Rachel is a research scientist in flora conservation for the Science Division, with a broad background in population genetics and evolutionary biology. Her research involves understanding patterns of genetic diversity, gene flow and divergence in a range of Western Australian native flora, with aims to clarify taxonomic boundaries, assess conservation status, perform impact assessments or inform appropriate management actions for conservation or habitat rehabilitation at the appropriate spatial scales.
- population genetics, phylogeography and phylogenetics
- bioinformatic processing of genomic data
- molecular laboratory techniques
- morphometric analyses of intraspecific morphological variation
- experienced with both plant and animal species, and in marine or terrestrial systems
Academic Qualifications
2011 Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia: The evolutionary significance of morphological variation in the Australian sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma
2005 Bachelor of Science, 1st Class Honours, University of Western Australia:
Individual thesis: Exploring the consequences of translocation - long term effects upon genetic structure within a 12 year old population of the marine gastropod Bembicium vittatum
Group thesis: "The effect of introduced buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliarus L.) on terrestrial invertebrate communities in the Pilbara region, Western Australia"
2004 Bachelor of Science, University of Western Australia: Majoring in Marine Biology and Zoology
Positions Held
2012 - Current Research Scientist, Dept of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
2007 - 2012 Guest lecturer, lab tutor and field demonstrator for various undergraduate units, University of Western Australia
2006 Graduate Research Assistant, Murdoch University
Assessment of genetic diversity, population structure and clonality for Lepidosperma sp. Mt Caudan and Lepidosperma sp. Parker Range
Investigation of genetic entities and hybridisation within the Acacia microbotrya species complex
Development of seed provenancing strategies for mine rehabilitation using several common Pilbara species
Assessment of genomic variation in the widespread and highly variable Calothamnus quadrifidus species complex
Using genomic variation to define cryptic lineages within Eucalyptus salubris
Investigating patterns and drivers of connectivity in Avicennia marina along the Western Australian coastline
Binks RM, Gardner MG, Millar MA, and Byrne, M (2013) Characterization and cross-amplification of novel microsatellite markers for two Australian sedges, Lepidosperma sp. Mt Caudan and Lepidosperma sp. Parker Range (Cyperaceae). Conservation Genetics Resources DOI:10.1007/s12686-013-0087-2
Binks RM, Prince J, Evans JP, and Kennington WJ (2012) More than bindin divergence: reproductive isolation between sympatric subspecies of a sea urchin by asynchronous spawning. Evolution 66 (11): 3545-3557.
Binks RM, Evans JP, Kennington WJ, and Prince J (2011) Spatial patterns of variation in color and spine shape in the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma. Invertebrate Biology 130 (2): 161-174.
Binks RM, Evans JP, Prince J, and Kennington WJ (2011) Fine-scale patterns of genetic divergence within and between morphologically variable subspecies of the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma (Echinometridae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 103: 578-592.
Binks RM, Lukehurst SS, Garcia-Gonzalez F, and Evans JP (2009) Characterization of microsatellite loci for the Australian sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma. Molecular Ecology Resources 9 (4): 1259-1261.
Shaw JA, Macey DJ, Clode PL, Brooker LR, Webb RI, Stockdale EJ, and Binks RM (2008) Methods of sample preparation of radula epithelial tissue in chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora). American Malacological Bulletin 25: 35-41.
Binks RM, Kennington WJ, and Johnson, MS (2007) Rapid evolutionary responses in a translocated population of intertidal snail (Bembicium vittatum) utilise variation from different source populations. Conservation Genetics 8: 1421-1429.
