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This presentation explores research undertaken as part of a Master’s project investigating the locally extinct British population of white-tailed (sea) eagles. Using historical eggshell and mount specimens held within the collections of Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales), mitochondrial genomes were recovered and sequenced to generate the first mitogenomic data from the extint British white-tailed eagle population. The project highlights the value of museum collections as archives of genetic diversity and demonstrates how advances in DNA sequencing can help reconstruct the histories of lost populations, providing insights that may support future conservation and species restoration efforts.
About the Speaker
Manus Giovanni Leidi is a genomics researcher at Cardiff University with interests in conservation genetics, museum genomics, and species conservation. During an integrated Master’s degree in Biological Sciences, Manus investigated the conservation and evolutionary genomics of the extinct British white-tailed (sea) eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) population, sequencing the first mitochondrial genomes from Welsh museum specimens. Manus has experience working with whole-genome, mitochondrial, ancient, and non-invasive DNA, and has contributed to research spanning wildlife conservation, biodiversity, and evolutionary biology. In September 2026, Manus will begin a NERC-funded PhD at the Institute of Zoology (ZSL) and the University of Reading, exploring how historical ecological baselines can inform modern conservation and species recovery.
