🚨 Publication Alert! 🚨 Curious about how thelytokous (asexual) reproduction shapes genetic diversity in a parasitoid? My first PhD paper is now out, where we explore this fascinating system through a genomic lens. 📄 Paper link: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... @angmcgaughran.bsky.social

I am beyond thrilled to be a successful recipient of the Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship – what a way to round off 2025! I would like to thank my wonderful network of collaborators in NZ and around the world for their support and contributions to my research over the years.

Here is the publication link for those who want a closer look: dx.doi.org/10.1002/edn3...

Such a fun study with awesome collaborators! Read the news release ahead of the paper on how fake webs yielded real eDNA hits. Happy Halloween 👻

Also excited to be chatting about this tonight on www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro... - around 8.05/8.10pm if you're keen to tune in 🕸️🕸️🕸️

A Conversation piece on our (@manpreetkdhami.bsky.social @sbirdy.bsky.social) quirky fake spiderweb research for eDNA biomonitoring, just out in time for Halloween. Paper forthcoming! theconversation.com/spiders-insp...

NZ's govt has announced reforms to science funding just one line about basic science in there: "Discovery-led science & research will continue to be funded. This will sit outside the pillars & is essential for maintaining vibrant curiosity-driven science system" yea mate seems like a real priority

New preprint! Courtship choreography is stabilised among genetically isolated populations Check out the mesmerising courtship display of Apotropina ornatipennis (Diptera: Chloropidae) doi.org/10.1101/2025... with @bioblake.bsky.social, @angmcgaughran.bsky.social, @thekeithing.bsky.social, et al

Today we’ve kicked off the Invasion Genomics course with @angmcgaughran.bsky.social Pre-recorded lectures, hands-on tutorials, and Slack support make it easy for participants from all time zones to dive in and learn at their own pace. 🧬💻

For the first time, our course goes fully offline with @angmcgaughran.bsky.social ! 🎉 🎥 Recorded lectures 📄 Annotated hands-on scripts 💬 1 week of Slack support Designed for a global audience and flexible learning 🌍✨ If interested: www.physalia-courses.org/courses-work...

Our other fantastic sponsers include @wilderlab.bsky.social, @geneticsaus.bsky.social and Genomics Aotearoa!!

Thanks very much to our new sponsor, @sequench.bsky.social, who will be joining us at the upcoming NZ Molecular Ecology meeting to talk about all things eDNA! More details here: nzmolecol5.wixsite.com/nz-molecular...

Excited for this!

Yes! On behalf of the organising committee, we look forward to welcoming you to Raglan in November ☺️

We’ve got an exciting line-up of online courses in September with amazing instructors @oskolkov.bsky.social @angmcgaughran.bsky.social @cegamorim.bsky.social @arunsethuraman.bsky.social @passdan.bsky.social @amandatron89.bsky.social @jbyoder.org @colincarlson.bsky.social @ambarbosa.bsky.social

📣 New paper! 📣 We summarise the outputs of last year's @sednasociety.bsky.social Airborne eDNA Workshop & chart a path for airborne eDNA as a transformative tool for #biodiversity, #biosecurity & #conservation. 🔗 tinyurl.com/4a8vb6ja #eDNA #airDNA #SeDNAS

I have serious concerns about Colossal Biosciences, Canterbury Museum & Ngāi Tahu Research Centre pursuing moa de-extinction, incl whether informed widespread engagement w/ Ngāi Tahu rūnanga & South Island iwi was done (many are against de-extinction) www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2025/07/09/m... 1/3

🚨 New Format. Global Access. 🌍 Are you ready to take your skills in invasion genomics to the next level—wherever you are in the world? 💡 Explore how genomics can help decode the adaptation & environmental responses of invasive species with @angmcgaughran.bsky.social shorturl.at/m9T9L

Reminder: early bird registration for 🧬GSA 2025🧬 closes on the 11th of May! www.gsa-2025.com

Can attest that this will be a great team to work with 😍

New genomic & genetic insights into Mendel’s pea genes, including previously uncharacterised alleles 159 years after Mendel published his work, this is a real delight (especially for a geneticist) 🧪 @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Registrations are now open for the new 3-day course "Invasion Genomics in R" with @angmcgaughran.bsky.social in September! If interested: www.physalia-courses.org/courses-work...

It actually exists! A few copies of my new book just arrived. Nice to see it in person, finally. If you've ever wondered about the ecology or evolution of an invasive population, this one's for you. #evobio 🌏 #bioinvasions #ecoevo

Excited to have this one published! Carrion-breeding flies of Australia and New Zealand: A review and key to adults. We summarise over a century of information on the ecology and physiology of the many beautiful carrion flies 🪰 An enormous effort led by Nikolas Johnston doi.org/10.1111/aen....

@angmcgaughran.bsky.social is evaluating #airDNA in comparison to water sampling AirDNA seems to have higher variability and there's an effect of distance, suggesting signals can be localised #SeDNA2025

Starsha Bird explores how public data can improve our knowledge of exotic species and indigenous biodiversity

Starsha end with an important closing message: What is the most important thing in the world? It's the people, It's the people, It's the people

The Australia and New Zealand eDNA conference is a truly global event. Breakdown by the numbers. #sedna2025

Invasomics 2.0 is off to a fantastic start with our first Keynote @shaky-dingo.bsky.social kicking off what Ragweed adaptation facilitating its invasion! 🌱 🧬

It was an amazing experience presenting my first PhD chapter at the Invasomics 2.0 conference. I had the chance to connect with incredible researchers working on invasion biology. Huge thanks to @manpreetkdhami.bsky.social and @angmcgaughran.bsky.social for organizing such a fantastic event! 🧬🥳👨🏻‍💻

Love this from @edyong209.bsky.social 👇 A new study that looks at uncredited contributions of #WomeninSTEM to genetics research was inspired by the film "Hidden Figures". How scientists are portrayed in society matters; the stories we tell matter. #WomeninScience #scicomm #movies 🧪

Still got time to register for the Invasomics 2.0 in Wellington! Join us to find out the latest on the use of genomics to unravel Invasion pathways, mechanisms and detections! Deets-> www.invasomics.com/invasomics2 Rego closes 24 Jan.

The Invasomics 2.0 Conference programme is now up (see button at the bottom of the conference page - www.invasomics.com/invasomics2). An excellent set of talks and topics to be covered! Registration is open until next Friday (24th Jan) so get in while you can!

We have joined Bluesky! Looking forward to connecting to #eDNA researchers and enthusiasts here.

Learning about blowflies from @angmcgaughran.bsky.social and @butterworthbugs.bsky.social

The Molecular Ecology Resources special issue I helped edit is (finally) out! 𝙨𝙠𝙪́𝙠𝙪𝙢 𝙩𝙞́𝙡𝙞𝙭𝙖𝙢: 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 Read More: buff.ly/4j3lkkW

Exciting updates!!! (1) We can now announce our third keynote speaker --> Prof Arnaud Estoup (INRAE; France); (2) We have extended abstract submission to 15 December. This is shaping up to be a fantastic conference! Don't foget to register: www.invasomics.com/invasomics2

Second meeting on the use of genomics in invasion biology: 17th February 2025. Abstracts due 10th December

We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting the second instalment of the highly successful Invasion Genomics meeting - INVASOMICS 2.0, in Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, New Zealand on the 17th February 2025. www.invasomics.com/invasomics2

I'm seeking a PhD student for a funded scholarship to explore the role of cuticular hydrocarbons in sexual signaling & the trade-off between desiccation resistance & communication in NZ giraffe weevils. More details here: chrissiepainting.com/opportunities/ Please help spread the word!

How do traits determine invasiveness among populations and species? We seek a PhD applicant (start date prior to 30/06/25; fully funded PhD position) to explore this question using our model blowfly system! Details at: www.waikato.ac.nz/research/fin... Please RT! @cpaintingnz.bsky.social

📣 Introducing 📣 microPublications in Ecology and Evolution! Please help support this effort by spreading the word and submitting and reviewing papers! #evolution 🌎 🌍 🌏 🧪 #PlantScience #conservation

And there it is. First case of bird flu on the Antarctic continent, via skuas. amp.theguardian.com/environment/...

Still 2 weeks to apply for 2 funded #PhDposition in Aotearoa New Zealand! Come work on food web stability & ecosystem functioning in response to warming in geothermal soils! Descriptions here (2nd position with Charlotte Alster): www.ecodivlab.com/contact @marsdenfund.bsky.social

Great to see our review, led by Ang and Manpreet, out in GBE — the outcome of the SMBE Regional Meeting on the Role of the Genome in Biological Invasion. "Genomic Tools in Biological Invasions: Current State and Future Frontiers" academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...

2 fully funded PhD positions with Charlotte Alster (researchers.lincoln.ac.nz/charlotte.al...) and myself! Come work at geothermal sites in Aotearoa New Zealand to explore how warming influences microbial trade-offs, food web structure, and soil ecosystem resilience. @marsdenfund.bsky.social

2yr postdoc position available here in beautiful Tāmaki Makaurau- Auckland. Imputation strategies for low coverage sequencing from wild populations. Working with our fab team and Audald LLoret-Villas. Closing date 15-Jan-24. More info here: asanture.wordpress.com

What are the key predictors of invasion success? We are seeking a 2024 PhD applicant to explore a variety of questions available in a system of endemic and differentially invasive blowflies to determine what it takes to be a successful invader.

New paper out from my lab on wētā weapons! TLDR: We expected massive male jaws to hinder feeding rates but nope, they ate faster! Project led by Bridgette Farnworth, hard work by summer student Sam Purdie & in collab with Cilla Wehi royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...