Anna MacDonald
@annamac.bsky.social
Uses DNA to study wildlife | plays hockey 🏑 | drinks tea | hikes | adventures with dogs | open heart surgery x2
#conservation #genetics #consgen #eDNA #ecology #Antarctica #biodiversity #seabirds #marsupials #WildOz
Live in lutruwita / Tasmania 🇦🇺🇬🇧🏳️🌈 she/her
#conservation #genetics #consgen #eDNA #ecology #Antarctica #biodiversity #seabirds #marsupials #WildOz
Live in lutruwita / Tasmania 🇦🇺🇬🇧🏳️🌈 she/her
So long Hobart, see you in February! I’m on board Australia’s icebreaker RSV Nuyina, heading south for the summer to collect environmental DNA samples to study biodiversity. We left yesterday afternoon, heading to Casey Station in #Antarctica and then Heard Island ❄️ 🐧 🧬 #eDNA
November 25, 2025 at 9:27 PM
So long Hobart, see you in February! I’m on board Australia’s icebreaker RSV Nuyina, heading south for the summer to collect environmental DNA samples to study biodiversity. We left yesterday afternoon, heading to Casey Station in #Antarctica and then Heard Island ❄️ 🐧 🧬 #eDNA
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
New PhD studentship opportunity in my lab & with collaborators from the Pinniped Genomes Consortium. Come help us unravel the genomics of seal physiological super powers! Closing date 7th January 2026 🧪🦭🧬🌍🦑🐳 #marine #mammals
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
The evolutionary genomics of life-history adaptations in pinnipeds - Yorkshire Environmental Sciences • Doctoral Training Network
Project summary Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, fur seals and walrus) are keystone marine predators, and sentinels for marine ecosystem health. Advances in genomic technology open up the possibility to u...
yes-dtn.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:23 AM
New PhD studentship opportunity in my lab & with collaborators from the Pinniped Genomes Consortium. Come help us unravel the genomics of seal physiological super powers! Closing date 7th January 2026 🧪🦭🧬🌍🦑🐳 #marine #mammals
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
We have another publication out! 🎉🎉🎉
“Hybrids along a natural–anthropogenic gradient: improving policy and management across all levels of biodiversity.”
We explore how to deal with hybrids in conservation — scientifically and practically. A thread 🧵
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
“Hybrids along a natural–anthropogenic gradient: improving policy and management across all levels of biodiversity.”
We explore how to deal with hybrids in conservation — scientifically and practically. A thread 🧵
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Hybrids Along a Natural‐Anthropogenic Gradient: Improving Policy and Management Across All Levels of Biodiversity
Hybridization has long been a central topic in evolution and conservation. Recent developments in genomics have increased the ability to detect hybridization, defined here as breeding between species....
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:37 PM
We have another publication out! 🎉🎉🎉
“Hybrids along a natural–anthropogenic gradient: improving policy and management across all levels of biodiversity.”
We explore how to deal with hybrids in conservation — scientifically and practically. A thread 🧵
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
“Hybrids along a natural–anthropogenic gradient: improving policy and management across all levels of biodiversity.”
We explore how to deal with hybrids in conservation — scientifically and practically. A thread 🧵
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
This is 💙 Science & Fiction 💙 where scientific results & fictional stories intersect.
A space for people who like to a) learn about #science & b) read exciting fictional stories ✨
🇬🇧 www.scienceandfiction.net
🇩🇪 www.scienceandfiction.net/de
Support: ko-fi.com/scienceandfi...
#scicomm #wisskomm
A space for people who like to a) learn about #science & b) read exciting fictional stories ✨
🇬🇧 www.scienceandfiction.net
🇩🇪 www.scienceandfiction.net/de
Support: ko-fi.com/scienceandfi...
#scicomm #wisskomm
June 26, 2025 at 2:25 PM
This is 💙 Science & Fiction 💙 where scientific results & fictional stories intersect.
A space for people who like to a) learn about #science & b) read exciting fictional stories ✨
🇬🇧 www.scienceandfiction.net
🇩🇪 www.scienceandfiction.net/de
Support: ko-fi.com/scienceandfi...
#scicomm #wisskomm
A space for people who like to a) learn about #science & b) read exciting fictional stories ✨
🇬🇧 www.scienceandfiction.net
🇩🇪 www.scienceandfiction.net/de
Support: ko-fi.com/scienceandfi...
#scicomm #wisskomm
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
DNA in sediments tells a longer story!
New research shows sedimentary #eDNA can persist up to 132 days & be up to 1800x more concentrated than in water.
What do you think about this?
tinyurl.com/mtr947tn
#Genomics #Biodiversity #Conservation
New research shows sedimentary #eDNA can persist up to 132 days & be up to 1800x more concentrated than in water.
What do you think about this?
tinyurl.com/mtr947tn
#Genomics #Biodiversity #Conservation
Fish environmental DNA is more concentrated in aquatic sediments than surface water
Genetic identification of aqueous environmental DNA (eDNA) provides site occupancy inferences for rare aquatic macrofauna that are often easier to obt…
tinyurl.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:24 PM
DNA in sediments tells a longer story!
New research shows sedimentary #eDNA can persist up to 132 days & be up to 1800x more concentrated than in water.
What do you think about this?
tinyurl.com/mtr947tn
#Genomics #Biodiversity #Conservation
New research shows sedimentary #eDNA can persist up to 132 days & be up to 1800x more concentrated than in water.
What do you think about this?
tinyurl.com/mtr947tn
#Genomics #Biodiversity #Conservation
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
PhD opportunity: improving #eDNA methods to better understand estuarine health.
A collaborative university-government project to provide solutions and improve the management of estuaries in Australia.
sednasociety.com/2025/10/10/p...
A collaborative university-government project to provide solutions and improve the management of estuaries in Australia.
sednasociety.com/2025/10/10/p...
October 9, 2025 at 11:22 PM
PhD opportunity: improving #eDNA methods to better understand estuarine health.
A collaborative university-government project to provide solutions and improve the management of estuaries in Australia.
sednasociety.com/2025/10/10/p...
A collaborative university-government project to provide solutions and improve the management of estuaries in Australia.
sednasociety.com/2025/10/10/p...
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
what is biobanking about? find our more in these guidelines just published today 🌏🦤🧪
They are freely available and can be downloaded here:
portals.iucn.org/library/site...
#consgen
They are freely available and can be downloaded here:
portals.iucn.org/library/site...
#consgen
October 6, 2025 at 1:34 PM
what is biobanking about? find our more in these guidelines just published today 🌏🦤🧪
They are freely available and can be downloaded here:
portals.iucn.org/library/site...
#consgen
They are freely available and can be downloaded here:
portals.iucn.org/library/site...
#consgen
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
For the first time this Spring, NOAA adopted eDNA into a formal stock assessment of Pacific Hake and this was supported by the Scientific Review Group for the Pacific Fisheries Management Council.
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3/2025-03/2...
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3/2025-03/2...
www.fisheries.noaa.gov
September 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM
For the first time this Spring, NOAA adopted eDNA into a formal stock assessment of Pacific Hake and this was supported by the Scientific Review Group for the Pacific Fisheries Management Council.
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3/2025-03/2...
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3/2025-03/2...
September 16, 2025 at 10:39 AM
It’s been a while since I posted some dog spam. Here’s Sakura enjoying the beach 🐾
#RescueDog #AdoptDontShop
#RescueDog #AdoptDontShop
September 16, 2025 at 10:11 AM
It’s been a while since I posted some dog spam. Here’s Sakura enjoying the beach 🐾
#RescueDog #AdoptDontShop
#RescueDog #AdoptDontShop
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
Astronauts on long-duration space missions could benefit from new #Antarctic research trialing ways to measure changes in brain and body function during deployments.
www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2025/as...
www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2025/as...
Astronauts to benefit from brain tests in Antarctica – Australian Antarctic Program (News 2025)
Astronauts on long-duration space missions could benefit from new Antarctic research trialing ways to measure changes in brain and body function during deployments.
www.antarctica.gov.au
September 15, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Astronauts on long-duration space missions could benefit from new #Antarctic research trialing ways to measure changes in brain and body function during deployments.
www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2025/as...
www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2025/as...
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
Job opening! CSIRO @csiropublishing.bsky.social is currently hiring 2 #eDNA Postdoctoral Fellowships!
sednasociety.com/2025/09/04/j...
sednasociety.com/2025/09/04/j...
Job opportunities: 2 Postdoctoral Fellowships at CSIRO
CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, is currently recruiting two eDNA Postdoctoral Fellows. Applications close on October 5th. More information and links below. CSIRO Postdoctoral Fell…
sednasociety.com
September 4, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Job opening! CSIRO @csiropublishing.bsky.social is currently hiring 2 #eDNA Postdoctoral Fellowships!
sednasociety.com/2025/09/04/j...
sednasociety.com/2025/09/04/j...
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
This is great - we a huge need in the #eDNA community to have data-informed standards for eDNA identity cutoffs, not just the bog-standard 97%
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
For Chordata there is no cutoff that leads to 0% error when assigning species!! (Table S4)
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
For Chordata there is no cutoff that leads to 0% error when assigning species!! (Table S4)
Taxon‐specific BLAST percent identity thresholds for identification of unknown sequences using metabarcoding
The identification of organisms in environmental samples using metabarcoding relies on factors such as taxonomic assignment methods, genetic markers, reference databases and confidence thresholds ...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 29, 2025 at 6:50 AM
This is great - we a huge need in the #eDNA community to have data-informed standards for eDNA identity cutoffs, not just the bog-standard 97%
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
For Chordata there is no cutoff that leads to 0% error when assigning species!! (Table S4)
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
For Chordata there is no cutoff that leads to 0% error when assigning species!! (Table S4)
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
📣 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
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
July 16, 2025 at 7:06 AM
📣 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
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
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
It's essential to build genetic diversity into the design of protected area. @lausally.bsky.social shares learnings about biodiversity hotspots in Antartcic marine waters informed by genetic data. Supported by @arcsaef.bsky.social #ICCB2025
June 19, 2025 at 1:19 AM
It's essential to build genetic diversity into the design of protected area. @lausally.bsky.social shares learnings about biodiversity hotspots in Antartcic marine waters informed by genetic data. Supported by @arcsaef.bsky.social #ICCB2025
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
Elize Ng describes the challenges of coordinating #conservation across the East Asian Australasian Flyway. What has been done, and how successful have these actions such as predator control, habitat protection and restoration been? #ICCB2025 🪶
June 19, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Elize Ng describes the challenges of coordinating #conservation across the East Asian Australasian Flyway. What has been done, and how successful have these actions such as predator control, habitat protection and restoration been? #ICCB2025 🪶
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
The use of eDNA to survey invasion risk to Antarctic waters. Frances Perry from @arcsaef.bsky.social @university adelaide explains how ocean environments & ships hull can be sampled simply & easily using eDNA approaches #ICCB2025
June 19, 2025 at 1:45 AM
The use of eDNA to survey invasion risk to Antarctic waters. Frances Perry from @arcsaef.bsky.social @university adelaide explains how ocean environments & ships hull can be sampled simply & easily using eDNA approaches #ICCB2025
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
Our #ICCB2025 #conservation congress statement from today’s @scboceania.org members meeting: static1.squarespace.com/static/66c56...
static1.squarespace.com
June 19, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Our #ICCB2025 #conservation congress statement from today’s @scboceania.org members meeting: static1.squarespace.com/static/66c56...
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
Happy World Albatross Day!!
Did you know that the world’s oldest known wild bird is an albatross!?
After her mate disappeared a few years ago, we thought Wisdom, a now 74 year old Laysan Albatross who breeds on Midway Atoll, was done breeding bc they mate for life.
1/2
#ICCB2025
🧪
Did you know that the world’s oldest known wild bird is an albatross!?
After her mate disappeared a few years ago, we thought Wisdom, a now 74 year old Laysan Albatross who breeds on Midway Atoll, was done breeding bc they mate for life.
1/2
#ICCB2025
🧪
Have you ever wondered just how big an albatross is?
Wonder no more; meet Jessica Alba, the life-sized albatross! This beauty is for outreach and hauled around by my buddy who works for @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social in the Pacific.
Albatross mate for life, do courtship dances and are majestic!
🧪
Wonder no more; meet Jessica Alba, the life-sized albatross! This beauty is for outreach and hauled around by my buddy who works for @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social in the Pacific.
Albatross mate for life, do courtship dances and are majestic!
🧪
June 19, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Happy World Albatross Day!!
Did you know that the world’s oldest known wild bird is an albatross!?
After her mate disappeared a few years ago, we thought Wisdom, a now 74 year old Laysan Albatross who breeds on Midway Atoll, was done breeding bc they mate for life.
1/2
#ICCB2025
🧪
Did you know that the world’s oldest known wild bird is an albatross!?
After her mate disappeared a few years ago, we thought Wisdom, a now 74 year old Laysan Albatross who breeds on Midway Atoll, was done breeding bc they mate for life.
1/2
#ICCB2025
🧪
Reposted by Anna MacDonald
Next up, Antarctic biosecurity and conservation session. Justine Shaw, QUT and SAEF. Conserving a global commons. What about the non-migratory species, small species, ice-free biodiversity? Threats and management under climate change. @iccb2025.bsky.social #ICCB2025
June 19, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Next up, Antarctic biosecurity and conservation session. Justine Shaw, QUT and SAEF. Conserving a global commons. What about the non-migratory species, small species, ice-free biodiversity? Threats and management under climate change. @iccb2025.bsky.social #ICCB2025
Next at #ICCB2025 our symposium on using non-invasive & museum genetic samples for conservation. First up is @kymottewell.bsky.social on using scat DNA for ghost bat individual ID and #consgen. The ghost bat is Australia’s largest carnivorous bat (*bat in photo not to scale!)
June 19, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Next at #ICCB2025 our symposium on using non-invasive & museum genetic samples for conservation. First up is @kymottewell.bsky.social on using scat DNA for ghost bat individual ID and #consgen. The ghost bat is Australia’s largest carnivorous bat (*bat in photo not to scale!)
