It was a real pleasure to work together on this study with @tillramm.bsky.social, @jaimiagray.bsky.social, Jane Melville and co., on this lovely threatened Australian lizard. 📷 R. Richter, iNaturalist

Hindcast SDMs showed a larger and more continuous range at the LGM, while future models under climate change predict as much as 50% of the mountain dragon's current habitat will be unsuitable by 2100. This highlights the urgent need for updated conservation strategies for the species.

And @tillramm.bsky.social also did some very impressive quantitative analysis to identify fossils of Rankinia from extinct localities!

Observed heterozygosity was highest in regions with high habitat suitability and high altitude, consistent with low-altitude populations having reduced genetic connectivity.

We found that past temperature and precipitation change has caused both range contractions and shifts to higher elevations in Rankinia. Low-altitude populations are now either extinct or show low genetic diversity.

Thanks Joel! 😊

Thanks Anne!!