Publications and media attention

At the bottom of this page you can find my publications & awards. You can also visit my Google Scholar, LinkedIN, and ResearchGate pages for more information.

Also, have a look my Naturalis YouTube videos, or at a selection of my media appearances!

Enjoy my DNA talks

Learn more about DNA and evolution through my videos on the Naturalis YouTube channel.

Previous episodes

DNA talk 1: A strange salamander syndrome

DNA talk 2: What is DNA?

DNA talk 3: What is evolution?

DNA talk 4: How do species arise?

DNA talk 5: DNA barcoding of amphibians

DNA talk 6: Hybrid species

DNA talk 7: Foreign Tree Frogs!

In the media (a selection)

List of services

Awards & Prizes

Appointed as 'Week van de Biologie 2024' ambassador, by NIBI (the Dutch Institute for Biology)
Selected as 'Face of Science 2023' by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), The Youth Academy (De Jonge Akademie) and NEMO Kennislink, after being nominated by Associate Professor and marine biologist Dr Lisa Becking.
"1st prize for one-minute pitch" at the Netherlands Society of Evolutionary Biology PhD & Postdoc meeting 2021 (NLSEB2021), for the pitch: "The balanced lethal system in Triturus: an evolutionary trap!"
"3rd best oral presentation" at the Programming For Evolutionary Biology Conference 2021 (miniPEB2021), Freie Universität Berlin, for the talk: "Studying the lethality and evolutionary origin of the balanced lethal system in Triturus newts."
"1st prize for oral presentation" within subtheme: Global Health - Humans and Animals" at the University of Copenhagen EuroLeague of Life Sciences (ELLS) Student Conference 2017, for the MSc project "The Importance of Genomics for the Conservation Management of the Critically Endangered Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania)."
"Best oral presentation" at the Benelux International Society of Applied Ethology (ISAE) meeting 2016, for the MSc project "The effect of exposure to visitors on stress in the critically endangered blue-eyed black lemur (Eulemur flavifrons) and other primate species at Apenheul Primate Park, the Netherlands."

Publications

Mars, J., Koster, S., Babik, W., France, J., Kalaentzis, K., Kazilas, C., Martínez-Solano, I., De Visser, M.C., Wielstra, B. (2025). Phylogenomics yields new systematic and taxonomical insights for Lissotriton newts, a genus with a strong legacy of introgressive hybridization. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 204: 108282
Kalaentzis, K., Kazilas, C., Arntzen, J.W., Bogaerts, S., Franzen, M., Litvinchuk, S.N., Olgun, K., France, J., De Visser, M.C., Wielstra, B. (2025). Phylogenomics resolves the puzzling phylogeny of banded newts (genus Ommatotriton ). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 203: 108237.
Koster, S., Polanen, R., Avcı, A., Bogaerts, S., Bozkurt, E., Goudarzi, F., Hemami, M., Olgun, K., Pasmans, F., Steinfartz, S., Üzüm, N.,azan, De Visser, M.C., France, J., Theodoropoulos, A., Wielstra, B. (2024). Discordance between phylogenomic methods due to introgression in Near Eastern mountain newts (Neurergus , Salamandridae). SSRN preprint 5077292.
De Visser, M., France, J., Paulouskaya, O., Brown, T., Fahrbach, M., Van der Ploeg, C., Wielstra, B. (2024) Conserved gene content and unique phylogenetic history characterize the ‘bloopergene’ underlying Triturus ’ balanced lethal system bioRxiv preprint 2024.10. 25.620277.
France, J., De Visser, M., Paulouskaya, O., Arntzen, J.W., Babik, W., Cvijanović., M., Ivanović, A., Smith, J., Vučić, T., Wielstra, B. (2024) Genomic evidence suggests the balanced lethal system in Triturus newts originated in an instantaneous speciation event bioRxiv preprint 2024.10. 29.620207.
De Visser, M.C., France, J., McCartney-Melstad, E., Bucciarelli, G.,M., Theodoropoulos, A., Shaffer, H.B., Wielstra, B. (2024) NewtCap: an efficient target capture approach to boost genomic studies in Salamandridae (True Salamanders and Newts) bioRxiv preprint 2024.10. 25.620290.
De Visser, M., Van der Ploeg, C., Cvijanović, M., Vučić, T., Theodoropoulos, A., Wielstra, B. (2024) PAV-spotter: using signal cross-correlations to identify Presence/Absence Variation in target capture data bioRxiv preprint 2024.10. 25.620064.
De Visser*, M.C., Meilink*, W.R.M., Theodoropoulos, A., Fahrbach, M., Wielstra, B. (2024) Determining zygosity with multiplex Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (mxKASP) genotyping bioRxiv preprint 2024.10: 25.620256.
Struijk, R.P.J.H., Prins, N., Koster, S., Putters, N., Jansen, N., Esselaar, J., De Visser, M.C., France, J.M., Wielstra, B.M. (2024) Knoflookpad in Callantsoog: verspreiding, voortplanting en geografische herkomst. RAVON 26(1), 2-5.
Kazilas, C., Dufresnes, C., France, J., Kalaentzis, K., Martínez-Solano, I., De Visser, M.C., Arntzen, J.W., Wielstra, B. (2024) Spatial genetic structure in European marbled newts revealed with target enrichment by sequence capture, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 194: 108043.
Wielstra, B.M., De Visser, M.C., Stark, T., Struijk, R.P.J.H. (2023) Herkomst van exotische Alpenwatersalamanders blootgelegd Schubben & Slijm 15(3)
Kalaentzis, K., Arntzen, J.W., Aziz, A., Van den Berg, V., Beukema, W., France, J.M., Olgun, K., Van Riemsdijk, I., Üzüm, N., De Visser, M.C. & Wielstra B.M. (2023) Hybrid zone analysis confirms cryptic species of banded newt and does not support competitive displacement since secondary contact, Ecology and Evolution 13(9): e10442.
Robbemont, J., Van Veldhuijzen, S., Allain, S.J.R., Ambu, J., Boyle, R., Canestrelli, D., Cathasaigh, É.Ó, Cathrine, C., Chiocchio, A., Cogalniceanu, D., Cvijanović, M., [. . .], De Visser, M.C. & Wielstra, B.M. (2023) An extended mtDNA phylogeography for the alpine newt illuminates the provenance of introduced populations, Amphibia-Reptilia 44(3): 347-361.
Kuijt, M., Oskam, L., Den Boer, I., Dufresnes, C., France, J., Gilbert, M. J., De Visser, M.C., Struijk, R.P.J.H, Wielstra, B. (2023) The introduction of three cryptic tree frog species in the Dutch coastal dunes challenges conservation paradigms. Amphibia-Reptilia 44(1), 1-10.
Koster, S., Prins, N., Dufresnes, C., France, J., De Visser, M.C., Struijk, R.P.J.H., Wielstra, B. (2023) The conservation paradox of an introduced population of a threatened species: spadefoot toads in the coastal dunes of the Netherlands. Amphibia-Reptilia 44(1), 11-18.
De Brouwer, J., Helder, B., France, J., De Visser, M.C., Struijk, R.P.J.H., Wielstra, B. (2023) An isolated crested newt population in Dutch coastal dunes: distribution relict or introduction? Amphibia-Reptilia 44(1), 19-26.
Vliegenthart, C., Van de Vrede, M., Den Boer, I., Gilbert, M., Lemmers, P., France, J., De Visser, M.C., Struijk, R.P.J.H., Wielstra, B. (2023) The limits of mtDNA barcoding for determining the provenance of invasive species: a midwife toad example. Amphibia-Reptilia 44(1), 27-33.
De Visser, M.C., Prins, N., France, J.M., Struijk, R., Wielstra, B. (2023) Exotische amfibieën in de duinen ontmaskerd met mtDNA barcoding. Holland's Duinen 82(1): 25-29.
Wielstra, B.M., Den Boer, I., France, J.M., De Visser, M.C., Struijk, R. (2023) MtDNA barcoding van exotische amfibieën in de duinen. RAVON 89(2): 26-29.
Van der Goot, A., De Visser, M., Hiemstra, A.F. (2022) Smooth newts Lissotriton vulgaris observe d hibernating in a waterfowl nest. Herpetological Bulletin: 162: 41-42.
Struijk, R.P.J.H., Backx, B., Demirkapu, B., De Visser, M., Wielstra, B. (2022). 'Rise and fall' van een populatie westelijke smaragdhagedissen in Scheveningen. RAVON: 24(4): 24-27.
De Visser, M., Prins, E., Bosse, M., Crooijmans, R., Ter Meulen, T. (2022). Maximum longevity and juvenile mortality in zoo-housed mangabeys. Zoo biology: 1-11.
Helder, B., De Brouwer, J., Ouwehand, J., De Visser, M. & Wielstra B. (2021). Koi-kamsalamander, Schubben & Slijm (48): 8.
Meilink, W.R.M., France, J., De Visser, M. & Wielstra, B. (2021). Balanced lethal systems: an evolutionary mystery. Frontiers For Young Minds. 9:632945.
Fahrbach, M., De Visser, M.C. & Wielstra, B.M. (2021). The hybrid zone between the Italian and Northern crested newts (Triturus carnifex and T. cristatus ) reaches Germany, Salamandra 57(3): 428-434.
De Visser, M.C., Liu, L. & Bosse, M. (2021). Pygmy hogs, Current Biology 31(8):R366-R368.
De Visser, M.C., France, J.M., Meilink, W.R.M. & Wielstra, B.M. (2021). Een evolutionair raadsel: het dodelijke chromosoom 1 syndroom in Triturus -salamanders, RAVON 23(1): 9-12.
Struijk, R.P.J.H., Demirkapu, B., De Visser, M.C. & Wielstra, B.M. (2021). Exotische smaragdhagedissen in de duinen bij Scheveningen, Kijk op Exoten (34): 12-13.
Liu, L., Bosse, M., Megens, H.J., De Visser, M.C., Groenen, M.A.M. & Madsen, O. (2020). Genetic consequences of long‐term small effective population size in the critically endangered pygmy hog. Evolutionary Applications 14:710-720.
Van Tuijl, C., Van Bochove, K. & De Visser, M.C. (2019). Genetic structure of badger populations in a fragmented landscape: how do barriers affect populations on a genetic level? Lutra 62: 65-76.

* = Authors share a first authorship / equal contribution.

Evolution is thoughtless, lazy and imperfect - and that is exactly why it works!

Publications and media attention

Enjoy my DNA talks

In the media (a selection)

List of services

More videos!

Spotlight interview 'salamander mysteries' (no subtitles)

Biologist Manon de Visser about mangabeys

Awards & Prizes

Publications