Publications

Preprints

Chen, R.S., Soulsbury, C.D.*, Hoffman, J.I.* & van Oers, K.* (2025). Epigenetic changes associated with reproductive investment and life-history trade-offs in lekking male black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix). In review. Pre-print DOI: 10.32942/X2506F. Chapter IV of my PhD dissertation.

2026

Chen, R.S. The burden of deleterious mutations shaping fitness variation. Mutation load dynamics and epigenetic mechanisms underlying reproductive success and survival in black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix). PhD dissertation. DOI: 10.4119/unibi/3016839

Chen, R. S., Sepers, B., Isaksson, C., van Oers, K. (2026) Studying avian ecological epigenetics to advance our understanding of ecology and evolution. Journal of Avian Biology, e03658. DOI: 10.1002/jav.03658. Editorial for our Special Issue on “Novel Insights and Future Directions in Avian Ecological Epigenetics”.

Chen, R.S.*, Sepers, B.*, van Oers, K., Hoffman, J.I. (2026) The interplay between epigenetic mechanisms and deleterious mutations: implications for fitness, evolution and conservation. Accepted for publication in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. Chapter V of my PhD dissertation.

Meuthen, D., Hoffman, J.I., Kurtz, J., Berthelsen, A.L., Chakarov, N., Chen, R.S. […] Vendrami, D.L. (2026) Exploring the interplay of epigenetics and individualization. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 41, 318–328. DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2025.12.010

2025

Chen, R.S., Soulsbury, C.D., van Oers, K., & Hoffman, J.I. (2025). Early-life viability selection targets deleterious mutations in exons. Current Biology 35 (23): 5908 – 5914, e4. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.10.043 Chapter III of my PhD dissertation.

Chen, R., Soulsbury, C., Hench, K., van Oers, K., & Hoffman, J. (2025). Predicted deleterious mutations reveal the genetic architecture of male reproductive success in a lekking bird. Nature Ecology and Evolution 9, 1924-1937. DOI: 10.1038/s41559-025-02802-8. Chapter II of my PhD dissertation.

Chen, R. S., Rizvi, T., Berthelsen, A. L., Paijmans, A. J., Maune, A. L., Caspers, B. A., … & Maraci, Ö. (2025). How Can We Make Scientific Events More Inclusive? Insights From Q&A Sessions and Surveys From an International Conference. Ecology and Evolution 15 (7), e71588. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.71588

2024

Hoffman, J. I., Vendrami, D. L., Hench, K., Chen, R. S., Stoffel, M. A., Kardos, M., … & Dasmahapatra, K. K. (2024). Genomic and fitness consequences of a near-extinction event in the northern elephant seal. Nature Ecology & Evolution 8, 2309-2924. DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02533-2

2023

Chen, R. S.*, Berthelsen, A. L.*, Lamartinière, E. B., Spangenberg, M. C., & Schmoll, T. (2023). Recognizing and marshalling the pre-publication error correction potential of open data for more reproducible science. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 7(10), 1597-1599. DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02152-3

Sepers, B.*, Chen, R. S.*, Memelink, M., Verhoeven, K. J., & Van Oers, K. (2023). Variation in DNA methylation in avian nestlings is largely determined by genetic effects. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 40(4), msad086, DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad086

Chen, R. S., Soulsbury, C. D., Lebigre, C., Ludwig, G., van Oers, K., & Hoffman, J. I. (2023). Effects of hunting on genetic diversity, inbreeding and dispersal in Finnish black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix). Evolutionary Applications, 16(3), 625-637. DOI: 10.1111/eva.13521. Chapter I of my PhD dissertation.

2022

Hoffman, J. I., Chen, R. S., Vendrami, D. L. J., Paijmans, A. J., Dasmahapatra, K. K., & Forcada, J. (2022). Demographic Reconstruction of Antarctic Fur Seals Supports the Krill Surplus Hypothesis. Genes, 13(3), 541. DOI: 10.3390/genes13030541

* shared first or last authorship