Prem Aguilar
@premdaguilar.bsky.social
PhD candidate at @CIBIO_InBIO studying the evolution of color polymorphisms in lizards 🦎
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
I am so excited to share new work on a TE insertion that regulates iridescence in swordtails, led by fantastic grad student @nadiahaghani.bsky.social and with help from many coauthors! In a time that has been so difficult to navigate, this & other projects have kept my spirits up: shorturl.at/NE65A
Insertion of an invading retrovirus regulates a novel color trait in swordtail fish
For over a century, evolutionary biologists have been motivated to understand the mechanisms through which organisms adapt to their environments. Coloration and pigmentation are remarkably variable wi...
shorturl.at
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I am so excited to share new work on a TE insertion that regulates iridescence in swordtails, led by fantastic grad student @nadiahaghani.bsky.social and with help from many coauthors! In a time that has been so difficult to navigate, this & other projects have kept my spirits up: shorturl.at/NE65A
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
🦎THREAD: We just published something wild in @asn-amnat.bsky.social - lizards missing entire limbs not only survive, but some appear to actually thrive in the wild?!
Let me tell you about the "three-legged pirate" lizards 🏴☠️
[Paper: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/... ]
(1/n)
Let me tell you about the "three-legged pirate" lizards 🏴☠️
[Paper: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/... ]
(1/n)
October 14, 2025 at 1:52 PM
🦎THREAD: We just published something wild in @asn-amnat.bsky.social - lizards missing entire limbs not only survive, but some appear to actually thrive in the wild?!
Let me tell you about the "three-legged pirate" lizards 🏴☠️
[Paper: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/... ]
(1/n)
Let me tell you about the "three-legged pirate" lizards 🏴☠️
[Paper: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/... ]
(1/n)
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
Temperature can reverse sexual conflict, facilitating population growth
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Now in @evolletters.bsky.social by Roberto García-Roa et al.
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Now in @evolletters.bsky.social by Roberto García-Roa et al.
Temperature can reverse sexual conflict, facilitating population growth
Abstract. Sexual conflict frequently gives rise to adaptations that increase male reproductive success at the expense of harming females (“male harm”) and
doi.org
October 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Temperature can reverse sexual conflict, facilitating population growth
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Now in @evolletters.bsky.social by Roberto García-Roa et al.
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Now in @evolletters.bsky.social by Roberto García-Roa et al.
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
Check this piece published on @theguardian.com featuring the awesome work of an international team (pics by @rgarciaroa.bsky.social lens) on butterflies 🦋 coloration and deforestation 🌲🪓 in the Amazon
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours www.theguardian.com/environment/...
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours www.theguardian.com/environment/...
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours
The insects’ brilliant hues evolved in lush ecosystems to help them survive. Now they are becoming more muted to adapt to degraded landscapes – and they are not the only things dulling down
www.theguardian.com
October 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Check this piece published on @theguardian.com featuring the awesome work of an international team (pics by @rgarciaroa.bsky.social lens) on butterflies 🦋 coloration and deforestation 🌲🪓 in the Amazon
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours www.theguardian.com/environment/...
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
"As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours"
With amazing photos by @rgarciaroa.bsky.social, as always, also part of the research team.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
With amazing photos by @rgarciaroa.bsky.social, as always, also part of the research team.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours
The insects’ brilliant hues evolved in lush ecosystems to help them survive. Now they are becoming more muted to adapt to degraded landscapes – and they are not the only things dulling down
www.theguardian.com
October 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM
"As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours"
With amazing photos by @rgarciaroa.bsky.social, as always, also part of the research team.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
With amazing photos by @rgarciaroa.bsky.social, as always, also part of the research team.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
🧪 New paper out! Growing up, wall lizards undergo a UV-visible “awkward phase” (who doesn’t?) that we can’t see—but they can. These ontogenetic color changes may mediate juvenile–adult interactions by delaying the onset of adult social signals. doi.org/10.1002/jez.... #colsci #lizard #ontogeny
Cryptic Ontogenetic Changes in the Ventral Coloration of a Color Polymorphic Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Wall lizards' ventral coloration undergoes cryptic ontogenetic color changes invisible without UV vision. We tracked wall lizards from hatching to one year of age. Spectrophotometry and visual modeli...
doi.org
September 29, 2025 at 8:42 AM
🧪 New paper out! Growing up, wall lizards undergo a UV-visible “awkward phase” (who doesn’t?) that we can’t see—but they can. These ontogenetic color changes may mediate juvenile–adult interactions by delaying the onset of adult social signals. doi.org/10.1002/jez.... #colsci #lizard #ontogeny
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
📢🦋 Our paper ‘Global selection on insect antipredator coloration’ is out and featured on the cover of @science.org
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
September 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
📢🦋 Our paper ‘Global selection on insect antipredator coloration’ is out and featured on the cover of @science.org
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
Funded PhD position available 🎉 Come and work with me in Helsinki to uncover the pathways producing colourful tiger moth wings. Lots of options for genomics, CRISPR, fieldwork, behaviour experiments… Email with questions! jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
September 24, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Funded PhD position available 🎉 Come and work with me in Helsinki to uncover the pathways producing colourful tiger moth wings. Lots of options for genomics, CRISPR, fieldwork, behaviour experiments… Email with questions! jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
We’re offering a fully funded 4 yr PhD position to work on Sexual selection in complex environments at the @uv.es. Co-supervised by @dbergerbiol.bsky.social. Find details below 👇
September 1, 2025 at 1:25 PM
We’re offering a fully funded 4 yr PhD position to work on Sexual selection in complex environments at the @uv.es. Co-supervised by @dbergerbiol.bsky.social. Find details below 👇
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
New paper alert! 💥Check out the paper of FunMorph's Lisa Van Linden exploring the potential role of interspecific admixture during the colonisation of a small island by Italian wall #lizards using population #genomic analyses 🧬💻 Spoiler alert: they did it all by themselves! 🦎🏝️ See link below:
July 8, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
Check out our deep dive into the molecular genetics of male-specific cell type : the gorgeous UV-iridescent scales of Sulphur Butterflies
by lab wizards 🦋🔬 🖥️ 🧬
Ling Sheng Loh
@hanliconius.bsky.social
and a big team
1/n
by lab wizards 🦋🔬 🖥️ 🧬
Ling Sheng Loh
@hanliconius.bsky.social
and a big team
1/n
Wiring the sexes: @evolvwing.bsky.social &co use CRISPR knockouts & single-nucleus transcriptomics to decipher the regulatory logic of #SexualDimorphism in sulphur #butterflies, where males display bright UV colors thanks to specialized iridescent scales @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/445Iz7d
June 20, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Check out our deep dive into the molecular genetics of male-specific cell type : the gorgeous UV-iridescent scales of Sulphur Butterflies
by lab wizards 🦋🔬 🖥️ 🧬
Ling Sheng Loh
@hanliconius.bsky.social
and a big team
1/n
by lab wizards 🦋🔬 🖥️ 🧬
Ling Sheng Loh
@hanliconius.bsky.social
and a big team
1/n
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
Lizards on a sky archipelago: Genomic approaches to the evolution of the mountain genus Iberolacerta https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.04.657811v1
June 8, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Lizards on a sky archipelago: Genomic approaches to the evolution of the mountain genus Iberolacerta https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.04.657811v1
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
Finally! Our paper sequencing a new reference genome for the species Cerastes gasperettii is out! We used several omics methods to characterize the venom genes for this species!!
track.smtpsendmail.com/9032119/c?p=...
track.smtpsendmail.com/9032119/c?p=...
Chromosome-level reference genome for the medically important Arabian horned viper (Cerastes gasperettii)
Abstract. Venoms have traditionally been studied from a proteomic and/or transcriptomic perspective, often overlooking the true genetic complexity underlyi
track.smtpsendmail.com
June 6, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Finally! Our paper sequencing a new reference genome for the species Cerastes gasperettii is out! We used several omics methods to characterize the venom genes for this species!!
track.smtpsendmail.com/9032119/c?p=...
track.smtpsendmail.com/9032119/c?p=...
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
Age-dependent gut microbiota dynamics and their association with male fitness traits in Drosophila melanogaster https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.22.655607v1
May 23, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Age-dependent gut microbiota dynamics and their association with male fitness traits in Drosophila melanogaster https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.22.655607v1
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
Issue 8 has closed and issue 9 is open
journals.biologists.com/jeb/issue/22...
The front cover by Enrique Font shows a male European wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) scanning its surroundings from a vantage point on a rock
journals.biologists.com/jeb/issue/22...
The front cover by Enrique Font shows a male European wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) scanning its surroundings from a vantage point on a rock
May 1, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Issue 8 has closed and issue 9 is open
journals.biologists.com/jeb/issue/22...
The front cover by Enrique Font shows a male European wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) scanning its surroundings from a vantage point on a rock
journals.biologists.com/jeb/issue/22...
The front cover by Enrique Font shows a male European wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) scanning its surroundings from a vantage point on a rock
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
Awesome new paper by @lucalivraghi.bsky.social et al.
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
in @currentbiology.bsky.social
on the evo-devo of a butterfly color variation
enjoy the show!
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
in @currentbiology.bsky.social
on the evo-devo of a butterfly color variation
enjoy the show!
April 14, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Awesome new paper by @lucalivraghi.bsky.social et al.
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
in @currentbiology.bsky.social
on the evo-devo of a butterfly color variation
enjoy the show!
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
in @currentbiology.bsky.social
on the evo-devo of a butterfly color variation
enjoy the show!
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
Bird colouration varies a tremendous amount. But why? In a new paper, @j-dunning.net , John Endler, & I look at the relationship between plumage and viewing conditions in 2610 species of birds, finding strong, non-sexual effects (esp. on females).
📷Zak Pohlen (tanager), Darren Clark (thrush)
📷Zak Pohlen (tanager), Darren Clark (thrush)
April 9, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Bird colouration varies a tremendous amount. But why? In a new paper, @j-dunning.net , John Endler, & I look at the relationship between plumage and viewing conditions in 2610 species of birds, finding strong, non-sexual effects (esp. on females).
📷Zak Pohlen (tanager), Darren Clark (thrush)
📷Zak Pohlen (tanager), Darren Clark (thrush)
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
In the 1990s, >80% of Portuguese white storks were winter migrants. Thirty years on, a drastic shift in behavior means most individuals are now residents.
Our new paper @animalecology.bsky.social combines census data, GPS tracking, and genomics to understand the loss of migratory behavior in birds:
Our new paper @animalecology.bsky.social combines census data, GPS tracking, and genomics to understand the loss of migratory behavior in birds:
Mechanisms underlying the loss of migratory behaviour in a long‐lived bird
White stork populations in Iberia are undergoing a profound change in their migratory patterns, becoming mostly resident. By combining census data, GPS-tracking and genomic analyses, Andrade et al. l....
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
April 3, 2025 at 9:21 AM
In the 1990s, >80% of Portuguese white storks were winter migrants. Thirty years on, a drastic shift in behavior means most individuals are now residents.
Our new paper @animalecology.bsky.social combines census data, GPS tracking, and genomics to understand the loss of migratory behavior in birds:
Our new paper @animalecology.bsky.social combines census data, GPS tracking, and genomics to understand the loss of migratory behavior in birds:
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
We are hiring a postdoc to work on a data-rich evolutionary genomics project about origins & maintenance of viviparity vs oviparity. Details in advert and evoldir. @physiologyuog.bsky.social @uofgsbohvm.bsky.social @uofgmvls.bsky.social @sse-evolution.bsky.social @eseb.bsky.social please re-sky!
January 23, 2025 at 9:27 AM
We are hiring a postdoc to work on a data-rich evolutionary genomics project about origins & maintenance of viviparity vs oviparity. Details in advert and evoldir. @physiologyuog.bsky.social @uofgsbohvm.bsky.social @uofgmvls.bsky.social @sse-evolution.bsky.social @eseb.bsky.social please re-sky!
Reposted by Prem Aguilar
🧪We have new parrot paper out. It is about how mutations in psittacofulvin synthesizing enzyme influence the saturation of feather color www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Multiple mutations in polyketide synthase led to disruption of Psittacofulvin production across diverse parrot species
Communications Biology - Mutations in polyketide synthase (PKS) disrupt psittacofulvin pigment production in parrots, altering feather hues. Seven unique variants in multiple conserved domains...
www.nature.com
January 19, 2025 at 2:29 PM
🧪We have new parrot paper out. It is about how mutations in psittacofulvin synthesizing enzyme influence the saturation of feather color www.nature.com/articles/s42...