Throughout March and April, we are featuring articles shortlisted for the 2024 Robert May Prize. The Robert May Prize is awarded by the British Ecological Society each year for the best paper in Methods in Ecology and Evolution written by an early career author. Fay Morland’s article‘ Including the invisible fraction in whole population studies: A guide to the genetic sampling of unhatched bird eggs‘ is one of those shortlisted for the award.

The paper

What is your shortlisted paper about, and what are you seeking to answer with your research?  

Our paper guides genetic sampling of failed embryos in unhatched bird eggs, focusing on wild populations and protected species. We investigated whether DNA could be retrieved from embryos that fail early in development—previously untested. This DNA allowed us to include the “invisible fraction” in our long-term study. Microsatellite analysis revealed sex, paternity, and inbreeding, shedding light on early embryo failure. We also provide best practices for researchers applying these methods and insights into DNA quality from early failed embryos, highlighting their potential for future studies. 

Were you surprised by anything when working on it?  Did you have any challenges to overcome? 

We were surprised by how well we could extract and analyze DNA from early failed embryos, despite their small size and degradation. A key challenge was ensuring proper sample preservation in the field and optimizing DNA extraction to maximize yield. Initially, we weren’t sure if these embryos contained enough viable genetic material for microsatellite analysis, but our results showed they could provide valuable insights into sex, paternity, and inbreeding. Overcoming these hurdles highlighted the potential of early failed embryos in population studies and conservation genetics. 

What is the next step in this field going to be?  

The next step with this research will be to develop these methods for downstream whole genomic sequencing (WGS), to improve our understanding of the causes of embryonic failure at the early stages of development in wild populations. For example, WGS will allow estimation of inbreeding using runs of homozygosity and the identification of deleterious alleles disrupting embryonic development.    

What are the broader impacts or implications of your research for policy or practice?   

We hope that these methods will be adopted by other researchers working on wild bird populations, and that they will help to improve our understanding of the causes of hatching failure in threatened bird species. Using this information, conservation practice could be tailored to provide the best recovery chances for struggling populations of threatened and endangered birds.  

The author

How did you get involved in ecology?  

I studied for my Bachelors in Biology at Queen Mary University in London, whilst studying I was always drawn to the Ecology focussed classes because it resonates with my “big picture” way of thinking about science. My love of ecology was cemented following some inspiring overseas experiences: an undergraduate Tropical Ecology field trip to Borneo, and a stint as a research assistant with UNAM in Yucatan, Mexico.  

What is your current position? 

I am currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Otago in New Zealand.  

Have you continued the research your paper is about? 

The groups of my PhD supervisors, Nicola Hemmings and Patricia Brekke, the senior authors on this paper, are continuing with this research – stay tuned! 

What one piece of advice would you give to someone in your field?  

As an early-career researcher, I would encourage students to spend time in the field, observing their study species within its ecological context – I found these experiences inspiring both in terms of thinking about scientific questions and also as motivation on those difficult PhD days!