., Nic Lughadha, E. & Meagher, T. R. (2011). Genetic variation in Delonix s.l. (Leguminosae) in Madagascar revealed by AFLPs: fragmentation, conservation status and taxonomy. Conservation Genetics 12: 1333-1344.
Rivers, M. C., Bachman, S., Meagher, T. R., Nic Lughadha, E. & Brummitt, N. A. (2010). Subpopulations, locations and fragmentation: applying IUCN red list criteria to herbarium specimen data. Biodiversity and Conservation 19: 2071-2085.
Crane, P. R. & Johansson, M. C. (2006). Conserving tropical forests in Borneo. PlantTalk 44: 17-22
