Director, Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory
(Co-Director: Professor Jon Waters)
Email nic.rawlence@otago.ac.nz
Phone 64-3-479-5385
Teaching
- GENE 411 Current Topics in Genetics
- GNS Quaternary Techniques Short Course
- ZOOL 222 Evolutionary Biology
- ZOOL 423 From Extinction to De-Extinction
Research Interests
- Ancient DNA (Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory)
- Evolution and palaeoecology of extinct fauna
- Effects of climate change and human impact on past ecosystems
- Palaeoenvironmental DNA
- Conservation biology
- Fisheries induced evolution
- Conservation Palaeontology/Palaeoecology
Research projects
- Impact of humans and climate change on New Zealand's terrestrial, coastal and marine fauna
- Evolution and phylogeography of New Zealand's extinct avian fauna
- Southern hemisphere biogeography
- Fisheries induced evolution
Research Highlights and Publicity
Chatham Island sea lion
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/308406/extinct-sea-lion-discovery-raises-by-catch-fears
http://www.dunedintv.co.nz/interview/nightly-interview-nic-rawlence
Otago and Foveaux Shag
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11591270
http://www.audubon.org/news/scientists-solve-shag-adelic-bird-mystery
Shag demographics
Penguin turnover
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/20171239/waitaha-penguin-out,-yellow-eyed-penguin-in
http://www.livescience.com/50026-waitaha-penguin-replaced-after-extinction.html
Elephant birds
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/2598267/kiwi-evolutionary-history
http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2014/05/22/the-surprising-closest-relative-of-the-huge-elephant-birds/
Polynesian chickens
Current student projects in the Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory
- Afroditi Kardamaki – PhD – ancient DNA of New Zealand waterfowl
- Luke Easton – PhD – ancient DNA of Leiopelmatid frogs
- Megan Askew – MSc – ancient DNA of elephant seals
- Eduard Mas – visiting MSc student – ancient DNA of takahe
Recent student projects in the Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory
- Afroditi Kardamaki – visiting MSc student – ancient DNA of black swans
- Nick Yeats – BSc Hons – population genetics of blue-eyes shags
- Alex Salis – BSc Hons – ancient DNA of New Zealand fur seals
Publications
Rawlence, N. J., Collins, C. J., Anderson, C. N. K., Maxwell, J. J., Smith, I. W. G., Robertson, B. C., Knapp, M., Horsburgh, K. A., Stanton, J.-A. L., Scofield, R. P., … Matisoo-Smith, E. A., & Waters, J. M. (2016). Human-mediated extirpation of the unique Chatham Islands sea lion and implications for the conservation management of remaining New Zealand sea lion populations. Molecular Ecology, 25(16), 3950-3961. doi: 10.1111/mec.13726 Journal - Research Article
Rawlence, N. J., Wood, J. R., Bocherens, H., & Rogers, K. M. (2016). Dietary interpretations for extinct megafauna using coprolites, intestinal contents and stable isotopes: Complimentary or contradictory? Quaternary Science Reviews, 142, 173-178. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.05.017 Journal - Research Other
Rawlence, N. J., Kennedy, M., Anderson, C. N. K., Prost, S., Till, C. E., Smith, I. W. G., Scofield, R. P., … Hamel, J., Lalas, C., Matisoo-Smith, E. A., & Waters, J. M. (2015). Geographically contrasting biodiversity reductions in a widespread New Zealand seabird. Molecular Ecology, 24(18), 4605-4616. doi: 10.1111/mec.13338 Journal - Research Article
Rawlence, N. J., Perry, G. L. W., Smith, I. W. G., Scofield, R. P., Tennyson, A. J. D., Matisoo-Smith, E. A., Boessenkool, S., … Waters, J. M. (2015). Radiocarbon-dating and ancient DNA reveal rapid replacement of extinct prehistoric penguins. Quaternary Science Reviews, 112, 59-65. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.01.011 Journal - Research Article
Mitchell, K. J., Llamas, B., Soubrier, J., Rawlence, N. J., Worthy, T. H., Wood, J., … Cooper, A. (2014). Ancient DNA reveals elephant birds and kiwi are sister taxa and clarifies ratite bird evolution. Science, 344(6186), 898-900. doi: 10.1126/science.1251981 Journal - Research Article