Laura Bertola
@lauradbertola.bsky.social
Scientist👩🔬/Biologist🦁/Conservationist🌍
Formerly @UniLeiden, @CUNY #hickerlab, @uni_copenhagen, currently @NCBS_Bangalore;
Chair #LeoFoundation;
she/her
Formerly @UniLeiden, @CUNY #hickerlab, @uni_copenhagen, currently @NCBS_Bangalore;
Chair #LeoFoundation;
she/her
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/...
Genetic offset and vulnerability modeling under climate change scenarios: common misinterpretations and violations of evolutionary principles
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
Genetic offset and vulnerability modeling under climate change scenarios: common misinterpretations and violations of evolutionary principles
Abstract. Genetic offset models have become a popular component of the landscape genetics toolbox, with over 600 peer-reviewed publications applying these
academic.oup.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Genetic offset and vulnerability modeling under climate change scenarios: common misinterpretations and violations of evolutionary principles
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
People’s perceptions on the effectiveness of human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures in Nepal’s Tarai Arc Landscape
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
People's perceptions on the effectiveness of human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures in Nepal's Tarai Arc Landscape
Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) poses significant challenges to biodiversity conservation, protected area management, and rural livelihoods in regions s…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:27 AM
People’s perceptions on the effectiveness of human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures in Nepal’s Tarai Arc Landscape
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Genome sequences of extant and extinct gibbons reveal their phylogeny, demographic history, and conservation status
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Genome sequences of extant and extinct gibbons reveal their phylogeny, demographic history, and conservation status
This study presents a comprehensive evolutionary history of gibbons by resolving their
contentious phylogeny, reclassifying an extinct species with ancient DNA, and identifying
a structural variant po...
www.cell.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Genome sequences of extant and extinct gibbons reveal their phylogeny, demographic history, and conservation status
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Multi-generational fitness legacies of natural immigration: theoretical and empirical perspectives and opportunities
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Multi‐generational fitness legacies of natural immigration: theoretical and empirical perspectives and opportunities
Natural dispersal between populations, and resulting immigration, influences population size and genetic variation and is therefore a key process driving reciprocal interactions between ecological an...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Multi-generational fitness legacies of natural immigration: theoretical and empirical perspectives and opportunities
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
New publication out, highlighting the link between genetic diversity (GD) and policy! 🧬📜
"Conserving genetic diversity in accordance with the Global Biodiversity Framework"
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
We summarize the highlights in this thread. 🧵
"Conserving genetic diversity in accordance with the Global Biodiversity Framework"
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
We summarize the highlights in this thread. 🧵
Conserving Genetic and Genomic Diversity in Accordance with the Global Biodiversity Framework
Adopted in December 2022, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) under the Convention on Biological Diversity outlines a visionary road map guiding humanity's relationship wit...
www.annualreviews.org
November 9, 2025 at 4:23 PM
New publication out, highlighting the link between genetic diversity (GD) and policy! 🧬📜
"Conserving genetic diversity in accordance with the Global Biodiversity Framework"
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
We summarize the highlights in this thread. 🧵
"Conserving genetic diversity in accordance with the Global Biodiversity Framework"
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
We summarize the highlights in this thread. 🧵
Lessons learned: Recommendations for reproducible paleogenomic data analyses
www.cell.com/ajhg/abstrac...
www.cell.com/ajhg/abstrac...
Lessons learned: Recommendations for reproducible paleogenomic data analyses
Souilmi et al. propose essential guidelines to improve the reproducibility of paleogenomic
data analysis. As ancient DNA research often relies on the destructive sampling of
finite resources, these re...
www.cell.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Lessons learned: Recommendations for reproducible paleogenomic data analyses
www.cell.com/ajhg/abstrac...
www.cell.com/ajhg/abstrac...
Tigers on the Move: The Impact of Climate Change on Tiger Distribution in Nepal
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Tigers on the Move: The Impact of Climate Change on Tiger Distribution in Nepal
The impact of climate on tigers' habitat in Nepal in 2050, 2070, and 2090. The results indicates that tiger habitat will shifts outside protected area in future.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Tigers on the Move: The Impact of Climate Change on Tiger Distribution in Nepal
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Using miniaturized laboratory equipment and DNA barcoding to improve conservation genetics training and identify illegally traded species
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Using miniaturized laboratory equipment and DNA barcoding to improve conservation genetics training and identify illegally traded species
Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is one of the largest global illegal activities, and it negatively affects biodiversity and sustainable development worldwide. DNA barcoding coupled with high-throughput ...
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Using miniaturized laboratory equipment and DNA barcoding to improve conservation genetics training and identify illegally traded species
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Individual variation within parasite communities of endangered African lions
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Individual variation within parasite communities of endangered African lions | Royal Society Open Science
Prey depletion and human–wildlife conflict threaten the critically endangered West
African populations of lion (Panthera leo leo), which occupy less than 1.1% of their historic range in West Africa. T...
royalsocietypublishing.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Individual variation within parasite communities of endangered African lions
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Climate change predicts Quaternary extinctions and extant genetic diversity in a threatened Australian lizard
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Climate change predicts Quaternary extinctions and extant genetic diversity in a threatened Australian lizard
Ramm et al. show that Quaternary climate change predicts local extinctions and intraspecific
differences in genetic diversity of the threatened Mountain Dragon (Rankinia diemensis).
Their data suggest...
www.cell.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Climate change predicts Quaternary extinctions and extant genetic diversity in a threatened Australian lizard
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by Laura Bertola
Starting tomorrow, broadcast online: #Genomics for #Biodiversity Conference - from #genomes to impact ... join us! www.erga-biodiversity.eu/post/genomic...
Genomics for Biodiversity Conference - from genomes to impact
29–31 October 2025Summary🗓️ Dates: 29 - 31 October 2025 (click to add to your agenda!)🔗 Online venue: ERGA YouTube ChannelConference programmeWe are excited to announce the Genomics for Biodiversity ...
www.erga-biodiversity.eu
October 28, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Starting tomorrow, broadcast online: #Genomics for #Biodiversity Conference - from #genomes to impact ... join us! www.erga-biodiversity.eu/post/genomic...
About an hour before leaving, I realized that the backyard camera trap ran out of batteries. I charged 4 of them for an hour and then emptied all clocks and remote controls I could find. Hope this will do the trick for the next few weeks... 😬
October 26, 2025 at 7:20 PM
About an hour before leaving, I realized that the backyard camera trap ran out of batteries. I charged 4 of them for an hour and then emptied all clocks and remote controls I could find. Hope this will do the trick for the next few weeks... 😬
Mapping genetic and phylogenetic diversity inside and outside protected areas for effective conservation of selected IUCN Red-Listed insects’ species
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Mapping genetic and phylogenetic diversity inside and outside protected areas for effective conservation of selected IUCN Red-Listed insects’ species - Journal of Insect Conservation
Abstract Genetic diversity, a key component of biodiversity, is often overlooked in conservation actions and there is limited information on how well protected areas currently preserve it, especially ...
link.springer.com
October 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Mapping genetic and phylogenetic diversity inside and outside protected areas for effective conservation of selected IUCN Red-Listed insects’ species
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Biodiversity conservation depends on the expansion of taxonomy and systematics research
academic.oup.com/jmammal/adva...
academic.oup.com/jmammal/adva...
Biodiversity conservation depends on the expansion of taxonomy and systematics research
Abstract. Despite mammals constituting fewer than 0.3% of all described species, their conservation is compelling for a number of reasons. They contribute
academic.oup.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Biodiversity conservation depends on the expansion of taxonomy and systematics research
academic.oup.com/jmammal/adva...
academic.oup.com/jmammal/adva...
📣📣📣 CONSERVATION GENETICS WORKSHOP -
Few more spaces left!
ConGen Population Genomic Data Analysis Course
🧬💻💡
University of Pretoria, South Africa 🌍
7-14 December + field trip to Kruger NP!
🦁🐃🐘🐆🦏
More info & registration here: www.umt.edu/congen/africa/
Few more spaces left!
ConGen Population Genomic Data Analysis Course
🧬💻💡
University of Pretoria, South Africa 🌍
7-14 December + field trip to Kruger NP!
🦁🐃🐘🐆🦏
More info & registration here: www.umt.edu/congen/africa/
October 20, 2025 at 1:23 PM
📣📣📣 CONSERVATION GENETICS WORKSHOP -
Few more spaces left!
ConGen Population Genomic Data Analysis Course
🧬💻💡
University of Pretoria, South Africa 🌍
7-14 December + field trip to Kruger NP!
🦁🐃🐘🐆🦏
More info & registration here: www.umt.edu/congen/africa/
Few more spaces left!
ConGen Population Genomic Data Analysis Course
🧬💻💡
University of Pretoria, South Africa 🌍
7-14 December + field trip to Kruger NP!
🦁🐃🐘🐆🦏
More info & registration here: www.umt.edu/congen/africa/
Equity in science is a beautiful lie — and I’m done pretending
share.google/3Q6SPb01N7kq...
share.google/3Q6SPb01N7kq...
Equity in science is a beautiful lie — and I’m done pretending
Science isn’t really moving towards equity; institutions are just perfecting the appearance of equity. We need to build an alternative system.
share.google
October 19, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Equity in science is a beautiful lie — and I’m done pretending
share.google/3Q6SPb01N7kq...
share.google/3Q6SPb01N7kq...
Anthropogenic factors shape the gut microbiota of tigers in Indian tiger reserves
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Anthropogenic factors shape the gut microbiota of tigers in Indian tiger reserves
Tigers still face threats because of anthropogenic activities, including wildlife tourism and cattle grazing in tiger reserves. Previous studies have …
www.sciencedirect.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Anthropogenic factors shape the gut microbiota of tigers in Indian tiger reserves
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Very interesting conference, discussing the state and future for lions in West, Central and North Africa, and the potential role for the royal lions of Morocco at Rabat zoo.
Also, this was the first time I actually had lions in the audience during my talk! 🦁
Also, this was the first time I actually had lions in the audience during my talk! 🦁
October 15, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Very interesting conference, discussing the state and future for lions in West, Central and North Africa, and the potential role for the royal lions of Morocco at Rabat zoo.
Also, this was the first time I actually had lions in the audience during my talk! 🦁
Also, this was the first time I actually had lions in the audience during my talk! 🦁
Estimating the Effective Population Size Across Space and Time in the Critically Endangered Western Chimpanzee in Guinea‐Bissau: Challenges and Implications for Conservation Management
share.google/Y8bu6VduX6Yf...
share.google/Y8bu6VduX6Yf...
Estimating the Effective Population Size Across Space and Time in the Critically Endangered Western Chimpanzee in Guinea‐Bissau: Challenges and Implications for Conservation Management
The western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) is a Critically Endangered taxon. In Guinea-Bissau (GB), the subspecies is increasingly threatened, but there is a lack of understanding regarding the d...
share.google
October 12, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Estimating the Effective Population Size Across Space and Time in the Critically Endangered Western Chimpanzee in Guinea‐Bissau: Challenges and Implications for Conservation Management
share.google/Y8bu6VduX6Yf...
share.google/Y8bu6VduX6Yf...
Impact of two field preservation methods on genotyping success of feces
peerj.com/articles/20154
peerj.com/articles/20154
Impact of two field preservation methods on genotyping success of feces
Non-invasive samples, such as feces, remain an important source of DNA for genetic analyses in molecular ecology and conservation genetics, especially when working with elusive or endangered species. ...
peerj.com
October 11, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Impact of two field preservation methods on genotyping success of feces
peerj.com/articles/20154
peerj.com/articles/20154
~3 years ago, I was invited to contribute to a book on the state of lions in Africa, a collaborative effort bringing together >30 scientists, conservationists, writers, and wildlife photographers. Very exciting that it is now about to be published by Penguin Books!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2z-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2z-...
COMING SOON ' THE LAST LIONS' Compiled by Don Pinnock & Colin Bell
YouTube video by Penguin Books South Africa
www.youtube.com
October 11, 2025 at 10:38 AM
~3 years ago, I was invited to contribute to a book on the state of lions in Africa, a collaborative effort bringing together >30 scientists, conservationists, writers, and wildlife photographers. Very exciting that it is now about to be published by Penguin Books!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2z-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2z-...
Chromosome-scale genomes show rapid diversification and ancient gene flow among bear species
academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
Validate User
academic.oup.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Chromosome-scale genomes show rapid diversification and ancient gene flow among bear species
academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
Exceedingly low genetic diversity in snow leopards due to persistently small population size
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
October 8, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Exceedingly low genetic diversity in snow leopards due to persistently small population size
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...