Evolutionary Genomics Group banner


Dr RV Rambau

Dr RV Rambau

Research Focus

My research area broadly includes comparative cytogenetics (including molecular cytogenetics) and phylogeography of small mammals. My ultimate aim is to test the utility of characters defined by chromosomal landmarks to address evolutionary relationships among Rodents. Most critical in this endeavor is to unequivocally identify regions of homeology among taxa with the fluorescence in situ hybridization technique using a panel of commercially available chromosomes and species-specific flow sorted chromosomes as probes. The cytogenetic data is supplemented with mitochondrial nucleotide sequence data and skull morphometrics data (through an ongoing collaboration with Dr Peter Taylor at the Durban Museum of Natural History). This multidisciplinary approach is specifically aimed at clearly demarcating potential taxonomic boundaries in rodent species complexes (cryptic species). Furthermore, in collaborating with Prof Jeremy Searle ( University of York , UK ) we are investigating the colonization history of the British Isles by small mammals using the pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus , as a model.

Dr RV Rambau

Research focus

Publications

Current collaboration

Contact details

Evolutionary Genomics


Mouse chromosome; FISH showing chromosome flow-sorts; Aethomys grantii

Peer-Reveiwed Journal Publications

^ Top
  1. McDevitt1, AD, Vega, R., Rambau, RV, Yannic, G,  Herman, JS, Hayden, TJ & Searle J.B.  (2011). Colonization of Ireland – revisiting ‘the pygmy shrew syndrome’ using mitochondrial, Y chromosomal and microsatellite markers. Heredity. 107, 548–557 (Impact factor: 4.122)


  2. Engelbrecht, A, Daniels, SR, Taylor, PJ & Rambau, RV (2011). Cryptic speciation in the southern African vlei rat, Otomys irroratus complex: evidence derived from mitochondrial cyt b and niche modeling  Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 192–206 (Impact factor: 2.019)


  3. Engelbrecht, A, Taylor, PJ, Daniels, SR, Rambau, RV (2011). Chromosomal polymorphisms in the african vlei rats, otomys irroratus detected using banding techniques and chromosome painting: inversions, centromeric shifts, and diploid number variation. Cytogenetics and Genome Research) 133:8–15 (Impact factor: 1.729)


  4. Richards LR, Rambau RV, Lamb JM, Taylor PJ,  Yang F, Schoeman MC & Goodman SM (2010). Cross-species chromosome painting in bats from Madagascar: the contribution of Myzopodidae to revealing ancestral syntenies in Chiroptera. Chromosome Research 18:635–653 (Impact factor=3.23)


  5. McDevitt, AD, Yannic, G, Rambau, RV, Hayden, TJ & Searle JB (2010).  Postglacial re-colonization of continental Europe by the pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) inferred from mitochondrial and Y chromosomal DNA sequences. Book Title: Relict Species:  Phylogeography and Conservation Biology, pages 217-236 (Springer, Heidelberg, ISBN 978-3-540-92159-2).


  6. Jeremy B. Searle, Petr Kotlík, Ramugondo V. Rambau, Silvia Marková, Jeremy S. Herman & Allan D. McDevitt. (2009). The Celtic fringe of Britain: insights from small mammal phylogeography..  Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 276:4287-4294 Impact factor: 4.248


  7. McDevitt, AD, Rambau, RV, O’Brien, J, Hayden, TJ & Searle, JB. (2009).  Genetic variation in Irish pygmy shrews Sorex minutus (Soricomorpha: Soricidae): implications for colonization history.  Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 97:918-927. Impact factor: 2.019.


  8. Taylor, PJ, Maree, S, Sandwyk, J, Baxter, R & Rambau RV.  (2009).  When is a species not a species? Uncoupled phenotypic, karyotypic and genotypic divergence in two species of South African laminate-toothed rats (Murinae: Otomyini).  Journal of Zoology 277: 317-332. Impact factor: 1.669


  9. Searle JB , Jones CS, Gündüz,  Scascitelli, IM,  Jones, E.P., Herman, JS, Rambau, RV, Noble, LS,  Berry, RJ, Giménez, MD, Jóhannesdóttir1,   F.  (2009). Of mice and (Viking?) men: phylogeography of British and Irish house mice. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 276: 201-209) – Impact factor: 4.11


  10. Theron, N, Elser, K. Dreyer, L, Van Vuuren BJ, Rambau, RV.  (2007).  Genetic and morphological comparisons of a potentially invasive weed (Argemone ochroleuca) from its natural (Mexico) and invaded (South Africa) habitat.  South African Journal of Botany 73 (2): 338-339.  Impact factor: 1.113


  11. van Zyl, A, Rambau, R.V., & van der Merwe, M.  (2005).  Aspects of the anatomy and histology of the alimentary canal of the greater cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus Temmick, with reference to its feeding physiology.  African Zoology 40(1): 25-36. Impact factor: 0.437


  12. Gunduz, I., Rambau, R. V., Tez C & Searle, J. B.  (2005).  Mitochondrial DNA variation in the western house (Mus musculus domesticus) close to its site of origin:  studies in Turkey.  Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. Impact factor:  2.368


  13. Rambau, R. V., Stanyon, R. & Robinson, T. J.  (2003).  Molecular genetics of Rhabdomys pumilio subspecies boundaries: mtDNA Phylogeography and karyotypic analysis by Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).  Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 28(3): 564-575. Impact factor: 3.871


  14. Rambau, R. V. & Robinson, T. J.  (2003).  Chromosome painting in the African four-striped mouse Rhabdomys pumilio:  Detection of possible murid specific contiguous segment combinations.  Chromosome Research. 11: 91-98. Impact factor: 3.405


  15. Rambau, R. V., Elder, F. F. B. & Robinson, T. J.  (2001).  Chromosomal evolution of Otomys irroratus (Muridae: Otomyinae):  Compound chromosomal rearrangement separates two major cytogenetic groups.  Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics. 93: 253-257. Impact factor: 1.965


  16. Rambau, R. V., Harrison, W. R., Elder, F. F. B. & Robinson, T. J.  (1997).  Chromosomes of Brants' whistling rat and genome conservation in the Otomyinae revealed by G-banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization.  Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics. 78: 153-158. Impact factor: 

 

Postgraduate students

Madeleine Ramantswana
Project:  Phylogeography of southern African gerbils

 

Membership to professional Societies

(1) European Society for Evolutionary Biology

(2) The Zoological Society of Southern Africa

(3) Southern African Society for Systematic Biology

(4) The Genetics Society of Great Britain

Service on Committees

Council member of the Zoological Society of Southern Africa

Current Collaboration

^ Top

South Africa

Dr. Peter J. Taylor Curator of Mammals Durban Natural Science Museum KwaZulu-Natal Province

Dr Sarita Maree Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria Pretoria , Gauteng Province

Prof Chris T. Chimimba Mammal Research Institute Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria Pretoria , Gauteng Province

UK

Prof Jeremy B. Searle Department of Biology University of York York England

 



Contact Details

^ Top
Stellenbosch University
Department of Botany and Zoology
University of Stellenbosch
Private Bag X1
Matieland 7602
South Africa		 TEL: +27 21 808 2862
FAX: +27 21 808 2405
EMAIL: