Silent but dramatic loss of genetic diversity unveiled using museum specimens #consgen

Molecular Biology and Evolution@molbioevol.bsky.social · 2w ago

Mullin et al. use WGS from 101 museum specimens of British/Irish moss carder bumblebees from 1894-2019 to reveal a dramatic drop in genetic diversity: ∼24.6% decrease in heterozygosity and a 2.86-fold increase in ROH 🔗 academic.oup.com/mbe/article/... 📷 Gavin Broad #societyjournal #naturalhistory

Congratulations to our newly fledged #PhD, Dr Holly Hulme, who just successfully defended her PhD thesis on biomonitoring of chemicals in two sentinel species, common buzzards and Eurasian otters!

Congratulations to #PhD student Lucy Rowley who completed her viva with minor corrections. A proud moment as supervisor, with this being 20 years since I did my PhD on genetics of the same species - white-tailed (sea) #eagles. Exciting to see the new results from genomics through her excellent work.

Update to #software #Mongrail 2.0: just published in @heredityjournal.bsky.social. Useful for detection of recent #hybridization from #genomic data. Chakraborty S, Rannala B (2026) Improved Bayesian inference of hybrids using genome sequences. Heredity 135, 660–673. doi.org/10.1038/s414...

Improved Bayesian inference of hybrids using genome sequences - Heredity

Heredity - Improved Bayesian inference of hybrids using genome sequences

doi.org

Hopefully this review by Alex Aylward, Daniel J. Fairbanks, Maria Kiladi & Gregory Radick will form an important contribution to the Genetics Society UK, but also the wider scientific community in wrapping our heads around how genetics and biology not only widely accepted, ...

Ed Hollox@edhollox.bsky.social · 5mo ago

An excellent paper in @heredityjournal.bsky.social by Alex Aylward and colleagues on the role of the @gensocuk.bsky.social and eugenics. As a current committee member, I am embarrassed by my predecessors wait and see attitude to Nazi antisemitism in 1934. In contrast, Lancelot Hogben's quote...

Eurasian #otters are an endangered and elusive species that is challenging to monitor. Researchers from Cardiff University have now developed a new way to study otters—by analysing their spraint: royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article... #RSOS

Congratulations to Dr. (!) Celia Vinagre-Izquierdo and the supervisors for this excellent scientific work. Really enjoyed contributed to the evaluation of the thesis, and a pleasure to be in Seville for the occasion.

Carles Vilà@carlesvilaebd.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Congratulations to Dr. Celia Vinagre-Izquierdo for her PhD thesis "Chromosomal inversions as a mechanism for sympatric differentiation in common quails" (1/3) @celiavinagre.bsky.social @consevol.bsky.social #evolquail @ebdonana.bsky.social

There's a mini jobs bonanza just now at BTO! 🐦 Apply to become our next Scottish Raptor Monitoring Coordinator, Biological Data Manager or Research Support Officer via www.bto.org/jobs Birds Science People; it is a powerful combination – will you be part of it?

The #IUCN Conservation Genetics Specialist Group (which I am proud to be part of) has a new website up, see below. Beginning to add resources, and also highlights our members across the globe. We hope this resource will help others reach out to us to input or advice. #conservation #genetics #SSC

Conservation Genetics Specialist Group (IUCN)@cgsg.bsky.social · 5mo ago

we are live now #consgen , an overview on the different projects the Conservation Genetics Specialist Group is involved can be found on our new website - check it out #IUCN #SSC

Our new paper on mitogenome sequences from otter spraint, with Sarah and Jenny as joint first authors, has been featured in an article by phys.org! Read the article here: phys.org/news/2026-03...

Very glad about this new paper by former Cardiff Uni @one-cardiffuni.bsky.social PhD student Annalea Beard @annaleabeard.bsky.social come out in #MovementEcology. Documenting very different foraging behaviours and ranges in cool versus hot season breeding populations #stormpetrels from #StHelena.

@annaleabeard.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Band-rumped storm-petrels from St Helena in the South Atlantic reveal differing seasonal #foraging preferences. Thanks to all involved in this manuscript @o-o-frank.bsky.social @steffopp.bsky.social @robthomasbirds.bsky.social #seabirds #biologging #StHRS #conservation doi.org/10.1186/s404...

🚨New paper out Recovering whole mitogenome sequences from Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) spraint samples: a metagenomic approach doi.org/10.1098/rsos... @sduplessis.bsky.social @otterproject.bsky.social @molecol-cardiffuni.bsky.social

Recovering whole mitogenome sequences from Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) spraint samples: a metagenomic approach

Abstract. Non-invasive genetic monitoring of endangered species and populations is a crucial component of conservation biology, especially for elusive spec

doi.org

Nice to see Eurasian #otters increasing in coastal areas of the UK, as part of their ongoing Britain-wide recovery. We're currently studying coastal otters particularly. More on that in due course... 🦦 @otterproject.bsky.social @molecol-cardiffuni.bsky.social BBC News share.google/iZkPpK5lV0jt...

Otter ignores humans as it hunts on Mudeford Quay

The otter was filmed trotting past humans at Mudeford Quay as it hunted for its breakfast.

share.google

Delighted to get to work with these brilliant women!

Cardiff University Otter Project@otterproject.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Featured in the post project lead Elizabeth Chadwick, project officer and PhD student Chloe Hawthorn, PhD students Holly Hulme, Gu Jiaying and Sandra Simoes and placement students Sophie and Sandy. Thank you!! 🦦🎉

#biodiversity #bioinformatics Summer School announcement ... 21-26 June in Siegen, Germany co-organised by @sib.swiss & @denbi.bsky.social www.sib.swiss/training/cou... 🟢 eDNA & ecosystems 🟣 pangenome diversity 🔵 population genetics 🟡 comparative genomics

Biodiversity Bioinformatics Summer School

This School is co-organized by SIB/ELIXIR Switzerland and de.NBI/ELIXIR Germany Overview Biodiversity is fundamental to ecosystem functioning, yet it

sib.swiss

Pleasure hosting Prof Carl Jones from #Durrell today for a seminar at @cardiffuni.bsky.social. Inspiring to hear first hand accounts of how he saved several nearly extinct species on #Mauritius. @molecol-cardiffuni.bsky.social

Your daily Avian Hybrids story! Ancient DNA reveals low levels of past genetic diversity in the Andean Condor avianhybrids.wordpress.com/2021/09/29/a... #ornithology

Ancient DNA reveals low levels of past genetic diversity in the Andean Condor

Low genetic diversity might be the natural state for this vulture.

avianhybrids.wordpress.com

New Year, new job. Come and join the @ukceh.bsky.social team on the Isle of May ceh.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-GB/CEH_Ca...

A big shout out to our reviewers, authors and associate editors for sharing science, support, trust, kindness and wisdom. We wish you all the very best start to 2026 🎉 @gensocuk.bsky.social

Happy to highlight an essay I wrote together with @marcdemanuel.bsky.social, @natanaels.bsky.social and Anastasia Stolyarova, trying to think through what sets the mutation rate of a cell type in an animal species: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... 1/n

What sets the mutation rate of a cell type in an animal species?

Germline mutation rates per generation are strikingly similar across animals, despite vast differences in life histories. Analogously, in at least one somatic cell type, mutation rates at the end of l...

biorxiv.org

Accurate Runs of Homozygosity Estimation From Low Coverage Genome Sequences in Non-Model Species onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Accurate Runs of Homozygosity Estimation From Low Coverage Genome Sequences in Non‐Model Species

Runs of homozygosity (ROH) are increasingly being analysed using whole genome sequences in non-model species as a measure of inbreeding and to assess demographic history, thus providing useful inform...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

We are happy to be featured in this article on the revival of otters in Britain, including the link to our paper on 'effective population size’. Our research suggests that optimism about recovery should be tempered with caution - low genetic diversity may limit future population resilience.

There are still a few more days left to apply for our #AnimalEcology and #MovementEcology #PhDposition! 🧪 #PhDOpening @utu.fi

Carina Nebel@carinanebel.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Interested in #RaptorResearch and #MovementEcology? 🧪 The #AnimalEcology Lab at @utu.fi has an open #PhDposition! We’ll be tagging WTEs with cutting-edge #GPS devices to study their early-life journeys. Curious to learn more? See the advert: shorturl.at/HMZ84 #PhDOpening #PhDChat #BioLogging

NatureScot seeks an experienced ornithologist for seabird conservation in Scotland. The role involves seabird restoration, resilience in colonies and Marine Protected Areas, advisory work, and developing research and guidance. Apply by 21 December 2025:

1011-340 Marine Ornithology Adviser - D Grade - December 2025

Job title: 1011-340 Marine Ornithology Adviser | Grade: D | Hours: 35 (full-time) | Vacancy type: One year with possibility of extension | Salary £40,161 | Location: All NatureScot offices/…

bit.ly

Undergraduates interested in developing a proposal to join my research group this summer: please get in touch! 🐻🦅🦦💦🐺🐦🐠🦠

Genetics Society UK@gensocuk.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Applications for the Genetics Society Summer Studentship Grants are open! If you’re an undergrad itching to dive into real research, this is your doorway into the lab. More information here: genetics.org.uk/grants/summe...

Well done, Lynne!! 🍄🌳

Cardiff Molecular Ecology and Conservation lab @molecol-cardiffuni.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Huge shout-out to Prof Lynne Boddy from @cardiffuni.bsky.social School of Biosciences, for #BES award for a lifetime of incredible achievements in fungal ecology and conservation

Hi Folks ! Just a few more days to register for the POPGROUP meeting (deadline = this Monday 10/11/2025). Join us in the beautiful city of #Lille just across the Channel for three exciting days of science and more ! www.hautsdefrancetourism.com/destinations... --> populationgeneticsgroup.org.uk

Things to do in Lille | Hauts-de-France Tourism – Official Website

From the top of the town hall’s belfry, the whole of Lille is laid before you. Visit la Grand Place, the Vieille Bourse. Stroll along the sloping cobbled

hautsdefrancetourism.com

POPGROUP59@popgroup2026.bsky.social · last yr.

Exciting news! The next #PopGroup meeting will take place in Lille 🍟, France, 7–9 January 2026 – just 1 hour by train from London, Brussels, and Paris. This year, PopGroup will also host ALPHY, the annual meeting of Evolutionary Genomics. More info: populationgeneticsgroup.org.uk See you there !

Back to Cardiff, after serving as external #PhD examiner. Congrats to Stefano Porrelli from #QMUL for passing his viva with minor corrections. Fascinating work on #introgression and incomplete lineage sorting in Ruminants. Congrats also to supervisors @anneropiquet.bsky.social, Alexandre Hassanin

#Wanted: running and alive: Someone with an active #SEQUENCHER software license. I have a few old Sequencher project data files with #DNA sequence data (*.spf), but no access to the software. Anyone with access could perhaps help me export the files? Please RT

Gu is joining the otter team for her PhD! 🦦 She holds a Bachelor's degree in Health Inspection and Quarantine from Guangdong Medical University (2018) and a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Aberdeen (2023). Find Gu on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/qub-gu-ot....