Summary
My interests are in the ecology and evolution animals whose life cycles contrast with those of traditionally studied and familiar animal systems. I specifically focus on two such invertebrata taxa, the Bryozoa and the Myxozoa. Bryozoans grow as colonies that spread across surfaces in freshwater and marine environments, and myxozoans are endoparasitic cnidarians that have undergone a spectacular radiation to exploit marine, freshwater and terrestrial hosts, including freshwater bryozoans. My research aims to: 1) elucidate the ecological and evolutionary consequences associated with such life cycles, and; 2) use these animals as model systems to answer general ecological and evolutionary questions. Areas of current interests and research include:• eDNA sampling for novel endoparasite diversity• Dispersal impacts on biodiversity, community assembly and ecosystem services• Environmental change, emerging diseases and disease risks • Exploitation of colonial hosts by endoparasites and host responses• Covert infection strategies• Diversification of freshwater bryozoans and myxozoans• Ecology, evolution and development of active, worm-like myxozoans • Life history responses to environmental change
Qualifications
Degrees
- PhD in Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, United States
- Honours BSc in Biology, Concordia University, Canada
Postgraduate training
- Dr Richard Ladle, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, 1989 - 1992
- Dr Tristan Hatton-Ellis, University of Bristol, United Kingdom, 1994 - 1997
- Dr Aaron O'Dea, University of Bristol, United Kingdom, 1996 - 1999
- Dr Ken Neal, University of Reading, United Kingdom, 2000 - 2003
- Dr Tammy Horton, University of Reading, United Kingdom, 1998 - 2001
- Dr Sylvie Tops, University of Reading, United Kingdom, 2000 - 2004
- Dr Samantha Hill, University of Reading, United Kingdom, 2002 - 2006
- Dr Hanna Hartikainen, University of Reading, United Kingdom, 2004 - 2007
- Tanya Knowles, Natural History Museum/University of Reading, United Kingdom, 2005 - 2009
- Dr Jorge Salgado, Natural History Museum, University College London, United Kingdom, 2007 - 2011
- Dr Helen Jenkins, Natural History Museum/Marine Biological Association/University of Wales, United Kingdom, 2009 - 2013
- Inês Fontes, Natural History Museum/University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, 2011 - ongoing
- Graihagh Hardinge, Natural History Museum/University of Southampton, United Kingdom, 2013 - ongoing
Employment history
Academic
- Merit Researcher, Natural History Museum, Life Sciences, United Kingdom, 2009 - ongoing
- Research Leader, Natural, Life Sciences, United Kingdom, 2007 - ongoing
- Professor, University of Reading, School of Biological Sciences, United Kingdom, 2005 - 2007
- Leverhulme Research Fellowship, University of Reading, United Kingdom, 2002 - 2003
- Reader, University of Reading, School of Biological Sciences, United Kingdom, 2001 - 2005
- Lecturer, University of Reading, School of Biological Sciences, United Kingdom, 1997 - 2001
- Lecturer, University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences, United Kingdom, 1993 - 1997
- Departmental Demonstrator, University of Oxford, Zoology, United Kingdom, 1988 - 1993
- Tutorial Fellow, Magdalen College, Oxford, United Kingdom, 1988 - 1993
- Killam Postdoctoral Fellow, Dalhousie University, Canada, 1987 - 1988
- Smithsonian Postdoctoral Fellow, Smithsonian Marine Station at Link Port, United States, 1985 - 1986
- NATO Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Wales, Bangor, United Kingdom, 1984 - 1985
Highlighted publications
- Okamura B, Gruhl A, Bartholomew JL (2015) Myxozoan Evolution, Ecology and Development. Springer : null - null.
- Okamura B, Gruhl A (2015) Myxozoan affinities and route to endoparasitism. Myxozoan Evolution, Ecology and Development. Okamura B, Gruhl A, Bartholomew JL (Eds).Springer: Cham, Switzerland. : 23 - 44.
- Okamura B, Gruhl A, Reft AJ (2015) Cnidarian origins of Myxozoa. Myxozoan Evolution, Ecology and Development. Okamura B, Gruhl A, Bartholomew JL (Eds).Springer: Cham, Switzerland. : 45 - 68.
- Hartikainen H, Gruhl A, Okamura B (2014) Diversification and repeated morphological transitions in endoparasitic cnidarians (Myxozoa: Malacosporea). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Elsevier BV : 261 - 269. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.03.010
- Hartikainen H, Waeschenbach A, Wöss E, Wood T, Okamura B (2013) Divergence and species discrimination in freshwater bryozoans (Bryozoa: Phylactolaemata). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, (1) Oxford University Press (OUP) : 61 - 80. doi: 10.1111/zoj.12025
- Gruhl A, Okamura B (2012) Development and myogenesis of the vermiform Buddenbrockia (Myxozoa) and implications for cnidarian body plan evolution. EvoDevo, (1) Springer Science and Business Media LLCdoi: 10.1186/2041-9139-3-10
- HARTIKAINEN H, OKAMURA B (2012) Castrating parasites and colonial hosts. Parasitology, (4) Cambridge University Press (CUP) : 547 - 556. doi: 10.1017/s0031182011002216
- HILL SLL, OKAMURA B (2007) Endoparasitism in colonial hosts: patterns and processes. Parasitology, (6) Cambridge University Press (CUP) : 841 - 852. doi: 10.1017/s0031182007002259
- Jiménez-Guri E, Philippe H, Okamura B, Holland PWH (2007) Science, (5834) American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) : 116 - 118. doi: 10.1126/science.1142024
- De Meester L, Gómez A, Okamura B, Schwenk K (2002) The Monopolization Hypothesis and the dispersal–gene flow paradox in aquatic organisms. Acta Oecologica, (3) Elsevier BV : 121 - 135. doi: 10.1016/s1146-609x(02)01145-1
- Freeland , Noble , Okamura (2000) Genetic consequences of the metapopulation biology of a facultatively sexual freshwater invertebrate. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, (3) Oxford University Press (OUP) : 383 - 395. doi: 10.1046/j.1420-9101.2000.00192.x
- O'Dea A, Okamura B (2000) Intracolony variation in zooid size in cheilostome bryozoans as a new technique for investigating palaeoseasonality. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, (3-4) Elsevier BV : 319 - 332. doi: 10.1016/s0031-0182(00)00136-x
- Anderson CL, Canning EU, Okamura B (1999) Molecular data implicate bryozoans as hosts for PKX (Phylum Myxozoa) and identify a clade of bryozoan parasites within the Myxozoa. Parasitology (Cambridge), : 555 - 561.
- Eckman JE, Okamura B (1998) A Model of Particle Capture by Bryozoans in Turbulent Flow: Significance of Colony Form. The American Naturalist, (6) University of Chicago Press : 861 - 880. doi: 10.1086/286214
- Okamura B (1985) The effects of ambient flow velocity, colony size, and upstream colonies on the feeding success of Bryozoa. II. Conopeum reticulum (Linnaeus), an encrusting species. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, (1) Elsevier BV : 69 - 80. doi: 10.1016/0022-0981(85)90082-6
- Okamura B (1984) The effects of ambient flow velocity, colony size, and upstream colonies on the feeding success of bryozoa. I. Bugula stolonifera Ryland, an arborescent species. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, (2) Elsevier BV : 179 - 193. doi: 10.1016/0022-0981(84)90044-3
Highlighted publications
- Okamura B, Gruhl A, Bartholomew JL (2015) Myxozoan Evolution, Ecology and Development. Springer : null - null.
- Okamura B, Gruhl A (2015) Myxozoan affinities and route to endoparasitism. Myxozoan Evolution, Ecology and Development. Okamura B, Gruhl A, Bartholomew JL (Eds).Springer: Cham, Switzerland. : 23 - 44.
- Okamura B, Gruhl A, Reft AJ (2015) Cnidarian origins of Myxozoa. Myxozoan Evolution, Ecology and Development. Okamura B, Gruhl A, Bartholomew JL (Eds).Springer: Cham, Switzerland. : 45 - 68.
- Hartikainen H, Gruhl A, Okamura B (2014) Diversification and repeated morphological transitions in endoparasitic cnidarians (Myxozoa: Malacosporea). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Elsevier BV : 261 - 269. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.03.010
- Hartikainen H, Waeschenbach A, Wöss E, Wood T, Okamura B (2013) Divergence and species discrimination in freshwater bryozoans (Bryozoa: Phylactolaemata). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, (1) Oxford University Press (OUP) : 61 - 80. doi: 10.1111/zoj.12025
- Gruhl A, Okamura B (2012) Development and myogenesis of the vermiform Buddenbrockia (Myxozoa) and implications for cnidarian body plan evolution. EvoDevo, (1) Springer Science and Business Media LLCdoi: 10.1186/2041-9139-3-10
- HARTIKAINEN H, OKAMURA B (2012) Castrating parasites and colonial hosts. Parasitology, (4) Cambridge University Press (CUP) : 547 - 556. doi: 10.1017/s0031182011002216
- HILL SLL, OKAMURA B (2007) Endoparasitism in colonial hosts: patterns and processes. Parasitology, (6) Cambridge University Press (CUP) : 841 - 852. doi: 10.1017/s0031182007002259
- Jiménez-Guri E, Philippe H, Okamura B, Holland PWH (2007) Science, (5834) American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) : 116 - 118. doi: 10.1126/science.1142024
- De Meester L, Gómez A, Okamura B, Schwenk K (2002) The Monopolization Hypothesis and the dispersal–gene flow paradox in aquatic organisms. Acta Oecologica, (3) Elsevier BV : 121 - 135. doi: 10.1016/s1146-609x(02)01145-1
- Freeland , Noble , Okamura (2000) Genetic consequences of the metapopulation biology of a facultatively sexual freshwater invertebrate. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, (3) Oxford University Press (OUP) : 383 - 395. doi: 10.1046/j.1420-9101.2000.00192.x
- O'Dea A, Okamura B (2000) Intracolony variation in zooid size in cheilostome bryozoans as a new technique for investigating palaeoseasonality. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, (3-4) Elsevier BV : 319 - 332. doi: 10.1016/s0031-0182(00)00136-x
- Anderson CL, Canning EU, Okamura B (1999) Molecular data implicate bryozoans as hosts for PKX (Phylum Myxozoa) and identify a clade of bryozoan parasites within the Myxozoa. Parasitology (Cambridge), : 555 - 561.
- Eckman JE, Okamura B (1998) A Model of Particle Capture by Bryozoans in Turbulent Flow: Significance of Colony Form. The American Naturalist, (6) University of Chicago Press : 861 - 880. doi: 10.1086/286214
- Okamura B (1985) The effects of ambient flow velocity, colony size, and upstream colonies on the feeding success of Bryozoa. II. Conopeum reticulum (Linnaeus), an encrusting species. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, (1) Elsevier BV : 69 - 80. doi: 10.1016/0022-0981(85)90082-6
- Okamura B (1984) The effects of ambient flow velocity, colony size, and upstream colonies on the feeding success of bryozoa. I. Bugula stolonifera Ryland, an arborescent species. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, (2) Elsevier BV : 179 - 193. doi: 10.1016/0022-0981(84)90044-3