Nat Forsdick

Double blind peer review does exist but is not very common (at least in my experience in molecular biology).

Biomedical and life science articles by female researchers spend longer under review Women are underrepresented in academia, especially in STEMM fields, at top institutions, and in senior positions. This study analyzes millions of biomedical and life science articles, revealing that f...

And here's a thought provoking study on other disparities in research, this one addressing different aspects of the gender gap. #WomenInSTEM journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

Kudos to all who contributed to this confronting early career perspectives piece in the NZ Science Review. It's hard to be an emerging researcher in Aotearoa right now. Let's use the power of these collective voices to push for change! ojs.victoria.ac.nz/nzsr/article... #earlycareer #ECR #ECS #AoNZ

WSC4 Abstract Submissions – Now Open

Abstract submissions for WSC4 are currently open and have been extended until 23 January 2026 (23:59 UTC-12).

Submitting an abstract is easy via our Abstract Portal.
Check out our website for full guidelines and submission details.

🔗 bit.ly/4qRZd44

#WSC4

Want to be on the right side of biodiversity this summer? It's your choice New Zealand’s biodiversity is under immense pressure, but we can give native species a boost this summer by making some simple choices.

Three quarters of our endemic terrestrial bird, freshwater fish and frog species are now either at risk or threatened with extinction; nine in 10 of our native seabird and reptile species sit in the same categories; and around half of our native vascular plants – including...

Our ultimate goal is to help retain, develop, and empower the current and future early career cohort to thrive in their fields, delivering meaningful science impact for Aotearoa New Zealand. Thanks to all co-authors, led by @hanareiaehau.bsky.social & our PROs for their support. 5/5

Drawing on the proactive, solution-focussed ethos of the ECMG, we propose 12 recommendations to strengthen career pathways, support growth and leadership of Māori ECS, and improve funding equity. We aim to work towards these alongside Science NZ, PRO leaders, and MBIE. 4/5

Incorporating data from a survey of the PRO ECS workforce from December 2024, this piece highlights three pressure areas for ECS arising from of uncertainty resulting from these changes for the PRO early career workforce. 3/5

The ECMG is a cross-organisational body of early career staff and students (ECS) representing each of the Public Research Organisations (PROs). As such, we are well-positioned to provide insight into the impacts recent and ongoing changes to the Science, Innovation & Technology sector in AoNZ. 2/5

On behalf of the Science NZ Early Career Member Group (ECMG), I’m delighted to share our new publication in the New Zealand Science Review: ‘Pressures and Pathways: Early Career Experiences in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Research Organisations’: doi.org/10.26686/nzs... 🧵1/5

📣 New paper out now in @conbiology.bsky.social!

#Headstarting - hatching eggs and/or rearing chicks in captivity & releasing them back to the wild - has been increasingly used for #wader #conservation. But it can be challenging and expensive.

So why do it and when❓

📷WWT/Bob Ellis #godwit

(1/4)

A cheeky repost to highlight our recent publication on data- and culturally-informed conservation management in an #AoNZ endemic seabird for the #conservationgenomics 🧬 and science 🧪 crowd 🤓

Research was funded by #GenomicsAotearoa @docgovtnz.bsky.social @manaakiwhenua.bsky.social & MBIE. We thank Kāi Tahu, Kaitiaki Rōpū ki Murihiku and the Whenua Hou Komiti, dozens of volunteers, our sequencing providers, and many others for advice and support during the course of this work. 9/9

Nest Survival Models and Genomics Illuminate Hybridisation Attempts, Guiding Culturally Informed Management to Recover a Critically Endangered Seabird Long-term monitoring has revealed hybridisation attempts between the Critically Endangered Kuaka Whenua Hou (KWH, Pelecanoides whenuahouensis) and the abundant Kuaka (P. urinatrix). Here we use model...

Our work presents in-depth analysis of hybridisation and provides an example of data-and culturally-informed conservation management for a threatened #seabird in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. #StrongerTogether doi.org/10.1111/acv.... 8/9

The resulting #conservation management intervention to break up hybrid pairs and discourage CDP from nesting in the sole breeding site of KWH on the small, predator-free offshore island Whenua Hou shows promise for the recovery of KWH. 7/9

Decision analysis for seabird recovery: Navigating complexity across ecosystems, balancing competing values and bridging spaces between research and implementation We illustrate that decision analyses provide inclusive environments for all participants despite diverse backgrounds and views, enable rational navigation of complex decision landscapes and facilitat....

A fundamental principle for KWH #conservation is that Kāi Tahu can express rangatiratanga and exercise kaitiakitanga for KWH. All research, data management, the structured decision-making framework, and mgmt interventions were conducted in full partnership with Kāi Tahu.
doi.org/10.1111/1365... 6/9

Genomic data 🧬 was used to produce the first reference #genome for KWH, and revealed no evidence of introgression. Putative hybrid offspring were confirmed as hybrids, and we found evidence that both male and female KWH have been engaging in hybridisation. 5/9

Success of #hybridisation attempts was low but non-zero, and overall hybrid nest survival was considerably ⬇️ compared with KWH nests. Hybridisation appears to result in outbreeding depression, with hybrid chicks exhibiting developmental complications. 4/9

With 15-20 hybridisation attempts recorded annually, there is a risk of ⬇️ reproductive potential of KWH, and introgression - the transfer of genetic material from CDP into the KWH genome 🧬. We used nest survival models from long-term monitoring data and #genomic data to understand these impacts. 3/9

Whenua Hou diving petrel/kuaka The Whenua Hou diving petrel/kuaka is New Zealand’s 'newest' bird species, being only described as recently as 2018. The species only breeds on Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) and is Threatened-Nationally...

We describe #hybrid breeding attempts (and outcomes) between Kuaka Whenua Hou (Pelecanoides whenuahouensis, KWH), a threatened taonga (treasure) of Kāi Tahu (the Indigenous Peoples of Southern Aotearoa New Zealand), and Common diving petrels (P. urinatrix, CDP).
www.doc.govt.nz/nature/nativ... 2/9

Nest Survival Models and Genomics Illuminate Hybridisation Attempts, Guiding Culturally Informed Management to Recover a Critically Endangered Seabird Long-term monitoring has revealed hybridisation attempts between the Critically Endangered Kuaka Whenua Hou (KWH, Pelecanoides whenuahouensis) and the abundant Kuaka (P. urinatrix). Here we use model...

I'm delighted to share that our publication 'Nest survival models and genomics illuminate hybridisation attempts, guiding culturally informed management to recover a critically endangered seabird' is out now in Animal Conservation @animalconserv.bsky.social! doi.org/10.1111/acv.... 🧵 1/9

The @scboceania.org AGM is 5PM NZT next Tuesday 2 Dec. Following this Assoc Prof Tatsuya Amano, Chair of #ICCB2025 Language Accessibility Subcommittee will present "How to run a language-inclusive ICCB", sharing learnings from a concerted focus on language accessibility at #ICCB2025. DM for details.

Heather really sold it as an amazing place to visit! Super keen!

We had a brilliant time at #AOC2025! Congratulations to all the organising team for a fantastic meeting, and we can’t wait to host you all in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in 2027!!

Plenary speaker Dejan Stojanovich describes how the orange bellied parrots have been resistant to conservation, and are generally a challenging species to study. A lot of research and conservation trial and effort has been put in to diagnosing causes of decline. #AOC2025

Heather shares how the birds are culturally important to the people of Palau, embedded in many traditional stories and sayings. Protecting nature also ensures the protections of culture and traditions. #AOC2025

With 4 island types and over 300 islands, Palau has a huge diversity of habitats, for at least 168 bird species, #AOC2025 plenary speaker Heather Ketebengang tells us.

Marcel Klaassen walks us through the evolution of H5N1 bird flu, including tracking and testing of waders, with data being tracked in AviFluMap hpairisk.deakin.edu.au. Ducks are the main spreader currently. #AOC2025

Busting all our assumptions about sexual dimorphism, bird colour and song, Kristal Cain gets #AOC2025 off to a rollicking start!

What a lovely way to start the day at #AOC2025! Our morning bird walk collected 41 species, and made for a lovely chance to connect and reconnect.