Ethan Gyllenhaal
@ethanofthegulls.bsky.social
NSF Postdoc at Texas Tech and Cornell studying the evolution of south Pacific birds with genomics, museums, and simulations. Birder. SLiM enjoyer. He/him.
Pinned
Some species had an outsized role in shaping evolutionary theory. The Fiji Whistlers featured heavily in Ernst Mayr's development of the biological species concept and its application to allopatric taxa. In our new paper, we revisited this system with genomic data 🧵
doi.org/10.1093/sysb...
doi.org/10.1093/sysb...
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Join the SLiM workshops in 2026: Paris (May 18-22), Tartu (June 15-19), and Reykjavik (Aug 17-21). Free registration is open now! Apply here: https://forms.gle/o8MzzJLck6q6v3Zu7. More info: https://messerlab.org/slim/. #workshop
SLiM Workshop Application
SLiM Workshop Application
forms.gle
November 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Join the SLiM workshops in 2026: Paris (May 18-22), Tartu (June 15-19), and Reykjavik (Aug 17-21). Free registration is open now! Apply here: https://forms.gle/o8MzzJLck6q6v3Zu7. More info: https://messerlab.org/slim/. #workshop
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Read Ben's great synopsis + background to our new paper out in Ecology!
How are Pacific NW mountain birds responding to climate change?
I got up at 4:00 am for a month to find out.
but first the backstory, or "how I spent seven years telling everyone this project wasn't possible"
new paper here:
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
I got up at 4:00 am for a month to find out.
but first the backstory, or "how I spent seven years telling everyone this project wasn't possible"
new paper here:
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
November 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Read Ben's great synopsis + background to our new paper out in Ecology!
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Our paper on tinamou evolution is finally out in @systbiol.bsky.social. academic.oup.com/sysbio/advan...
November 9, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Our paper on tinamou evolution is finally out in @systbiol.bsky.social. academic.oup.com/sysbio/advan...
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Check out the @lsu.bsky.social LSU Museum of Natural Science Fall 2025 newsletter. Lots of stories of fieldwork and research from our students, staff and curators. And my first as Director.
www.lsu.edu/mns/files/ne...
www.lsu.edu/mns/files/ne...
www.lsu.edu
November 5, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Check out the @lsu.bsky.social LSU Museum of Natural Science Fall 2025 newsletter. Lots of stories of fieldwork and research from our students, staff and curators. And my first as Director.
www.lsu.edu/mns/files/ne...
www.lsu.edu/mns/files/ne...
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Yet another way the GRFP will bias towards financially secure, non-working, networked students from large, well-resourced institutions. sigh.
I *know* NSF POs understand the difficulties obtaining official transcripts, and certainly in the timeframe available. They might not have control over this.
I *know* NSF POs understand the difficulties obtaining official transcripts, and certainly in the timeframe available. They might not have control over this.
Warning. ⚠️ If you are writing an NSF GRFP, new this year, you need official transcripts to apply. Beware. They will not review applications without official transcripts. ‼️
November 4, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Yet another way the GRFP will bias towards financially secure, non-working, networked students from large, well-resourced institutions. sigh.
I *know* NSF POs understand the difficulties obtaining official transcripts, and certainly in the timeframe available. They might not have control over this.
I *know* NSF POs understand the difficulties obtaining official transcripts, and certainly in the timeframe available. They might not have control over this.
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Warning. ⚠️ If you are writing an NSF GRFP, new this year, you need official transcripts to apply. Beware. They will not review applications without official transcripts. ‼️
November 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Warning. ⚠️ If you are writing an NSF GRFP, new this year, you need official transcripts to apply. Beware. They will not review applications without official transcripts. ‼️
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Our new @science.org paper is out! Cuckoos and hosts are locked in a coevolutionary arms race over egg mimicry.
But how are these egg types inherited, and could this drive speciation? We sequenced hundreds of genomes to find out!
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
🧵1/6
But how are these egg types inherited, and could this drive speciation? We sequenced hundreds of genomes to find out!
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
🧵1/6
Genomic architecture of egg mimicry and its consequences for speciation in parasitic cuckoos
Host-parasite arms races facilitate rapid evolution and can fuel speciation. Cuculus cuckoos are deceptive egg mimics that exhibit a broad diversity of counterfeit egg phenotypes, representing host-ad...
doi.org
October 30, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Our new @science.org paper is out! Cuckoos and hosts are locked in a coevolutionary arms race over egg mimicry.
But how are these egg types inherited, and could this drive speciation? We sequenced hundreds of genomes to find out!
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
🧵1/6
But how are these egg types inherited, and could this drive speciation? We sequenced hundreds of genomes to find out!
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
🧵1/6
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Here's my latest contribution to the "Lost Science" series at the New York Times: Jay Falk, a scientist who studies why some female hummingbirds look just like males. Gift link: nyti.ms/4qF7Qje
October 30, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Here's my latest contribution to the "Lost Science" series at the New York Times: Jay Falk, a scientist who studies why some female hummingbirds look just like males. Gift link: nyti.ms/4qF7Qje
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
I believe I carved a decent Brown Creeper pumpkin. 🪶
October 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I believe I carved a decent Brown Creeper pumpkin. 🪶
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Check out the latest paper from the CCGP on California Quail and the ecological and anthropogenic factors that impact genomic variation. Led by Phred Benham and the Bowie group: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Patterns of Genetic Diversity Within Three California Quail Species Are Best Explained by Climate and Landscape Changes
Many North American game animals experienced severe population declines during the 19th century due to market hunting. However, estimates of the timing and magnitude of these declines often rely on a...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Check out the latest paper from the CCGP on California Quail and the ecological and anthropogenic factors that impact genomic variation. Led by Phred Benham and the Bowie group: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
OUT TODAY: SimHumanity, a SLiM 5 model of the human genome, replete with demography, autosomes, X/Y & mtDNA.
A shared starting point for reproducible evolutionary simulations.
Huge thanks to coauthors Ben Haller, @mufernando.bsky.social & Philipp Messer.
🔗 www.pivotscipub.com/hpgg/5/4/0006
A shared starting point for reproducible evolutionary simulations.
Huge thanks to coauthors Ben Haller, @mufernando.bsky.social & Philipp Messer.
🔗 www.pivotscipub.com/hpgg/5/4/0006
October 16, 2025 at 12:10 PM
OUT TODAY: SimHumanity, a SLiM 5 model of the human genome, replete with demography, autosomes, X/Y & mtDNA.
A shared starting point for reproducible evolutionary simulations.
Huge thanks to coauthors Ben Haller, @mufernando.bsky.social & Philipp Messer.
🔗 www.pivotscipub.com/hpgg/5/4/0006
A shared starting point for reproducible evolutionary simulations.
Huge thanks to coauthors Ben Haller, @mufernando.bsky.social & Philipp Messer.
🔗 www.pivotscipub.com/hpgg/5/4/0006
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
New review out! With students in my lab, we explore how population size shapes speciation—from drift in small populations to selection in large ones. Do small or large populations speciate faster? The answer is more nuanced than you might think.
esj-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
esj-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Speciation Through the Lens of Population Dynamics: A Theoretical Primer on How Small and Large Populations Diverge
Population size and dynamics fundamentally shape speciation by influencing genetic drift, founder events, and adaptive potential. Small populations may speciate rapidly due to stronger drift, whereas...
esj-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 14, 2025 at 11:25 PM
New review out! With students in my lab, we explore how population size shapes speciation—from drift in small populations to selection in large ones. Do small or large populations speciate faster? The answer is more nuanced than you might think.
esj-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
esj-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
My lab is hiring a 2-yr hummingbird evolution and genomics postdoc and a 1-yr salaried research and lab tech. Both with full U. Wyoming benefits. Please spread the word! Info below. Best consideration date Nov 1, start dates early Spring 2026.
October 14, 2025 at 8:08 PM
My lab is hiring a 2-yr hummingbird evolution and genomics postdoc and a 1-yr salaried research and lab tech. Both with full U. Wyoming benefits. Please spread the word! Info below. Best consideration date Nov 1, start dates early Spring 2026.
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
So great to have this work led by @devonderaad.bsky.social covered by an Evolution Digest!
🥳 My latest digest for Evolution is now available online!
Digest: Postzygotic isolation barriers stabilize a hybrid zone between two grosbeak species
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
Original paper: academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
#ornithology
Digest: Postzygotic isolation barriers stabilize a hybrid zone between two grosbeak species
academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
Original paper: academic.oup.com/evolut/advan...
#ornithology
October 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM
So great to have this work led by @devonderaad.bsky.social covered by an Evolution Digest!
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Our paper on the temporal genomics of Ethiopian birds
has been highlighted (and gotten the cover) in @genomebiolevol.bsky.social
Article: doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf163
Highlight: doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf175
w/ @bourgeoisyann.bsky.social, @lcampillo.bsky.social, and others not on bsky
has been highlighted (and gotten the cover) in @genomebiolevol.bsky.social
Article: doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf163
Highlight: doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf175
w/ @bourgeoisyann.bsky.social, @lcampillo.bsky.social, and others not on bsky
October 7, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Our paper on the temporal genomics of Ethiopian birds
has been highlighted (and gotten the cover) in @genomebiolevol.bsky.social
Article: doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf163
Highlight: doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf175
w/ @bourgeoisyann.bsky.social, @lcampillo.bsky.social, and others not on bsky
has been highlighted (and gotten the cover) in @genomebiolevol.bsky.social
Article: doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf163
Highlight: doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf175
w/ @bourgeoisyann.bsky.social, @lcampillo.bsky.social, and others not on bsky
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
🚨We're hiring! The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is seeking a tenure-track split position as Assistant Curator of Ichthyology and Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences. Please retweet & share with colleagues! 🐟🐠🧪
Apply here: apply.interfolio.com/174674
Apply here: apply.interfolio.com/174674
October 2, 2025 at 3:16 PM
🚨We're hiring! The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is seeking a tenure-track split position as Assistant Curator of Ichthyology and Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences. Please retweet & share with colleagues! 🐟🐠🧪
Apply here: apply.interfolio.com/174674
Apply here: apply.interfolio.com/174674
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
New today: We're petitioning NSF to revert GRFP eligibility criteria to last year's terms, to avoid pulling the rug out from under the earliest of early-career scientists who had every reason to think they'd be able to apply this year. Sign and spread the word!
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
September 29, 2025 at 6:36 PM
New today: We're petitioning NSF to revert GRFP eligibility criteria to last year's terms, to avoid pulling the rug out from under the earliest of early-career scientists who had every reason to think they'd be able to apply this year. Sign and spread the word!
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Excited to share what I've been working on with the science community! Starting to get my PhD papers out as I get closer to graduating, and looking into next steps in my career. If anyone has any postdoc ideas, please reach out! 🙂🌱
New preprint from our lab - how miniaturized library prep drives down costs for target capture sequencing with minimal impact on recovery. Led by @madiraibullock.bsky.social and with two undergrad coauthors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Fun-Sized Library Prep: Miniaturization is a valid method for per-sample cost reduction in targeted sequencing of angiosperm DNA
Genomic analysis of population structure is important to the conservation of plant species of concern. A limitation of using genetic information in conservation is the cost of obtaining large datasets...
www.biorxiv.org
September 22, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Excited to share what I've been working on with the science community! Starting to get my PhD papers out as I get closer to graduating, and looking into next steps in my career. If anyone has any postdoc ideas, please reach out! 🙂🌱
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
A new Science study of ants in Fiji—involving genomic sequencing of over 4000 ant specimens from museum collections—shows that most native species have been in decline since humans first arrived in the archipelago 3000 years ago. https://scim.ag/489mI2o
Genomic signatures indicate biodiversity loss in an endemic island ant fauna
Insect populations have declined worldwide, but the extent and drivers of these declines are debated. Most studies rely on field surveys performed in the past century, leaving gaps in our understandin...
www.science.org
September 15, 2025 at 7:33 PM
A new Science study of ants in Fiji—involving genomic sequencing of over 4000 ant specimens from museum collections—shows that most native species have been in decline since humans first arrived in the archipelago 3000 years ago. https://scim.ag/489mI2o
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
The first Aguillon Lab paper is officially out in early view at Evolution!! Led by postdoc @devonderaad.bsky.social, we’ve explored the hybrid zone between black-headed and rose-breasted grosbeaks in the Great Plains. #ornithology #hybridization #speciation #evolution doi.org/10.1093/evol...
September 12, 2025 at 3:49 PM
The first Aguillon Lab paper is officially out in early view at Evolution!! Led by postdoc @devonderaad.bsky.social, we’ve explored the hybrid zone between black-headed and rose-breasted grosbeaks in the Great Plains. #ornithology #hybridization #speciation #evolution doi.org/10.1093/evol...
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Fiji ant study provides new evidence of insects’ decline on remote islands www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Fiji ant study provides new evidence of insects’ decline on remote islands
DNA analysis of endemic specimens in museums finds 79% of ant populations in Pacific archipelago are shrinking
www.theguardian.com
September 11, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Fiji ant study provides new evidence of insects’ decline on remote islands www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Excited to share our new paper on flight morphology and migration in North American wood warblers. Surprisingly, ground-dwelling warblers may be better adapted for migration than aerial ones!!!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Morphological adaptations for migration in North American wood-warblers (Aves: Parulidae) - Journal of Ornithology
Migration exerts a selective pressure for increased flight efficiency and reduced energy expenditure in long-distance migratory birds. In North America, eastern migratory flyways are longer and requir...
link.springer.com
September 10, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Excited to share our new paper on flight morphology and migration in North American wood warblers. Surprisingly, ground-dwelling warblers may be better adapted for migration than aerial ones!!!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
Applying to the NSF-GRFP (or another fellowship) on a tight deadline?
We built a 7-week guide + timeline to get you from draft to submission. It’s not too late — you’ve got this! ✨
🔗 cientificolatino.com/apply-in-7-weeks
#NSFGRFP #GradSchool #Fellowship
We built a 7-week guide + timeline to get you from draft to submission. It’s not too late — you’ve got this! ✨
🔗 cientificolatino.com/apply-in-7-weeks
#NSFGRFP #GradSchool #Fellowship
September 9, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Applying to the NSF-GRFP (or another fellowship) on a tight deadline?
We built a 7-week guide + timeline to get you from draft to submission. It’s not too late — you’ve got this! ✨
🔗 cientificolatino.com/apply-in-7-weeks
#NSFGRFP #GradSchool #Fellowship
We built a 7-week guide + timeline to get you from draft to submission. It’s not too late — you’ve got this! ✨
🔗 cientificolatino.com/apply-in-7-weeks
#NSFGRFP #GradSchool #Fellowship
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
The GRFP lives!! (due end of October)
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
September 8, 2025 at 6:23 PM
The GRFP lives!! (due end of October)
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Reposted by Ethan Gyllenhaal
SimHumanity: Using SLiM 5.0 to run whole-genome simulations of human evolution https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.01.673541v1
September 2, 2025 at 8:31 AM
SimHumanity: Using SLiM 5.0 to run whole-genome simulations of human evolution https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.01.673541v1