Research

Evolutionary Genomics of Marine Mammals

The overall goal is to identify environmental and physiological factors driving cetacean diversificationvand to assess the impacts of climate change on marine mammals. Our current research focus on Risso’s and bottlenose dolphins, two genera with markedly diﬀerent diversification trajectories. We are currently generating ddRADseq data with support from Durham University (UK). Our growing genetic sample collection for Risso’s dolphin includes contributions from collaborators in Japan, USA, Netherland/Portugal, UK, and Italy. This will be the largest genomic dataset assembled for the species to date.

Long-Term Ecosystem Monitoring via eDNA

The advent of eDNA and high-throughput sequencing oﬀers unprecedented opportunities for biodiversity monitoring. We collaborate with researchers at ETH Zurich and National Taiwan University on a project investigating the genetic structure of fish and crustacean communities across northern Taiwan’s watersheds. The current project focuses on biogeographic patterns in Taiwan but is designed as a long-term monitoring system. Annual resampling will allow us to evaluate the ecological eﬀects of climate change on freshwater biodiversity. This project is also connected to the global eDNA monitoring initiative (WildinSync).

Publications

Journal articles

Ho, Y. , L.-S. Chou, C.-J. Yao, W.-L. Chi, H.-V. Wang, I. Chen, H.-Y. Yu, P.-Y. Wu, and W.-C. Yang. 2026. Escalating threats to western Pacific cetaceans: spatiotemporal stranding dynamics in Taiwan, 2000–2023. Marine Environmental Research 214: 107677. Link
Tang, K.-Y., I. Chen, and H.-C. Ho. 2025. Development of a simple tool for non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis and its application in the analysis of species composition in the NTU System. Geography Education (Accepted on 14 May 2025). [In Mandarin Chinese]
Chen, I., J. Ku, and C.-Y. Lin. 2025. An overview and perspective on the phylogeographic studies for oceanic delphinids: a case analysis for common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Taiwan Journal of Biodiversity 27(4): 315-328. [In Mandarin Chinese] Link
Hartman, K. L., I. Chen, P. A. van der Harst, A. E. Moura, M. Jahnke, M. Pilot, R. Vilela, and A. R. Hoelzel. 2023. Kinship study reveals stable non-kin-based associations in a medium-sized delphinid. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 77(12): 137. Link

Chen, I. 2022. Misuse of molecular tools results in misleading dates for the ancestor of the Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphin. Marine Mammal Science 38(1): 391-394. Link

Gray, H. W. I., I. Chen, A. E. Moura, A. Natoli, S. Nishida, S. Tanabe, G. Minton, L. S. Ponnampalam, M. S. Kiani, R. Culloch, M. Gore, A. Särnblad, O. Amir, P. Berggren, T. Collins, A. J. Willson, R. Baldwin, and A. Rus Hoelzel. 2021. Comparative biogeography and the evolution of population structure for bottlenose and common dolphins in the Indian Ocean. Journal of Biogeography 48: 1654-1668. Link

Chen, I., S. Nishida, L.-S. Chou, T. Isobe, A. A. Mignucci-Giannoni, and A. R. Hoelzel. 2020. Population genetic diversity and historical dynamics of Fraser’s dolphins Lagenodelphis hosei. Marine Ecological Progress Series 643: 183-195. Link

Moura, A. E., K. Shreves, M. Pilot, K. R. Andrews, D. M. Moore, T. Kishida, L. Möller, A. Natoli, S. Gaspari, M. McGowen, I. Chen, H. Gray, M. Gore, R. M. Culloch, M. S. Kiani, M. S. Willson, A. Bulushi, T. Collin, R. Baldwin, A. Willson, G. Minton, L. Ponnampalam, and A. R. Hoelzel. 2020. Phylogenomics of the genus Tursiops and closely related Delphininae reveals extensive reticulation among lineages and provides inference about eco-evolutionary drivers. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 146: 106756. Link

Yu, H.-Y.*, I. Chen*, W.-T. Li, and L.-S. Chou. 2019. Ecological and biological characteristics for the Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) off Taiwan, with conservation evaluations on potential anthropogenic threats. Mammal Study 44(2): 1-13. (*: equal contribution) Link

Chen I., S. Nishida, L.-S. Chou, Y. Tajima, W.-C. Yang, T. Isobe, T. K. Yamada, K. Hartman, and A. R. Hoelzel. 2018. Concordance between genetic diversity and marine biogeography in a highly mobile marine mammal, the Risso’s dolphin. Journal of Biogeography 45: 2092-2103. Link

Chen, I., S. Nishida, W.-C. Yang, T. Isobe, Y. Tajima, and A. R. Hoelzel. 2017. Genetic diversity of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops sp.) populations in the western North Pacific and the conservation implications. Marine Biology 164: 202. Link

Chen, I., H.-Y. Yu, W.-C. Yang, S. Nishida, T. Isobe, S. Tanabe, A. Watson, and L.-S. Chou. 2014. The “southern form” of short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) in tropical west Pacific Ocean off Taiwan. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 62: 188-199. Link

Chen, I., A. Watson, and L.-S. Chou. 2011. Insights from life history traits of Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) in Taiwanese waters: Shorter body length characterizes northwest Pacific population. Marine Mammal Science 27: E43–E64. Link

Chen, I., A. Watson, and L.-S. Chou. 2011. Calculating total body length from rostrum-anus length in amputated bycaught dolphins. Marine Mammal Science 27: E126–E133. Link

Chen, I., L.-S. Chou, Y.-J. Chen, and A. Watson. 2011. Maturation of the skulls in postnatal Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) from Taiwanese waters. Taiwania 56: 177–185. Link

Book chapters

Hartman, K. L., I. Chen, N. Hodgins, A. E. Ames, and P. A. van der Harst. 2025. Risso’s dolphin Grampus griseus (Cuvier, 1812). Pages 267-312. In: T. A. Jefferson Ed. Coastal Dolphins and Porpoises: Ridgway and Harrison's Handbook of Marine Mammals, Volume 1. Academic Press. UK: London. Link

Reports

Chen, I., K. L. Hartman, M. Simmonds, A. Wittich, and A. J. Wright. (eds.) 2013. Grampus griseus 200th anniversary: Risso’s dolphins in the contemporary world. Report from the European Cetacean Society Conference Workshop, Galway, Ireland. European Cetacean Society Special Publication Series No 54.

Conference Presentations

2025

Lin, S.-Y., S.-N. Chang, H.-C. Ho, and I. Chen*. (2025) Methodological Assessment of Rotorod-Based Airborne eDNA Collection in a Cave Environment. The 8th Annual Meeting of the eDNA Society Meeting in 2025. Yamaguchi, Japan. 10-13 December 2025. (Poster)
Chen, I.*, C. Krug, H.-C. Ho, L. Pelissier, and S. D. Wilett. (2025) Comparing eDNA meta-barcoding and open-access observation data for freshwater biodiversity in northern Taiwan. The 8th Annual Meeting of the eDNA Society Meeting in 2025. Yamaguchi, Japan. 10-13 December 2025. (Poster)
Tang, K.-Y., H.-C. Ho, and I. Chen*. (2025) Development of a simple tool for non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis and its application in the analysis of species composition in the NTU System. Joint Meeting of the 29th International Geographical Conference of Taiwan and the 2025 Annual Conference of the Geography Society of China Located in Taipei. Taipei, Taiwan, 26-27 April 2025. (Oral presentation)
Lin, C.-Y., C. Krug, H.-C. Liao, H.-C. Ho, Y.-C. Li, and I. Chen*. (2025). Preliminary assessment of freshwater biodiversity in Taiwan using environmental DNA: a case study of Bitan, Xindian. Joint Meeting of the 29th International Geographical Conference of Taiwan and the 2025 Annual Conference of the Geography Society of China Located in Taipei. Taipei, Taiwan, 26-27 April 2025. (Poster)
Chen, I.* (2025). The aim and vision of Wildinsync project. Marine eDNA workshop at Tunghai University. Taichung, Taiwan, 14 January 2025. (Oral presentation)

2024

Chen, I.*, E. Ward, Y. Tajima, T. Kunisue, and A. R. Hoelzel. (2024). Population genomics of Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) in the North Pacific Ocean. The 25th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals (SMM2024). Perth, Australia, 11–15 November. (Poster)

2023

Chen, I.* (2023). Current Status and Conservation of Oceanic Small Cetaceans: A Case Study of the Bottlenose Dolphin. The 34th Annual Symposium on Animal Behavior and Ecology–Marine Conservation Workshop. Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan. January 17, 2023. (Oral presentation)

2022

Chou, C.-W., H.-Y. Yu, L.-S. Chou, and I. Chen*. (2022). Two-decade-long sighting and stranding records reveal fine-scale distribution and group composition for Fraser’s dolphins (Lagenodelphis hosei) off Taiwan. The 24th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals (SMM2022). Palm Beach, Florida, USA, 1–5 August. (Poster)
Chen, I.* and M.-C. Lin. (2022). An assessment on the benefits of introducing real specimens and specialist experts in studying biodiversity. The 26th International Geographical Conference of Taiwan. Taipei, Taiwan, 28-29 May 2022. (Oral presentation)

2021

Chen, I.* (2021). A biologist teaches geography in College of Liberal Arts: course design, execution and reflection. The 25th International Geographical Conference of Taiwan. Taipei, Taiwan, 22-23 May 2021. (Oral presentation)

2020

Chen, I.* (2020). Characteristics, Genetic Diversity, and Population Differentiation Pattern of the Small Cetaceans in the Pacific Ocean. Mini-Symposium on Cetacean Ecology at Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica. Taipei, Taiwan, 2 December 2020. (Oral presentation)

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