https://www.danielmarchooper.com/main daily 1.0 2016-02-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455135929534-58XOSG9R49QVXLQ5QZZW/Homepage.jpg Welcome https://www.danielmarchooper.com/main/2016/2/10/6jcc75i3pss0awtkqg7h7nf8mqx1zf monthly 0.5 2022-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/f1631058-7858-4c15-ab3a-205815744dbe/DSC04556.jpg Welcome A group of long-tailed finches (Poephila acuticauda) from the center of their hybrid zone in Kununurra, Western Australia (photo credit Col Roberts). https://www.danielmarchooper.com/images daily 0.75 2025-10-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1760380113868-F74WCJF94OJLKQGKB35Y/image-asset.png Images - Long-tailed finches on the cover of Journal of Evolutionary Biology Associated with Pacheco-Fuentes et al. (2025): Experimental demonstration of functional divergence in mitochondrial metabolism between two finch subspecies subjected to a thermal challenge. Photo credit: Simon Griffith. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1760380113868-F74WCJF94OJLKQGKB35Y/image-asset.png Images - Long-tailed finches on the cover of Journal of Evolutionary Biology Associated with Pacheco-Fuentes et al. (2025): Experimental demonstration of functional divergence in mitochondrial metabolism between two finch subspecies subjected to a thermal challenge. Photo credit: Simon Griffith. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718721334220-MPMDNWED4I6G7IY1BVTN/image-asset.jpeg Images The long horizon in Carpentaria, Queensland (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1734556840235-GUBBHEDXXH2AORC3WI5X/image-asset.jpg Images - Long-tailed finches on the cover of Current Biology Our study on the molecular composition, genetic architecture, and evolutionary history of bill color variation in the long-tailed finch was featured on the cover of Current Biology. Photo credit - Col Roberts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718721870107-1M1JW1L6DPGNTBWR0Y5K/image-asset.jpeg Images - Field ute Kyle Kostrzewa sitting atop the field ute. Carpenteria, QLD (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718723688509-PPV4AKFU1TW90BVG5OXN/image-asset.jpeg Images - Beautiful outback scene Carpentaria, QLD (2023) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718722488481-VB5W5LFOLNYD7GIKK4VP/image-asset.jpeg Images - Long-tailed finch A striking red-billed long-tailed finch (Poephila a. hecki) on Gregory Downs Station, QLD (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718722014303-GETE8P6WRZKB3WWF0SMK/image-asset.jpeg Images - Black-throated Finch Black-throated finch (Poephila cincta atropygialis). Carpentaria, Queensland (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718722925319-W3RAZRJC3ZNI5RPA8W2P/image-asset.jpeg Images Cathedral termite mound in Carpentaria, QLD (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718721724213-LFZLZLQWSHCWCJ3IJIKC/image-asset.jpg Images - Night Sky The night sky putting on a show in Carpentaria, Queensland (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718722207040-53PX29FKEUQQM6MFFEI4/image-asset.jpeg Images - Finching Finch squad processing Poephila in Carpentaria, QLD (2023). From left: Kyle Kostrzewa, me, Callum McDiarmid, and Rhiannon Schembri. Photo credit - Geoffrey Giller. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718723043780-YGWRL94M66BVRMEHY3CI/image-asset.jpeg Images - Plum-headed finch A fieldwork first for me, the charming plum-headed finch (Aidemosyne modesta) in Carpentaria, QLD (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718722723867-1O1DNMZL5L1XZJ47K8YT/image-asset.jpeg Images Geoffrey Giller with an incredible cathedral termite mound in Carpentaria, QLD (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718723138235-SO0JH1XIITWUXNITL5XR/image-asset.jpeg Images - Pictorella munia The enigmatic pictorella munia (Heteromunia pectoralis), Carpentaria, QLD (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718723298565-QUCT4ALSLXFXDQP5TC2U/image-asset.jpeg Images - Long shadow country Dawn casting in Carpentaria, QLD (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718723267770-PSE0AGWQB4E3KIL9W6GQ/image-asset.jpeg Images - Zebra finch An Australian icon: the zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis), Carpentaria, QLD (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718723372709-7XDSJJYKBG3XYX2YDJB2/image-asset.jpeg Images - Golden-shouldered parrot The elusive golden-shouldered parrot (Psephotus chrysopterygius). In Carpentaria captivity, QLD (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718722834667-N27663YCUHE59GI7LNOJ/image-asset.jpeg Images - Trying to find finches Kyle Kostrzewa and I consulting a station map for potential places to find finches, Carpentaria, QLD (2023). Photo credit - Geoffrey Giller. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718722050954-RPBL3XJCYVKOPFRWGWTS/image-asset.jpeg Images - Processing finches Kyle Kostrzewa helping take a blood sample and morphological measurements of a black-throated finch before sending it off on its way. Carpentaria, QLD (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1718722412238-16GQU23DCMB4SPKY8P6Q/image-asset.jpeg Images - Long-tailed finch Red-billed long-tailed finch (Poephila a. hecki) on Gregory Downs Station, QLD (2023). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1540329246099-AUYZEQAEIW49L1FM6O8V/IMG_4389.JPG Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455140753644-GRXFLFY6E469CJ7NKZUF/IMG_1389.JPG Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1540329397932-XCJNNYB4KRQ1915ASR9P/IMG_4483.JPG Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1540329480585-RBL6M6JLAXQVVGSPTYK4/IMG_5087.JPG Images - Callum McDiarmid, Emma Greig, Simon Griffith, Kyle Kostrzewa, and Daniel Hooper https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1540329453118-F4RWAWVZU12JEH435IK7/IMG_4798.jpg Images - Long-tailed finch (Poephila a. acuticauda) Yellow-billed long-tailed finch (Poephila a. acuticauda) on El Questro, WA (2018). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455141762285-FPTIO8C41T03W3T8V444/image-asset.jpeg Images - Long-tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1558283154982-Z2JV1XP462IW5N1SCWXX/Screen+Shot+2019-05-19+at+12.25.26+PM.png Images Cover of a special edition of Molecular Ecology on the role of genomic structural variants in adaptation and diversification - featuring our long-tailed finches! See Hooper et al. (2018). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1540329502436-FN10KJY1A636ZCOC5ND9/IMG_5211.jpg Images - Star Finch (Bathilda ruficauda) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1540329523537-7Q7JSPBKJNHNPDQN07AM/IMG_5195.jpg Images - Masked Finch (Poephila personata) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1540329546952-OOB3VMPPCD0ADK15XSFD/IMG_5118.jpg Images - Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1540329750888-KVD66BQ4UOQ34AWKIMZJ/IMG_4988.jpg Images - Double-barred Finch (Stizoptera bichenovii) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1540329427567-SYO5N4G6OUG0FHFBYIRR/IMG_4738.jpg Images - Pictorella Mannikin (Heteromunia pectoralis) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455141229751-T2IRFF96B9014TKC7YMZ/image-asset.jpeg Images - Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1540330209600-IWJCSYVE1TAJ89Y1WXOR/IMG_5074.JPG Images - Kyle Kostrzewa and Dr. Emma Greig https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455140808893-FKDNN215JUCM96P774Z9/IMG_8605.jpg Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455140903849-Z8QSS736AHO0V78JI4FD/image-asset.jpeg Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455141026633-T093O54GHLFU88EX05YB/image-asset.jpeg Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455141108909-TD8DJK6RK3V1F4YXEYEC/image-asset.jpeg Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455141161899-ZWZ0KAXNH171U5KCZDB6/image-asset.jpeg Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455141286092-P4WXC4F3NXP7CK84TBYI/image-asset.jpeg Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455141335540-IG3RQPGJ6GSQN8HL3144/image-asset.jpeg Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455141420542-114B8Q6WO1OPABIKJKWW/image-asset.png Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455141469670-0DW2QHPPPB9645TO1VBO/image-asset.jpeg Images - Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455141786059-1YTNXEQH7XRH1EK0GO49/image-asset.jpeg Images - Long-tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455143012978-3E7HHO7RKGN5FW1H3M1N/image-asset.png Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1455143123949-76313ANW45WK6P4IDE3Z/image-asset.jpeg Images https://www.danielmarchooper.com/publications daily 0.75 2025-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/53ea566a-7efe-4554-9378-802abcbdaaf5/5D4_0208edit.jpg Publications Measuring the beak morphology of a black-throated finch (Poephila cincta) - Photo by Geoffrey Giller https://www.danielmarchooper.com/people daily 0.75 2025-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1557858354092-WTVEQBK0E534A9A8I7RU/Kenya2019.jpg People Kelsie holding a Vitelline masked weaver (Ploceus vitellinus) in Kenya in 2019 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1617480399326-2LRT9UJZ0PF231UXL625/CallumBird2.jpg People Callum holding a long-tailed finch (subspecies acuticauda) in the research aviaries of Simon Griffith, Macquarie University, Sydney. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1557858246487-TEGGM8O8ZQAZ8OW1L289/45853492075_7102e7152a_o.jpg People Amelia with a tray of toucans at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in 2018 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/68aa4e9b-d573-4cc6-931e-9e257089ec7d/rhiannon.schembri.crop.png People - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/11981e06-ace2-4fa4-96ac-cf36eba3e98b/aditya.girish.picture.png People - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/10836476-8613-4970-a8c8-4d2a2dc4c126/DanielHooper_102825_0011.jpg People Taughannock Falls Gorge Trail, Ithaca. 2019 https://www.danielmarchooper.com/research daily 0.75 2025-10-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/34cfa11f-d220-4ff6-8f6c-6718fef8a71e/ltf_inversions.png Research - Make it stand out A 21Mb inversion on the Z chromosome differentiates hybridizing subspecies of the long-tailed finch (Poephila acuticauda) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/07f73a0a-e808-4d86-9260-7d2a67f983cd/mutation.spectra.png Research - Make it stand out Evaluating mutation spectrum evolution from standing polymorphism of different 3-base-pair genomic motifs between species of Estrildid finch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/518d5c10-ec9b-4061-a8e4-b38723ec83d1/mitonuclear.png Research - Make it stand out Hybridization between diverging lineages leads to the exposure of mitonuclear incompatibilities on the sex chromosomes: Lopez et al. (2021) Evolution https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/1456082340634-FRXB1B37ZTS4T3RSRZMB/Chr7example.jpg Research Variation in nucleotide diversity in 50kb sliding windows along chr7 for six Australian grassfinch species (family Estrildidae) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/4effd5b0-90d0-47e7-9518-c38f40e3e165/bill.colour.phenotype.png Research - Make it stand out Subspecies of long-tailed finch (Poephila acuticauda) differ notably in beak color: yellow in western ssp acuticauda and red in eastern ssp hecki. Phenotypic admixture in the wild is restricted at present to a region ~100 km wide in the Northern Territory but allelic variation for yellower bills appears to be rapidly introgressing from acuticauda into hecki. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/f1ebd38e-6c96-401b-bf53-50c5534df00c/fasterz.png Research - Make it stand out In the Australian Grassfinches, Z-linked genes evolve more rapidly than autosomal genes on both the macro- and micro-chromosomes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b7a06ad210b852d3f73ad7/49b8da1c-cbd2-46e1-8cfd-0353c636fdcb/hooper_price_2017.png Research - Make it stand out During my PhD with Dr. Trevor Price, I used cytological descriptions of karyotype for >400 species of passerine birds in order to place large pericentric inversions (i.e., those that encompass the centromere) in a phylogenetic framework. We found considerable variation between passerine clades in the rate of inversion fixation (A). We found that the best predictor of inversion differences between closely-related species was whether or not those species occurred in sympatry (B). We also noted an elevated rate of inversion fixation on the Z chromosome compared to the average autosome; furthering a potential link between inversion evolution and reproductive isolation during speciation.