Kate Sanders

Associate Professor Kate Sanders is affiliated with the University of Adelaide's School of Biological Sciences, part of the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology. Her primary role is an Associate Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She has been actively involved in supervising Masters and PhD students since her profile was last updated in January 2023.

Her research focuses on trait evolution and speciation in squamate reptiles, particularly sea snakes, and examines sensory system adaptations during marine transitions. Key fieldwork regions include Indonesia and Western Australia, contributing to conservation assessments and new species discoveries. She co-chairs the IUCN/SSC Sea Snake Specialist Group, emphasizing her leadership in global reptile conservation efforts.

Dr. Sanders' work integrates genomic, phylogenetic, and ecological approaches to study microcephalic burrowing specialization in sea snakes, photoreception mechanisms in tail skin, and vomeronasal gene evolution. Her research highlights interdisciplinary methods like transcriptomics and population genomics to understand biodiversity hotspots and conservation challenges. Recent publications span topics from tail photoreception to taxonomic prioritization strategies for effective biodiversity management.

• Key Projects:
  • Biogeographic origins of Indo-Australian sea snakes
  • Evolutionary drivers of microcephaly in burrowing specialists
  • Marine park coverage via eDNA mapping
• Conservation Contributions:
  • IUCN Red List assessments for marine elapids
  • Policy recommendations for sea snake trade regulation