amphibians, conservation, conservation genetics, genomics, Leiopelma hamiltoni, Leiopelma hochstetteri, small vertebrates

Genomics can provide conservation-relevant insights into population size, genetic diversity, and connectivity with relatively little sampling effort. However, for frogs and other small vertebrates, invasive genetic sampling (e.g. toe-clipping) can impact animals’ long-term survival and welfare. Minimally-invasive genetic sampling methods may be required to facilitate robust conservation genomic studies of small vertebrates. In Aotearoa | New Zealand, previous genetic studies of the three native Leiopelma spp.