Want to see what genes change their copy number with your favourite complex trait while controlling for phylogeny? Try this. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

On the cover 🐧 @josephguhlin.bsky.social @annasanture.bsky.social @peterkdearden.bsky.social

🐦 Why are bird genomes so difficult to assemble? Birds have dozens of tiny, gene-rich microchromosomes that are frequently fragmented, misplaced, or missing from genome assemblies despite containing important genetic information. 📖 Read the publication: lnkd.in/gar-GrKZ #BirdGenomics #Biodiversity

#GSA2026 will be kicking off very soon ✨ We are looking forward to an amazing line up of talks over the next week! Please post your conference updates & photos and tag @geneticsaus.bsky.social to have them reposted by the official GSA account🚨

Here in Brisbane at the Genetics Society of Australia conference - off to a cracking start with an inspiring presentation from our MJD White prize winner Peter Dearden, reminding us to step back from data and seek functional evidence #GSA2026 @geneticsaus.bsky.social

Just in time for #SMBE2026, our new preprint is out: using 130 genomes spanning ~200 years, fitness data and simulations, we show that conservation rescued the Mauritius kestrel from extinction, but not from genomic erosion. 🧵 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... #popgen #consgen #conservation

Our lab is at #SMBE2026 🧬🤩 🎤 Gina Henderson: maternal genetics of immunity 🐑 (Mon 11.45 Main) 📊 Marie Raynaud: recombination hotspots & function🐦 (Mon A294) 🎤 Susan Johnston: selection on crossovers 🐦 (Tue 14.30 Main) 📊 Lisa Ammer: sex-differences in CO landscapes 🐦 (Tue B196) And we are hiring 👇🏻

The work we did with kākāpō is now not possible because the govt has said that our funding should go to science that makes money. Members of our current govt have said that if an endangered species is in the way of a mine or a new road then it’s goodbye #nzpol peterkdearden.substack.com/p/on-kakapo

Poster | Tuesday, Jun 30 • 6:00 pm | Room: 2nd floor: Arkaden 6 Audald Lloret-Villas Genomic determinants of reproductive success in a critically bottlenecked parrot #SMBE2026

on the destruction of New Zealand Science open.substack.com/pub/peterkde...

Absolutely brilliant, scathing words from Peter here. A must read but suggest hugging a tree after

🚨Upcoming Asia-Pacific Genetics Seminar Tuesday 7 July (12pm AEST / 2pm NZST) Dr Joanna Achinger-Kawecka from Adelaide University, and SAiGENCI will present a seminar titled "3D chromatin rewiring governs lineage identity in prostate cancer".🧬 Please see the below poster for signup details.

It's Tree of the Year time Aotearoa! There are some beauties in the finalist list. Vote for rākau o te tau by the end of June. 🌳🌳 www.treeoftheyear.co.nz

I have a 12-month (0.8FTE) postdoc available to work on my Tāwhia Te Mana Fellowship on "Decoding Invasion Success"! The successful applicant should have skills in evolutionary genomic data analysis, with a focus on or interest in invasive insects. Apply via my LinkedIn post: shorturl.at/Ithak

Amazing turn out in Kirikiriroa today in support of our transgender & intersex whānau. Don't forget to make your submission against the Definition Woman Man Bill.

📣 New paper out in ProcB📣 ... and we're on the cover! (Perks of having a beautiful study species) Find it here: royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...

Brault et al. propose guidelines for standardized π estimation, systematic reporting of summary statistics, and the adoption of richer metadata to ensure that population genomic data remain comparable and reusable across a wide range of systems. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/... #genome #evolution

Kia ora folks! I'm a week into Sweat with Pride, my 3rd year raising $ in June for rainbow charities. I've already clocked up over 560 mins exercise in 7 days - despite a back injury 🙃 If you have the means, please consider sponsoring me below! 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ www.sweatwithpride.com/fundraisers/...

This is why Indigenous communities, incl. Maori, don't support de-extinction or public release of taonga genomes (the entire genetic blueprint of an individual) without proper engagement due to very valid concerns about monetising IP, biopiracy, & trademarking www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... 1/3 🧵

Inbreeding depression by polygenic load following a severe population bottleneck https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.06.03.729877v1

Day 4 of Sweat with Pride - have hurt my back so taking a break from lifting today, but still managed over 15,000 steps. I know people are finding it tough atm but if you can support me, I'd appreciate a donation for a special cause close to my heart 🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ www.sweatwithpride.com/fundraisers/...

This research was conducted with an awesome team of co-authors: @annasanture.bsky.social my amazing PhD supervisor, @katarinastuart.bsky.social, @josephguhlin.bsky.social, @vbtram.bsky.social, Selina Patel, Laura Duntsch, John G. Ewen, and @pbrekke.bsky.social 👩‍🔬👨‍🔬 @wiley.com 3/3

We found moderate inbreeding levels in the Tiritiri Matangi population that is associated with lower reproductive success, indicating inbreeding depression (ID). ID in the hihi is likely polygenic in nature including two potential regions harbouring genes related to reproduction in other birds. 2/3

New study 🧬 Inbreeding depression is a concern in small populations, and evaluating its genomic proxies is important for #ConservationGenomics. In hihi, genome-wide homozygosity best predicts lifetime reproductive success, compared to genetic load and FROH. Publication: doi.org/10.1111/eva.... 1/3

📣🧬 Postdoc Alert🧬📣 We are hiring a 2+ year NERC-funded postdoc at Edinburgh Uni investigating causes and consequences of sex differences in recombination in house sparrows in Norway. Informal enquiries welcome at [email protected] 🙂 Details here: elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

New👉 @royalsocietypublishing.org B 293(2071) #OpenAccess "Short-and long-term antagonistic selection explains dispersal polymorphism.." #heritability #kin_selection #Zootoca_vivipara @laspic.bsky.social , @pdevillemereuil.bsky.social @isyeb.mnhn.fr et al. 🦎 royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article...

Excited to launch this today! If you know any Indigenous students in the Australasian region who are interested in Animal Behaviour, please encourage them (or nominate them) to join ASSAB for free 🐦 🐛 🐸 🐀 🪲 🐝 🐟 🦎 🐔

🐦Early bird registration for GSA 2026 has been extended to Friday 5th June (11:59pm AEST). Visit the website to register: www.gsa2026.com Hope to see you at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, from 5-8 July for an amazing lineup of talks on all flavours of genetics!🧬

Abstract submission has been extended for the Australasian Ornithological Conference #AOC2027 until 10 June, and registration is now open at aoc.org.au! Birds NZ @birdsnewzealand.bsky.social are excited to be hosting alongside BirdLife AU @birdlifeoz.bsky.social in Auckland, 18-20 February.

Made your submission against the transphobic 'what is a woman' bill yet? DM me if you want any pointers but can be as simple as *I don't need the govt to tell me what a woman/man is *this Bill won't keep me/the women in my life safe *this Bill is harmful to transgender & intersex NZers 1/2

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

I'm so tired & sad this afternoon. Please email your MPs , especially the NACT ones, letting them know that supporting the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill is not OK. Transgender NZers deserve your support.

Genomics Aotearoa Webinar Monday 18th May 2026 at 2pm NZT Ehab Abouheif, Zhejiang University Evo-Devo and Climate Change: the double edge sword of novelty and extinction Register here: otago.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

OPINION: The hoiho, also known as takaraka or yellow-eyed penguin, holds a special place in Aotearoa New Zealand’s natural identity. Read more ⬇️

New paper! 🐧 We sequenced 249 hoiho / yellow-eyed penguins across mainland Aotearoa New Zealand and the sub-Antarctic to understand their history and why a deadly chick disease is hitting the mainland population so hard. #Science #Conservation #Genomics #NZWildlife www.nature.com/articles/s41...

www.nature.com/articles/s41... We found out some neat things about penguins, but particularly how we need to look after them

Read about this Genomics Aotearoa funded project to understand and help the rarest penguin in the world theconversation.com/why-the-race...

Excited to be hosting the NZ Ento Soc conference in Kirikiriroa this September alongside @barnesecodiv.bsky.social Registrations & abstract submissions are now open! We've got 3 fab plenary speakers as well as a free sci illustration workshop & social for students. ento.org.nz/conferences/

We're looking for a postdoctoral fellow to work at the intersection of ecology and data science 🧪 www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/posts/postdo... #movingtonewzealand #movingtonz

Have you been watching the #kakapo webcam? After a few power issues it’s back online. I’ll be at the nest in about an hour from now, so tune in then if you’re free! www.youtube.com/live/K_j3aaE...

Te Pūnaha Matatini is delighted to announce that Professor Melinda Allen has accepted a role as kairangi, recognising her long‑standing contribution to the centre and her leadership in interdisciplinary, community‑engaged research → www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/posts/melind...

Final abstract deadline extension - Abstract deadline for our conference in Brisbane, July 5-8, is extended to 11:59pm AEST on Monday 20 April. 🐑🍃🐀🦎🌼🐟🥝🦟🦕🌳💻🦉 No matter your flavour of genetics, you'll find it at GSA 2026!

Happy to see this one out! Not only for the science, but because it was the first project we led as a group. This paper helped us establish a collaborative culture and good relationships, shaping how we want to work together in the future. I feel lucky to work with this bunch! #popgen #consgen

Reminder: the Jenny Donald Undergraduate Student Conference Award closes 11:59pm, 7 May (AEST). Know a keen genetics undergraduate? Encourage them to apply for free registration to GSA 2026 in Brisbane! 🌴🧬📆

GSA abstract submission deadline has been extended until the 13th of April - make sure to get your abstracts in by next Monday!

Registrations close in 1 week! Make sure to submit your abstracts for GSA 2026, Brisbane🌴

📣GSA 2026 Award winners announced! 📣 All winners will be presenting at 🧬GSA 2026🧬 at the University of Queensland in Brisbane. 🚩Reminder to submit your abstracts by April 6th and register to hear these amazing researchers present their work!

Join us on campus & online on Thursday, 2 April 2026 at 1pm for a seminar by Dr Thomas Schmidt from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney. Details: rb.gy/cjfh55