Natalie Forsdick

Research Interests:

Conservation genetics/genomics

Population genetics/genomics

Genome sequencing and assembly

Data management practice

Aotearoa New Zealand birds

Current Projects:

Genome sequencing and assembly for Giant Wētā (Deinacrida heteracantha), Kakī (Himantopus novaezelandiae), and Huhu (

Population genomics of the critically endangered Whenua Hou Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides whenuahouensis)

Conservation genomics of Mahoenui Giant Wētā (Deinacrida mahoenui)

Comparative genomics of nectar-inhabiting yeasts (Metschnikowia spp.)

Recent Publications:

Forsdick NJ, Adams CIM, Alexander A, Clark AC, Collier-Robinson L, Cubrinovska I, Croll

Dowgray M, Dowle EJ, Duntsch L, Galla SJ, Howell L, Magid M, Rayne A, Verry AJF, Wold

of Conservation, Wellington. 

57 p. Current applications and future promise of genetic/genomic data for conservation in an 

Aotearoa New Zealand context. 

Forsdick NJ, Martini D, Brown L, Maloney RJ, Steeves TE, Knapp M. 2021. Genomic

sequencing confirms absence of introgression despite past hybridisation between a common and a

critically endangered bird. Global Ecology and Conservation. DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01681.

Forsdick NJ, Cubrinovska I, Massaro M, Hale ML. 2021. Microsatellite genotyping detects

extra-pair paternity in the Chatham Island black robin, a highly inbred, socially monogamous

passerine. Emu – Austral Ornithology. DOI: 10.1080/01584197.2020.1812406.

Jarvis RM, Borrelle SB, Forsdick NJ, Pérez-Hammerle KV, Dubois NS, Griffin S, Recalde-

Salas A, Buschke F, Rose DC, Archibald CL, Gallo J, Mair L, Kadykalo AN, Shanahan D,

Prohaska BK. 2020. Navigating spaces between conservation research and practice: are we

making progress? Ecological Solutions and Evidence 1:e12028. DOI: 10.1002/2688-8319.12028.