Using pheromones to understand Australia's diverse lizard fauna (Old ID 22866)

Society of Systematic Biologists
Role

Collaborator

Description

This project will investigate the mating pheromones of a cryptic species complex of geckos (Heteronotia binoei) to determine how pheromones vary between populations and genetic lineages within and between species. There are 13 genetic lineages in total within these four species. I expect that pheromones will differ significantly between divergent lineages within each species. I will then perform behavioural experiments to confirm that phermone divergence can result in reproductive isolation. If so, pheromones will be an informative taxonomic character for these morphologically conservative groups, and will contribute to our understanding of vertebrate diversity in the Australian tropics.

Date

09 Jul 2016 - 08 Jul 2017

Project Type

GRANT

Keywords

Biodiversity;Behaviour;Pheromones;Lizards;Speciation;Mating

Funding Body

Society of Systematic Biologists

Amount

1861.36

Project Team

Conrad Hoskin;Megan Higgie