Megan Aylward

Megan Aylward is a Lecturer in the School of Environmental & Natural Sciences at Bangor University. Her research focuses on conservation genomics and biodiversity monitoring in tropical ecosystems, particularly in Madagascar. She investigates lemur ecology, genomic diversity of threatened species (e.g., tigers and vultures), and the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques for endangered species detection.

Key research interests include lemur population dynamics, the impact of anthropogenic activities on biodiversity, and the role of genomic data in conservation strategies. She collaborates with the IUCN Primate Specialist Group and has published extensively on topics such as aye-aye phylogeography, tiger population structure, and biodiversity monitoring in Ankarafantsika National Park.

Her work integrates molecular genetics, ecological modeling, and community engagement to address conservation challenges. Notable contributions include developing novel eDNA sampling methods for cryptic species and exploring historical genomic diversity patterns in non-human primates.