
Research interests
Senior Technician/Lab Manager – Ecological Genetics Laboratory
Lab Director - EcoGene®
Qualifications
Auckland
PhD Biological Sciences
1999
Victoria
BSc (Hons) Biology
1989
Publications
Innes J, King C, Bartlam S, Forrester G, Howitt R 2015. Predator control improves nesting success in Waikato forest fragments. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 39(2): 245–253.
Buckley TR, White DJ, Howitt R, Winstanley T, Ramón-Laca A, Gleeson D 2014. Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA variation within threatened species and subspecies of the giant New Zealand land-snail genus Powelliphanta: implications for classification and conservation. Journal of Molluscan Studies 80(3): 291–302. https://doi.org/10.1093/mollus/eyu014
Prada D, Veale A, Duckworth J, Murphy E, Treadgold S, Howitt R, Hunter S, Gleeson D 2014. Unwelcome visitors: employing forensic methodologies to inform the stoat (Mustela erminea) incursion response plan on Kapiti Island. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 41(1): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/03014223.2013.815642
Wong C, Gleeson D, Howitt R, Barry M, Brunton D, Ji W 2011. Polymorphic microsatellite loci and interspecific cross-amplification in the New Zealand endemic gecko species Hoplodactylus duvaucelii and Hoplodactylus maculatus. Conservation Genetics Resources 3(2): 331–333. WOS:000290438700034 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-010-9356-5
Buckley TR, James S, Allwood J, Bartlam S, Howitt R, Prada D 2011. Phylogenetic analysis of New Zealand earthworms (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) reveals ancient clades and cryptic taxonomic diversity. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution 58(1): 85–96. WOS:000286556600009 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2010.09.024
Buckley TR, Stringer I, Gleeson D, Howitt R, Attanayake D, Parrish R, Sherley G, Rohan M 2011. A revision of the New Zealand Placostylus land snails using mitochondrial DNA and shell morphometric analyses, with implications for conservation. New Zealand journal of zoology 38(1): 55–81. WOS:000288670100005 https://doi.org/10.1080/03014223.2010.527997
Gleeson DM, Byrom AE, Howitt RLJ 2010. Non-invasive methods for genotyping of stoats (Mustela erminea) in New Zealand : potential for field applications. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 34(3): 356–359.
Harman H, Weir B, Wells S, Howitt R 2009. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from Lochmaea suturalis, the heather beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a pest in Europe and a biocontrol agent in New Zealand. Molecular Ecology Resources 9(2): 594–596.
Gleeson D, Howitt R 2007. Wildlife CSI. Discovery 18: 5–.
Howitt RLJ, Beever RE, Pearson MN, Forster RLS 2006. Genome characterization of a flexuous rod-shaped mycovirus, Botrytis virus X, reveals high amino acid identity to genes from plant 'potex-like' viruses. Archives of virology 151(3): 563–579.
Gleeson D, Byrom A, Howitt R, Nugent G 2003. Monitoring vertebrate pests by using their DNA. Kararehe kino : vertebrate pest research 2: 13–15.
Efford M, Howitt R, Gleeson D 2002/9. Phylogenetic relationships of Wainuia (Mollusca : Pulmonata) - biogeography and conservation implications. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 32(3): 445–456.
Howitt RLJ, Beever RE, Pearson MN, Forster RLS 2001/1. Genome characterization of Botrytis virus F, a flexuous rod-shaped mycovirus resembling plant 'potex-like' viruses. Journal of general virology 82(Part 1): 67–78.
Gleeson DM, Howitt RLJ, Newcomb RD 2000. The phylogenetic position of the New Zealand batfly, (Mystacinobia zealandica (Mystacinobiidae; Oestroidea) inferred from mitochondrial 16S DNA sequence data. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 30(2): 155–168.
Gleeson DM, Howitt RLJ, Ling N 1999/1. Genetic variation, population structure and cryptic species within the black mudfish, Neochanna diversus, an endemic galaxiid from New Zealand. Molecular ecology 8(1): 47–57.
Howitt RLJ, Beever RE, Pearson MN, Forster RL 1995. Presence of double-stranded RNA and virus-like particles in Botrytis cinerea. Mycological research 99: 1472–1478.