Dr. Sean Buckley
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theg-cat.bsky.social
Dr. Sean Buckley
@theg-cat.bsky.social
770 followers 370 following 170 posts
Lecturer in Molecular Ecology, Edith Cowan Uni | Conservation and Ecological Genetics | Science Blogger @ www.theg-cat.com | Amateur Wildlife Photographer | ⚣ He/him 🏳️‍🌈 | 🐟🦘🐦🦎🧬
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theg-cat.bsky.social
Dr. Sean Buckley @theg-cat.bsky.social · Sep 6
Looking for a #PhD project (or know someone who is)? I'm currently recruiting for a student to work on #conservation and #PopulationGenomics of two freshwater #fish using whole genome and ddRAD data: more info in the flyer below! #PopGen #ConsGen #Biodiversity 🐟🧪🧬
An A4 flyer for the project "Little Fishes, Big Problems: Using Genomics to Inform Conservation and Management of Pygmy Perches". Text reads "This exciting PhD project will generate and apply cutting edge genomic datasets (whole genomes and genotype-by-sequencing) to inform conservation and management of two freshwater fish species endemic to Western Australia. The highly collaborative research program is will directly contribute to conservation actions and water management in the region. The ideal candidate will have experience with applying molecular techniques to answer ecological, conservation or evolutionary research questions, including DNA extraction bioinformatic pipelines and genomic analysis (not essential). To apply for the project, please submit your academic CV and one page cover letter describing your research interests and relevant experience to Dr. Buckley." It includes a photo of a male western pygmy perch in breeding colours, a QR code, and several logos.
theg-cat.bsky.social
Had a bit of a wander on campus yesterday (because who wants to mark exams?) for Bug Hunt Aus and saw my first blue-banded bee, which was awesome!
A small blue-banded bee flying towards some bright yellow flowers.
November 22, 2025 at 3:52 AM
theg-cat.bsky.social
Very proud of our PhD student @nirjana-dewan.bsky.social for delivering an excellent talk at #AOC2025 on her white-tailed black cockatoo genomics work this morning! Looking forward to being able to share some nicely assembled genomes in the near future...stay tuned!
November 19, 2025 at 8:35 AM
theg-cat.bsky.social
Ending a conference with a mild panic attack because I left my laptop in a lecture theatre for a couple hours and forgot 😳
October 30, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Reposted by Dr. Sean Buckley
punkrockscience.bsky.social
Let’s set aside the question of whether these edited animals *are* the species they’re claimed to be - what possible argument would there BE for releasing them into a wild that isn’t the ecosystem they went extinct from? It would likely be condemning behaviorally-unequipped animals to slow death.
washingtonpost.com The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · Oct 12
One of the world’s most important nature groups is weighing a call for a temporary ban on allowing genetically engineered plants or animals, such as canines edited to appear like extinct “dire wolves,” from being released into the wild.
These animals are extinct. This vote would make sure they stay that way in the wild.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature, a top conservation group, is weighing a moratorium on unleashing genetically modified plants or animals into the wild.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 12, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sean Buckley
testeeves.bsky.social
What are the ‘social dimensions’ of moving species for conservation and why does engaging with them matter?

This is the focus of our new paper doi.org/10.1016/j.tr... published in @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social olevo.bsky.social led by ever talented @aisrayne.bsky.social

📷 Kevin Parker
Whimsical photo of a karure | kakaruia | Chatham Island black robin courtesy of Kevin Parker. Features as a wee black bird with four leg bands: white over orange on the left leg and red over white on the right leg. Sneaky tufts of feathers peak out from otherwise borb-like body, encouraged by the unseen wind.
October 7, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sean Buckley
ceb-uwa.bsky.social
#AES2025 Day2, Jackson Randell discusses the importance of understanding genetic purging and its implications for trapdoor spider conservation 🕷️
@austevolsoc.bsky.social @brunobuzatto.bsky.social @rowanlym.bsky.social @reneecatullo.bsky.social
October 2, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Reposted by Dr. Sean Buckley
pezoporus.bsky.social
Bird folks. You have just one day left for earlybird registration for the Australasian Ornithology Conference in Perth in just 50 days time! Get in fast because I’m pleased to say it has been so popular that we will be closing registration soon.

aoc.org.au/registration/
Registration - Australasian Ornithological Conference 2025
Australian Ornithological Conference 2025 Registrations
aoc.org.au
September 29, 2025 at 3:10 AM
theg-cat.bsky.social
A last minute decision to "do something" for my birthday today involved a foray around Djidi-djidi Ridge near Julimar State Forest, and was blown away by the amazing diversity of wildflowers on display at the moment!
A collage of eight flower photos taken from Djidi-djidi range. It includes fringe lilies, purple tassels, nodding blue lilies, blue leschenaultia, pimelea imbrecata, creamy candle, Magle's kangaroo paw and York Road poison (a pea flower).
September 27, 2025 at 1:39 PM
theg-cat.bsky.social
🐟Out now🧬: our latest paper on WA f.w. fish ]species delimitation, integrating allozymes (!), mtDNA and genomics across three genera. Although diversification patterns varied, we found some important biogeo. features, including Margaret and Shannon R. Check it out: www.publish.csiro.au/MF/MF24257
Species delineation, phylogeography and conservation of temperate perches (Actinopterygii: Percichthyidae) from an endemism and climate change hotspot
Context The south-western corner of Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes a freshwater fauna with a high proportion of endemic species. The temperate perches comprise nearly half of the ob...
www.publish.csiro.au
September 23, 2025 at 8:20 AM
theg-cat.bsky.social
A while back, I had a lovely chat on the ACS Tiny Matters podcast about the controversy around the "dire wolf de-extinction" and what it means (or doesn't!) for conservation. Available on a bunch of platforms here (I start yapping at about 15:20): www.acs.org/pressroom/ti...
Tiny Matters - American Chemical Society
A science podcast about things small in size but big in impact.
www.acs.org
September 18, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Reposted by Dr. Sean Buckley
theg-cat.bsky.social
Looking for a #PhD project (or know someone who is)? I'm currently recruiting for a student to work on #conservation and #PopulationGenomics of two freshwater #fish using whole genome and ddRAD data: more info in the flyer below! #PopGen #ConsGen #Biodiversity 🐟🧪🧬
An A4 flyer for the project "Little Fishes, Big Problems: Using Genomics to Inform Conservation and Management of Pygmy Perches". Text reads "This exciting PhD project will generate and apply cutting edge genomic datasets (whole genomes and genotype-by-sequencing) to inform conservation and management of two freshwater fish species endemic to Western Australia. The highly collaborative research program is will directly contribute to conservation actions and water management in the region. The ideal candidate will have experience with applying molecular techniques to answer ecological, conservation or evolutionary research questions, including DNA extraction bioinformatic pipelines and genomic analysis (not essential). To apply for the project, please submit your academic CV and one page cover letter describing your research interests and relevant experience to Dr. Buckley." It includes a photo of a male western pygmy perch in breeding colours, a QR code, and several logos.
September 6, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Reposted by Dr. Sean Buckley
terraroam.bsky.social
Today is #nationalthreatenedspecies Day. This picture represents the halfway point of a long and heartbreaking project to create a visual display of Australia's 2200+ critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable and extinct plants and animals
#redlist
#threatenedspecies
Over 1000 images of over 1000 threatened and extinct species of plants and animals. This is only half of a project creating a banner with over 2200 of Australia's threatened and extinct species.
September 7, 2025 at 4:27 AM
theg-cat.bsky.social
Looking for a #PhD project (or know someone who is)? I'm currently recruiting for a student to work on #conservation and #PopulationGenomics of two freshwater #fish using whole genome and ddRAD data: more info in the flyer below! #PopGen #ConsGen #Biodiversity 🐟🧪🧬
An A4 flyer for the project "Little Fishes, Big Problems: Using Genomics to Inform Conservation and Management of Pygmy Perches". Text reads "This exciting PhD project will generate and apply cutting edge genomic datasets (whole genomes and genotype-by-sequencing) to inform conservation and management of two freshwater fish species endemic to Western Australia. The highly collaborative research program is will directly contribute to conservation actions and water management in the region. The ideal candidate will have experience with applying molecular techniques to answer ecological, conservation or evolutionary research questions, including DNA extraction bioinformatic pipelines and genomic analysis (not essential). To apply for the project, please submit your academic CV and one page cover letter describing your research interests and relevant experience to Dr. Buckley." It includes a photo of a male western pygmy perch in breeding colours, a QR code, and several logos.
September 6, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Reposted by Dr. Sean Buckley
csiropublishing.bsky.social
Congratulations to this little champ for taking out the title of "Australia's most underrated animal".

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

Re-sharing recent research in #AusMammalogy that illustrates one of the many reasons why rakali is so deserving!

@ausmammals.bsky.social #NationalScienceWeek
August 15, 2025 at 5:07 AM
theg-cat.bsky.social
FUCK YES #TEAMRAKALI 🐀
August 15, 2025 at 4:34 AM
theg-cat.bsky.social
Always a delight to see a study species in the wild: spotted this charming quenda down in Mandurah this weekend who was busted having a snuffle in the dirt.
A photo of a quenda (Isoodon fusciventer), a small ground-dwelling marsupial, standing amongst some dense and vividly green grass with damp fur from the rain.
August 11, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Reposted by Dr. Sean Buckley
colincarlson.bsky.social
So we have this database for wildlife disease surveillance, and we made a data standard, and an R and Python package to help you clean your data, and two years in we just still cannot get first adopters, so here’s my new bit: I will personally Venmo you $20 of my personal money to share a dataset
August 8, 2025 at 2:20 AM
theg-cat.bsky.social
You already know what the correct answer is:
A photo of a rakali sitting along the riverbank of the River Torrens in Adelaide, South Australia. Photo by me.
August 1, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Reposted by Dr. Sean Buckley
hollykirk.bsky.social
Come and do a PhD with me! 🎓 🌏 🧑‍💻 🏙️ 🗺️ 🌿 🪶🧪
I have TWO projects eligible the 2025 Curtin University RTP scholarship round:

Benchmarking biodiversity outcomes for nature positive urban development:
research.curtin.edu.au/hdr-r-projec...

#wildOz #urbanNature
The riot of colour that is springtime flora in Western Australia, a sparkling patchwork of plants on display at the Kings Park botanic garded in Boorloo (Perth, WA).
July 28, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Reposted by Dr. Sean Buckley
whysharksmatter.bsky.social
The Dark Side of Being a Female Shark Researcher | Scientific American
The Dark Side of Being a Female Shark Researcher
Being a scientist should not require developing the grit to continually endure misogyny, discrimination, harassment, assault or bullying
www.scientificamerican.com
July 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
theg-cat.bsky.social
Finding a fungus that looks like crème brûlée feels like perfect adaptation to target me, specifically... 🤤
A view of a frankly delicious-looking fungus from above amongst some leaf litter, with a perfectly caramalised top (or not).
July 13, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Reposted by Dr. Sean Buckley
drobledoruiz.bsky.social
Our paper on #genetic management of the #endangered Macquarie perch is published 🐟 🥳 !!!

We present a framework for #metapopulation management and our pipeline JeDi (for estimation of unbiased het, pi and Dxy from RRseq data) 🧬

@monashbiol.bsky.social #Bioinformatics

doi.org/10.1111/mec....
A Shift to Metapopulation Genetic Management for Persistence of a Species Threatened by Fragmentation: The Case of an Endangered Australian Freshwater Fish
In a world where habitats are degrading and the climate is warming and becoming unpredictable, biodiversity conservation efforts and funding remain grossly inadequate. As part of a multifaceted appro....
doi.org
July 11, 2025 at 7:39 AM
theg-cat.bsky.social
The cold, wet weather might not be ideal for some outdoors activities: but it's great for fungi forays! Here's some spotted around Yanchep National Park over the weekend.
A collage of five fungi photos taken from around Yanchep National Park.
July 7, 2025 at 2:23 AM
theg-cat.bsky.social
How your email found me (or, more accurately, why it didn't):
A panoramic photo from a rocky ourcrop of an arid landscape. At Matuwa, Western Australia.
July 3, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Reposted by Dr. Sean Buckley
elinck.bsky.social
ad to come, but I'm looking for an M.S. student to study the conservation genomics of swift foxes on the American Prairie Reserve in Montana beginning 9/1. this is a collaboration w/ Smithsonian & Justine Becker; strong candidates will have prior genomics experience and be up for remote fieldwork
June 26, 2025 at 9:30 PM