Frank Hailer

@gw4alliance.bsky.social

Haplotype A haplotype is a set of DNA variations, or polymorphisms, that tend to be inherited together.

a link went missing, sorry! Here's more general information about what haplotypes are:
www.genome.gov/genetics-glo...

Thanks to our co-authors Prof Pete Kille from @cardiffuni.bsky.social and Michael Gerardo (Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, now at Natural Resources Wales), volunteers who assisted with field sampling and in the lab, the Cardiff Bio HPC team, and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and NERC GW4+ for contributing funding.

We didn’t find any new mitochondrial haplotypes (see here or here for an explanation what they are, and what they tell us about human population history) but improved our understanding of the geographic distribution resolution of the known otter haplotypes in Wales.

Mitochondrial haplotypes are clusters of inherited genetic variation in mitochondrial DNA, passed down via the maternal line. These haplotypes are particularly useful for tracing ancestry and understanding evolutionary history.

We were able to characterise the whole mitochondrial genomes (mitogenome) of the otters who left these spraints behind, as well as the fungal 🍄 and bacterial 🦠 diversity.
Our method seemed to work better in spring 🌤️ than winter ❄️, and for fresh (<24 hours) samples, but we need more data to be sure.

In our paper, we use a modern genetic technique called ‘metagenomic shotgun sequencing’ (if interested in this technique you can read more here: shorturl.at/fgROi) to characterise fungal 🍄 and bacterial 🦠 diversity of the spraint.

The paper was led by former PhD student (now Dr!) Sarah du Plessis @sduplessis.bsky.social, together with former Masters (now PhD) student Jenny Smith, supervised by myself and Liz Chadwick.

Photo: Jenny Smith sampling otter spraint along the river Usk in Wales

Ever found an otter🦦 spraint 💩 (faeces) along a river and wondered what information is locked in there? 🔒 Otters are still extremely elusive in Wales, so we wanted to test out a non-invasive survey method. Sequencing DNA 🧬 from spraint samples works well!

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

🚨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

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.

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...

Delighted to get to work with these brilliant women!

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

#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

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

Me - too

Ancient DNA reveals low levels of past genetic diversity in the Andean Condor Low genetic diversity might be the natural state for this vulture.

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

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

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...

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

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...

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

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

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/…

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:

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

Announcing the 2025 BES Award winners - British Ecological Society We're delighted to announce the worthy winners of our annual awards and prizes.

Details here: www.britishecologicalsociety.org/content/anno...

Well done, Lynne!! 🍄🌳

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

Amazing detective work and study - really enjoyed reading this. Congrats all!

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