Genetic diversity helps species survive and adapt: New study shows how to identify distinct populations and boost #conservation, extinction risk assessments, and reintroduction efforts. Out in BioScience by Geue et al., incl. @annabruniche.bsky.social academic.oup.com/bioscience/a...

protecting populations in conservations is important - we here present a framework which can help you to identify populations for conservation prioritisation #consgen 🦤#IUCN #SSC a long term project by @cgsg.bsky.social led by @jgeue.bsky.social and @debbiemleigh.bsky.social doi.org/10.1093/bios...

Minibwa is a hybrid of bwa-mem and minimap2 and the successor of bwa-mem for short-read mapping. ~4X/2.5X as fast as bwa-mem/bwa-mem2 for WGS reads at comparable accuracy. Native support of directional bisulfite-seq. Applicable to long reads. Preprint at arxiv.org/abs/2606.15357

Recipe for a Good π. How to Properly Estimate Population Genetics Summary Statistics and Why we Should Systematically Report Them academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...

Scientists have developed a new tool that makes bird genomes faster and easier to assemble — including tiny pieces of DNA that are usually missed. 🐦‍⬛ The new tool, known as MicroFinder, could help improve research into bird evolution, biodiversity and conservation. 👇 http://bit.ly/4wG023C

more on the importance of genetic diversity and how it can translate into policy and management - #consgen

Our new paper doi.org/10.1098/rspb... on long-term genetic threats to small populations finds that "mutational meltdown" (bad mutations fixing) is less of a problem than "mutational drought" (too few good new mutations) @wmawass.bsky.social @uliseshmc.bsky.social @jeremyjberg.bsky.social 1/5

#RSOS in @theguardian.com | First evidence of bidirectional exchange between distant humpback whale breeding populations in eastern Australia and Brazil: doi.org/10.1098/rsos...

Great to see this study by @sam-deakin.bsky.social and Anita Michalak published in Evolutionary Applications. Using genomic data from >750 caribou and hierarchical structure analyses, we show that genetic clusters do not align with current conservation units in western Canada doi.org/10.1111/eva....

Genome‐Wide Homozygosity Predicts Inbreeding Depression in the Hihi/Stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta) Better Than Realised Load onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

For biodiversity indicators to influence decisions, we need to trust them - and to trust them, we need to test them. Happy to share our new paper about how to do that (for genetic diversity) with @seanmhoban.bsky.social & @laura-pollock.bsky.social 😊 📝 doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111824

New DNA evidence shows dingoes are almost 90% pure – and fall into eight distinct groups 🧬 🐕 Write up based on our new research doi.org/10.1111/con4... in @consletters.bsky.social #popgen #consgen

Pangolin museum genomics reveal the dynamic genetic consequences and extinction risk of the critically endangered Chinese pangolin academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...

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

Climate change is a huge challenge for endangered species because genetic variation needed to adapt is often lacking. Our new study in Science Advances highlights the potential for conservation breeding and reintroduction to boost resilience to climate change. @science.org doi.org/10.1126/scia...

Elephant genomes reveal a past of continental connectivity and a future of increasing isolation 🐘🐘 New paper out @natcomms.nature.com by @patriciachrzan.bsky.social et al. with CMEC co-author @annabruniche.bsky.social #popgen #conservation #Africa www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Can you believe that until now there were more genomes sequenced for the woolly mammoth than for living African elephants? Today, we bring you the first genomic, continent-scale analyses of 232 high-quality genomes of both species, the savanna and forest elephant. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

NEW❗ Throughout history, elephant genes have flown across the African continent, sometimes even between the two species. This is in contrast to what elephants are facing today, habitat loss and isolation. And we are already seeing the genetic consequences in some populations. tinyurl.com/4pfn2xf5

Gray whales are dying in San Francisco Bay at an alarming rate – this isn’t normal

🚨 Postdoc in conservation genomics & experimental evolution (Copenhagen) Join us explore questions on gene editing for biodiversity conservation 🔬 Required: exp in experimental evolution (ideally C. elegans) 📅 1-year pos ⏰ Dline: April 6 employment.ku.dk/faculty?show... @hologenomics.bsky.social

Nature exploitation has long-lasting consequences. F. Eichenberger et al found that historical exploitation, combined with current ecological & demographic factors, shapes patterns of male reproductive success and population dynamics of humpback whales in the South Pacific & potentially worldwide.

Escaping bottlenecks: The demographic path to genetic recovery in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) 🐨 🧬 #consgen #popgen

Great write up of our study showing that both extrinsic factors (e.g. habitat availability) and intrinsic traits (e.g. body mass and diet) play important roles in shaping patterns of genomic diversity in birds 🦜 🧬 🌏 #consgen #popgen

Effective population size is a key ingredient in indicators used to monitor genetic #biodiversity – and a fundamental concept in population genetics. But what is it, really? 🧬 We try to explain in our new blog post ⬇️ #ConsGen #Genetics #PopGen #Monitoring #KMGBF ginamo.org/2026/03/02/t...

How bird hunting is still ongoing through scientific branding. 🪶🦤 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

‪ @eveliendegreef.bsky.social's latest is out in the @asn-amnat.bsky.social feature exploring the challenges of genetic forecasting😀 "Identifying Areas of Potential Risk Based on Future Genetic Adaptability in Three Arctic Whale Species" doi.org/10.1086/738889 🧪🌎🧬🌐 #consgen #popgen #evobio

🧬 Museums + zoos = a rapid ID pipeline. Using a local network in Ecuador, we genetically identified trafficked olingos (Bassaricyon), revealed a likely new country record, and shared a recipe for accessing high-quality samples from the wild. url: academic.oup.com/biolinnean/a...

We have compiled a special issue for @evolappjournal.bsky.social on Effective population size in Conservation and Biodiversity Monitoring, dedicated to the late Michael W. Bruford. This SI is a must read for everyone who struggles with what "effective population size" means. #consgen

New paper out in Biological Invasions! We show that “genetic rescue” can unintentionally boost invasive fallow deer in Australia. Genomic data & simulations reveal how escaped genotypes from farms may increase pop growth & spread → key implications for management. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Så er der et nyt borgerforslag som I alle sammen gerne må gå ind og skrive under på, så vi ikke fortsat skal være en skinkenation der behandler vores mange millioner svin dårligere end hvad loven ellers siger man skal. Tak! www.borgerforslag.dk/se-og-stoet-...

🎉🎉 New publication out! 🎉🎉 🧵1/6 🦒 The giraffe known as Marius made global headlines when he was euthanized by Copenhagen Zoo in 2014 after being deemed surplus. His story highlights how challenging it is to manage zoo populations for conservation with limited resources 🧬 doi.org/10.1007/s105...

Work by Bell, Kovach, Whiteley and colleagues demonstrates that even inbred trout source populations can be used for genetic rescue. Great news for folks considering translocation efforts, but are faced with the challenge of identifying suitable (genetically diverse) donor populations #ConsGen

In a new GBE Review, @david-peede.bsky.social et al. overview the SMC model and extensions, discuss examples of discoveries made with the help of SMC-based inference, and comment on the assumptions, benefits, and drawbacks of various methods. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/... #genome #evolution #compbio

Haller, Ralph & Messer present SLiM 5, a major extension of the SLiM simulation framework for simulating multiple chromosomes, enabling a heightened level of realism for full-genome simulations. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf313 #evobio #molbio #compbio

Evaluating inbreeding and assessing the risk of outbreeding depression in genetic rescue using whole-genome sequence data www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

A new #ScienceAdvances study shows that commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean over the past century reduced the genetic diversity—and possibly the evolutionary fitness—of the region’s humpback whales. https://scim.ag/4anxPpM

What are the ‘social dimensions’ of moving species for conservation and why does engaging with them matter? This is the focus of our new paper doi.org/10.1016/j.tr... on the cover of the Dec issue of TREE @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social led by @aisrayne.bsky.social 🙏 to Kevin Parker for the 📷

Team fish - we need your help! We are trying to build a database of all the fish chromosome-scale genomes where sex chromosomes have been identified. Have you build one or some? Do you know someone who has? Can you post the link in the comments? Please spread the word and repost! Thank you!

Accurate Runs of Homozygosity Estimation From Low Coverage Genome Sequences in Non-Model Species #popgen #consgen doi.org/10.1111/1755...

Anthropocene genetic diversity loss in the marine tropics www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

New study on arctic fox genomics shows strong effects of fur farming: reduced diversity, inbreeding, and coastal origins linked to Icelandic foxes. A reminder that domestication leaves deep genetic footprints. 🔗 doi.org/10.1111/mec.70166

Har skrevet denne her slasker. Helt kort, så lurer jeg på hvad der mon egentlig skal til, før Socialdemokratiet og Venstre vil hjælpe de mange millioner lidende dyr i det danske, konventionelle industrilandbrug? politiken.dk/debat/debati...

New publication out, highlighting the link between genetic diversity (GD) and policy! 🧬📜 "Conserving genetic diversity in accordance with the Global Biodiversity Framework" www.annualreviews.org/content/jour... We summarize the highlights in this thread. 🧵

All those questions about inbreeding in conservation that you were afraid to ask. A bunch of early career scientists is here to explain something that even Wright and Fisher couldn't agree on, the (not so) simple question of what is inbreeding. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

🧬 Interested in monitoring & reporting on genetic diversity? 🏞️ Our project GINAMO (Genetic Indicators for NAture MOnitoring) now has a blog & newsletter! 🐝 Please share! ginamo.org/2025/09/29/welcome-2 #Conservation #Genetics #Biodiversity #Nature #consgen #KMGBF #SciComm

Evidence for ancient #selectivesweeps followed by differentiation among three species of #Sphyrapicus #sapsuckers,” by Libby Natola and @darrenirwin.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...

Excited to share our new paper in @GeneticsGSA ! We developed "Retriever," a novel method that enables high-quality genotype imputation in non-model organisms. 🧬 Congratulations to Charles on his first PhD paper! Paper: doi.org/10.1093/gene... A thread 🧵👇

African lion conservation requires adaption to regional anthropogenic threats and mitigation capacity www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...