Rate My Professor Bruce C. Robertson

Professor Bruce C. Robertson is a Professor in the Department of Zoology within the Division of Sciences at the University of Otago, and serves as Director of the Wildlife Management programme. Holding a PhD, his research centres on conservation genomics, population genetics, phylogeography, reproductive behaviour, and genetic management strategies for endangered New Zealand species. These include iconic birds such as the kākāpō, kea, rock wren, silvereye, New Zealand dotterel, petrels, and kākī/black stilt, as well as marine mammals like the New Zealand fur seal and sea lion. His studies address critical issues including mate choice, inbreeding depression, immunocompetence, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) variation, genetic population structure, paternity, dispersal patterns, fisheries bycatch management, and phylogenetic relationships.

In addition to his research, Robertson contributes to education by teaching ZOOL 319 Conservation Biology, ZOOL 418 Conservation Biology of Marine Mammals, and coordinating WILM 401 Principles of Wildlife Management. He has supervised over 20 postgraduate students, with ongoing PhD projects under his guidance exploring genetic aging and genomic analysis of the kākāpō (Yasmin Foster), coping with nutritional stress in hōiho/yellow-eyed penguins (Melanie Young), and conservation genomics of the kākā (Denise Martini). Previous students have investigated topics such as phylogeography of New Zealand native frogs, population genetic structure of the black-fronted tern, and movement ecology and bycatch in white-chinned petrels.

Robertson's scholarly output is substantial, with 229 publications garnering over 7,500 citations. Recent works include "Genomic architecture of inbreeding depression associated with hatching failure in an endangered parrot" (Foster et al., 2026, Molecular Ecology), "Fear responses in a nationally threatened seabird: Habitat and landscape contexts influence flight initiation distance in red-billed gulls" (Noreen et al., 2025, Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology), "Islands promote diversification of the silvereye species complex: A phylogenomic analysis of a great speciator" (Estandía et al., 2025, Molecular Ecology), "Semen collection, semen analysis and artificial insemination in the kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) to support its conservation" (Fischer et al., 2025, PLoS ONE), and "Metapopulation distribution shapes year-round overlap with fisheries for a circumpolar seabird" (Rexer-Huber et al., 2025, Ecological Applications). Influential earlier publications encompass "PCR-based sexing in conservation biology: Wrong answers from an accurate methodology?" (2006), "Sex allocation theory aids species conservation" (2006), and "Dispersal of breeding, adult male Phocarctos hookeri: Implications for disease transmission, population management and species recovery" (2006). His work has profoundly impacted the field of conservation genetics in New Zealand.