Sign in

Craig D. Wells

@craigdwells.bsky.social
187 followers 310 following 10 posts

PhD Candidate at University of Idaho 🧬 Studying hybridization in Pacific Trout 🐟 He/him

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Alex Fraik @akfraik.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Very cool new study led by @craigdwells.bsky.social evaluating the role of structural variants in facilitating complex hybridization dymanics between native and introduced Rainbow Trout lineages and Westslope Cutthroat trout #consgen #fishgen
042
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Jesper Boman @jesperboman.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Rapid genome-wide purging following tsunami-induced hybridization in a stickleback population www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Rapid genome-wide purging following tsunami-induced hybridization in a stickleback population - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Species persistence following hybridization in nature requires the purging of introgressed alleles. Genomic monitoring of a tsunami-induced hybrid stickleback population in Japan reveals rapid genome-...
0104
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Laura Bertola @lauradbertola.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Inversion Polymorphisms Carried by Introduced Rainbow Trout Disrupt Hybrid Zones Between Native Species onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Inversion Polymorphisms Carried by Introduced Rainbow Trout Disrupt Hybrid Zones Between Native Species
Genomic mechanisms explaining why some hybrid zones remain stable while others collapse into hybrid swarms are poorly understood. In Montana's Kootenai River Basin, native interior redband trout (Onc...
021
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Marty Kardos @martykardos.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/21/p...
nytimes.com
The Trump Administration Defangs the Endangered Species Act
021
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Marty Kardos @martykardos.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The role of inversion polymorphisms in the dynamics of a salmonid hybrid zone. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Inversion Polymorphisms Carried by Introduced Rainbow Trout Disrupt Hybrid Zones Between Native Species
Genomic mechanisms explaining why some hybrid zones remain stable while others collapse into hybrid swarms are poorly understood. In Montana's Kootenai River Basin, native interior redband trout (Onc...
031
Craig D. Wells @craigdwells.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Our new paper is out in @molecology.bsky.social! We asked why redband × westslope cutthroat hybridization can remain limited, while introduced coastal rainbow trout are associated with hybrid swarms. Our results point to inversions, dispersal, and genomic incompatibilities. doi.org/10.1111/mec....
doi.org
174
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences @cjfas.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Long-term genetic outcomes of a mixed-source introduction of Westslope Cutthroat Trout ow.ly/plKC50Zn3qL 📊: Bell et al. | cjfas-2025-0417
Mean observed heterozygosity over time
064
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
bioRxiv Evolutionary Biology @biorxiv-evobio.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
An inversion-rich genome shapes admixture outcomes, generating a mosaic of lineage-specific ancestries in the European sardine www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/20…
0123
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Society for Conservation Biology @society4conbio.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
💥💥💥
npr.org
Video: Scientists watch orcas ram a sunfish so hard it explodes
Marine biologists off of Baja California recorded one orca teeing up another to smash a sunfish into pieces. Scientists say there could be a reason for this behavior — or it could be just for entertai...
031
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
elizabethginexi.bsky.social @elizabethginexi.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Summary of Key Changes in OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule. Russell Vought is going destroy American Science. elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/summary-of...
elizabethginexi.substack.com
Summary of Key Changes in OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule
Russell Vought is going destroy American Science
1251397827
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
NEW: Global Assessment of Migratory Freshwater Fishes @worldwildlife.org www.worldwildlife.org/publications... “Vital freshwater fish migrations are collapsing; hundreds of species need urgent, coordinated cross-border action” Please share!
Cover photo of the World Wildlife Fund’s Migratory Fishes report. Photo of a European Eel underwater.
07343
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Clare Venney @clarevenney.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
My lab’s first publication is out now! MSc student Tia Attfield reviewed the current captive rearing literature in salmonids and provides perspectives on how epigenomics can help. Huge thanks to all our co-authors for their expert insights! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Epigenetics in Captivity: Restoring Wild Phenotypes in Captive‐Reared Salmonids
Captive rearing is a common practice for the stocking, conservation, and supplementation of fish species worldwide, but captive-reared fish can exhibit altered phenotypes leading to reduced fitness i...
21810
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Trevor Krabbenhoft @fishgenomes.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Biological invasions present an interesting paradox: often little genetic variation is accompanied by dramatic ecological success. Led by PhD student Chris Osborne, we evaluated genetic diversity in a classic invader, brown treesnake on Guam. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... Photo: Pavel Kirilliov
Brown treesnake photo and karyogram of a haplotype phased genome assembly.
1167
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Greg Halling @ghalling.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
The project is proposed at Pushpum, a sacred food- and medicine-gathering and ceremonial site within the more than 12 million acres Yakama Nation ceded to the federal government by treaty in 1855. If built, it would destroy the site. (Isabella Breda / Seattle Times)
buff.ly
Federal energy regulators OK pumped-storage project on Columbia River
A renewable energy project along the Columbia River, at a Yakama Nation sacred site, secured a key federal license.
151
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Alex Fraik @akfraik.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Work by Bell, Kovach, Whiteley and colleagues demonstrates that even inbred trout source populations can be used for genetic rescue. Great news for folks considering translocation efforts, but are faced with the challenge of identifying suitable (genetically diverse) donor populations #ConsGen
sciencedirect.com
Inbred source populations result in genetic rescue of imperiled trout populations
Genetic rescue—assisted translocation to reduce inbreeding and increase population viability—is a promising conservation strategy for mitigating the e…
134
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Marty Kardos @martykardos.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Our Editorial for our upcoming special issue in Molecular Ecology: Conservation Genomics—Making a Difference onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Conservation Genomics—Making a Difference
Conservation genomics has increasingly transitioned from a promising concept to a science that integrates a range of advanced analytical approaches, providing new insights into inbreeding, genetic lo....
03514
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Laura Bertola @lauradbertola.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
The value of structural variants to conservation genomics in the pangenome era academic.oup.com/jhered/advan...
academic.oup.com
The value of structural variants to conservation genomics in the pangenome era
Abstract. Structural variants (SVs) comprise an axis of genetic diversity with strong consequences for phenotype and fitness, making them a potentially imp
055
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Alex Fraik @akfraik.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Ancestors of Fishers translocated decades ago into the Rockies in northern ID and MT persist! #consgen #fishers academic.oup.com/jmammal/adva...
academic.oup.com
The genetic implications of translocations on Fisher (Pekania pennanti) populations in Montana and Idaho
Genetic structure of fishers in the US Northern Rocky Mountains is influenced by translocation history. Fishers in Northern Idaho and Montana are derived f
152
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
bioRxiv Genomics @biorxiv-genomic.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
De novo Genome Assemblies of Four Rainbow Trout Genetic Lines Reveal Structural Variants In Pursuit of a Pangenome Reference www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/202…
031
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Alex Fraik @akfraik.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Neat job alert 🧬🐺🦌 Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks is hiring a wildlife conservation geneticist based in Missoula, MT. The position is joint with @umontana.bsky.social, working with Dr. Ryan Kovach on lots of neat wildlife #consgen projects. Reach out to Ryan with questions.
mtstatejobs.taleo.net
Wildlife Conservation Geneticist
Click the link provided to see the complete job description.
048
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
bioRxiv Evolutionary Biology @biorxiv-evobio.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Effects of deleterious mutations on the fixation of chromosomal inversions on autosomes and sex chromosomes www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/202…
063
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Jonathan Romiguier @selfishmeme.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
If you’ve heard about our study on ants producing two different species but are still confused about how it works (and don’t have time to read the paper), this 10-minute video made by @bengthomas.bsky.social is very informative: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-O4... Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
youtube.com
The Ants That Broke Biology
YouTube video by 7 Days of Science
12913
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
The Seattle Times @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Legal battle reignites over Lower Snake River Dams, salmon
seattletimes.com
Legal battle reignites over Lower Snake River Dams, salmon
The Trump administration pulled back a landmark agreement over the operations of dams in the Columbia Basin. Now the legal fight has reignited.
011
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Maren Wellenreuther @marenwellenreuther.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Size matters—but maybe not how we thought. Most chromosomal inversions are just a few hundred bp. Ignoring these “small players” could mean we’ve misunderstood how genomes evolve -out in TREE authors.elsevier.com/a/1ljL1cZ3X3...
02410
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Andy Lee, PhD @andylee.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
New paper with @birdpicsandscience.bsky.social out TODAY!! We found that choosing "highly informative loci" (aka high fst loci) may bias results in common population genetic analyses onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... Explainer thread to come! #PopGen #PopulationGenomics #Evolution
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
‘Highly‐Informative’ Genetic Markers Can Bias Conclusions: Examples and General Solutions
High-grading bias is the overestimation power in a subset of loci caused by model overfitting. Using both empirical and simulated datasets, we show that high-grading bias can cause severe overestimat...
06224
Craig D. Wells @craigdwells.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
Here are some beautiful examples of non-hybridized Redband Trout (O. mykiss gairdneri) from Montana. These fish are increasingly rare in Montana and are the state's only native Rainbow Trout (state rank: S1). FWP has recently spawned wild fish aiming to create a conservation hatchery broodstock.
A post-spawn Redband Trout from Bear Creek (Libby Creek drainage), Montana. This fish was used in 2025 spawning efforts aimed at starting a conservation hatchery broodstock.A post-spawn Redband Trout from Wolf Creek (Fisher River drainage), Montana. This fish was used in 2025 spawning efforts aimed at starting a conservation hatchery broodstock.
070
Craig D. Wells @craigdwells.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
Grateful to be included as a minor co-author on this paper! The assemblies in this paper have been a great resource for other work in the pipeline
040
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Genetics Society of America @genetics-gsa.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
📢 NEW GENOME ALERT  In #G3journal, Lecomte et al. produced a chromosome-level genome assembly of brook trout and performed a comparative analysis to identify homology with sister species lake trout and Atlantic salmon. Read more: buff.ly/if3vgmp
031
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Nature @nature.com · 24/04/2025
Scientists must push back against the threat of rising white nationalism and the dangerous and pseudoscientific ideas of eugenics go.nature.com/4jGqiUc
go.nature.com
Eugenics is on the rise again: human geneticists must take a stand
Scientists must push back against the threat of rising white nationalism and the dangerous and pseudoscientific ideas of eugenics.
151053508
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
bioRxiv Genomics @biorxiv-genomic.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
The Greenland shark genome: insights into deep-sea ecology and lifespan extremes www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/202…
096
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Dr. Or M. Bialik |📚|🔬|🌊|⚒️ @obialik.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
It started in Egypt, with the construction of the Aswan dams, and continued across the basin through verid actions. Now the Mediterranean is receiving less fresh water, and less nutrients - lowering primary productivity and disrupting coastal and marine ecosystems. 🧪🌊 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Biogeochemical impacts. Mean differences in (a) Chlorophyll concentration, (b) Primary Production Rate, and (c) Carbon export between the reference (REF) and the extreme water reduction (EXT) scenario. No significant differences (C.V. in reference simulation > % difference) are blanked out. Carbon export has been estimated from the Primary Production Rate (assuming a C:N ratio of 106:16), applying the empirical relationships suggested by Eppley and Peterson (1979). Figure created by the authors using Matlab.
33813
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Aja Tengstedt @atengstedt.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Hello world! Excited to kick things off on 🦋 with great news: The third chapter of my PhD, with @michaelmhansen.bsky.social and a bunch of other great people, has just been published 🚀. We explore genomic 👣 of hybridization between European and American eel. Check it out! doi.org/10.1111/mec....
doi.org
Genomic Footprints of Hybridisation in North Atlantic Eels (Anguilla anguilla and A. rostrata)
Understanding interspecific introgressive hybridisation and the biological significance of introgressed variation remains an important goal in population genomics. European (Anguilla anguilla) and Am...
051
Reposted by Craig D. Wells
Alex Fraik @akfraik.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
GREAT work by @craigdwells.bsky.social, Paul Spruell, et al. using genetics to evaluate the origins of migratory West Slope Cutthroat Trout sampled in the lower Pend Oreille basin. They found most fish assigned to populations above an impassable dam, which may be disrupting connectivity #ConsGen 🐟 🧬
afspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
AFS Publications
Impact statement Most Westslope Cutthroat Trout captured below Albeni Falls Dam were genetically assigned to regions upstream of the dam, indicating that this barrier disrupts their natural metapop...
023