Zoology & Ecology
Saul Chemonges
- Adjunct Associate Professor
- saul.chemonges@jcu.edu.au
Daniel Montesinos Torres
- Senior Research Fellow
- daniel.montesinos@jcu.edu.au
Claire Gely
- Lecturer, Zoology and Ecology
- claire.gely@jcu.edu.au
Ben Hirsch
- Adjunct Senior Lecturer
- ben.hirsch@jcu.edu.au
Stephen Williams
- Adjunct Professor
- stephen.williams@jcu.edu.au
Myles Menz
- Senior Lecturer, Zoology and Ecology
- myles.menz@jcu.edu.au
Martijn van de Pol
- Associate Professor, Mathematical Modelling
- martijn.vandepol@jcu.edu.au
Slade Allen-Ankins
- Research Fellow
- slade.allenankins@jcu.edu.au
Noel Preece
- Adjunct Associate Professor
- noel.preece@jcu.edu.au
Conrad Hoskin
- Professor
- conrad.hoskin@jcu.edu.au
Can parental care behaviour and breeding microhabitat protect Critically Endangered nursery frogs from rising temperatures on Wet Tropics mountaintops? (Old ID 28956)
Nursery frogs are terrestrial breeders with ‘direct development’ and the male stays with the eggs until hatching. While climate change is their biggest threat and their breeding biology of is very poorly known. I will study parental care across Nursery frog species, under varied environmental conditions in the field (low elevation, upland areas, heatwaves, drought) to uncover the details of nest choice and parental care. I will use non-invasive cameras, artificial shelters, and data loggers in natural nesting sites to determine how variation in parental behaviour impacts larval survival and differs between species and microhabitats under different climatic conditions.
Resolving the genetics of adaptation and speciation (Old ID 22899)
The project will greatly assist my career development by increasing my skills and impact in genomic research. Genomic data is currently produced in a process (via next generation sequencing) that results in unordered markers. However the majority can only be resolved with ordered markers (i.e. genes arranged along chromosomes). This project will provide a way to determine the genetic structure that underlies SNPs and other types of genomic data for non-model organisms in order to product ordered markers.
Investigating the pitfalls of bee hotels (Old ID 30046)
Concern for bees among the public has led to the augmentation of habitat for bees including the addition of bee hotels. Bee hotels are often claimed to increase bee diversity and abundance. However, they artificially aggregate nesting sites above densities naturally available for bees, which could lead to increased prevalence of pathogens, viruses and parasitism, and higher predation rates. Properly controlled experiments to investigate these threats are limited, and none have been conducted in the tropics. This project investigates whether the density of nesting spaces in bee hotels affects predation rates and pathogen and parasite prevalence in cavity nesting bees.
Investigating the pitfalls of bee hotels (Old ID 30046)
Concern for bees among the public has led to the augmentation of habitat for bees including the addition of bee hotels. Bee hotels are often claimed to increase bee diversity and abundance. However, they artificially aggregate nesting sites above densities naturally available for bees, which could lead to increased prevalence of pathogens, viruses and parasitism, and higher predation rates. Properly controlled experiments to investigate these threats are limited, and none have been conducted in the tropics. This project investigates whether the density of nesting spaces in bee hotels affects predation rates and pathogen and parasite prevalence in cavity nesting bees.
Integrating climate adaptation into rainforest restoration (Old ID 27288)
Rainforest restoration aims to develop self-sustaining ecosystems, resilient to the potential negative effects of climate change. Key to this is identifying the physiological limitations and adaptive capacity of woody tree species used in revegetation plantings. Recent, albeit limited, research suggests that across species higher leaf thermal tolerance could be an adaptation to leaf temperature extremes. To improve our understanding on how tropical tree species will respond to current and future warming we need accurate estimates of leaf temperature extremes, as well as research into within-species variation in leaf thermal tolerance. I will address these knowledge gaps by combining measurements of leaf thermal tolerance and functional traits across a species distribution, with leaf energy balance modelling paramaterised during glasshouse experiments and field campaigns. These findings will aid in identifying vulnerable populations to climate change which will inform conservation and restoration efforts.
Going feral: The colonisation of natural environments by Asian house geckos (Old ID 21725)
Asian house geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) were accidentally introduced to Australia in the 1960s and are now common across the tropics. They commonly establish in towns, leading to the belief that this introduced species is benign. However, surveys conducted in the Townsville region revealed high-density populations of Asian house geckos in natural environments. This is very concerning given that Australia is a global centre of gecko diversity and endemism. My project will investigate the extent of Asian house gecko invasion in natural environments and highlight factors that might contribute to this range expansion.
A temperature and humidity analysis of the Golden-shouldered parrot (Psepholus chrsoterygius) nest chambers: implications in a changing climate? (Old ID 27245)
The Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psepholus chrsoterysius) is an endangered species endemic to Cape York, Queensland. This bird has particular significance to the Olkola People, an important totem, called Alwal in language. Bush heritage have been working in partnership with Olkola rangers for the last 5 years to protect and recover this endangered species. Alwal has particular nesting habits; it nests in specific chronical termite mounds constructed by Amitermes scolpulus. The Parrot is very particular in mound choice, only selecting those of certain size and width (170cm height to 70 cm width). This is believed to provide optimum incubation temperatures. Nest success is also thought to be reliant upon a symbiotic relationship with an Australian mallee motth (Trisyntopa scatophaga) which feeds on the parrots droppings and therefore keeps the nest clean, preventing risk of infections. This study eill assess nest chamber and ambient temperatures and humidity across the breeding season of 2021, using Hydrochron humidity and temperature loggers (DS1923), which will be placed inside and outside selected nests. FLIR heat sensing cameras will also be used to take pictures of all active and non active nests and their nearest neighbours. The data will be compared to early nest research carried out by Weaver (1986) who assessed nest temperatures in the 1970s. This study will provide insight into nest chamber thermal changes, and create a more reliable baseline longer term, due to the technnological constrictions when this study was first carried out in the 1970s.
Investigating the Functional Diversity and Plasticity within the Water and Resource use Traits of Trees Along Elevation Gradients in Tropical Rainforest Communities
I will investigate the functional performance and plasticity within the water and resource use strategy of attitude-specific trees, native and introduced trees with wide range distribution along the elevation gradient in the Tropical Rainforests of Papua New Guinea and Far North Queensland in Australia. I collected data using common garden experiments, experimental plantings, and plots. I expect temperature and edaphic factors to be the major drivers of plants' water and resource use strategy along the elevation gradient. I also expect higher plasticity in the traits of native pioneer trees in contrast to introduced invasive trees and mid to late successional species.
My research will provide information on the functional diversity within altitude-specific trees and identify strategies that enable trees to survive in different altitudes. Exploring the variation and covariation of key traits related to the water and resource use strategy of trees and their plasticity with elevation provides information on the potential acclimation of species to climate change.
Can species interactions cause rapid adaptation? (Old ID 24883)
Under environmental change, the persistence of a species centers on its ability to disperse from or adapt to changing conditions. Dispersal is limited in the Australian Wet Tropics due to restricted environmental space and mountain-top edges, so adaptation is necessary. This includes adaption to the changing conditions (e.g., temperature) and changing species interactions. This project will use experimental evolution in two Australian rainforest Drosophila species to test if novel competition can drive adaptation to warming temperatures and enable coexistence. Results will then be used with field data to create a comprehensive niche model aimed at predicting effects of climate change to a Wet Tropics species.
Can species interactions cause rapid adaptation? (Old ID 24883)
Under environmental change, the persistence of a species centers on its ability to disperse from or adapt to changing conditions. Dispersal is limited in the Australian Wet Tropics due to restricted environmental space and mountain-top edges, so adaptation is necessary. This includes adaption to the changing conditions (e.g., temperature) and changing species interactions. This project will use experimental evolution in two Australian rainforest Drosophila species to test if novel competition can drive adaptation to warming temperatures and enable coexistence. Results will then be used with field data to create a comprehensive niche model aimed at predicting effects of climate change to a Wet Tropics species.
Re-contemplate an entangled bank: the "Power of Movement in Plants" revisited
- 2009
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Researchers:Will Edwards
Biodiversity and REDD at Copenhagen
- 2009
- Cell Press
- Researchers:William Laurance
Changing ecology of tropical forests: evidence and drivers
- 2009
- Annual Reviews
- Researchers:William Laurance
New insights into the tropical biodiversity crisis
- 2009
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Researchers:William Laurance
Environmental synergisms and extinctions of tropical species
- 2009
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Researchers:William Laurance
Changing drivers of deforestation and new opportunities for conservation
- 2009
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Researchers:William Laurance
The evolution of body shape in response to habitat: is reproductive output reduced in flat lizards?
- 2009
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Researchers:Lin Schwarzkopf
Start Date:
01 Jan 2014
Start Date:
01 Jan 2003
Start Date:
01 Jan 2018
Start Date:
01 Jan 2013
End Date:
01 Jan 2018
Start Date:
01 Jan 2009
End Date:
01 Jan 2013
Start Date:
01 Jan 2006
End Date:
01 Jan 2008
Start Date:
01 Jan 2000
End Date:
01 Jan 2003
Start Date:
01 Jan 2004
End Date:
01 Jan 2009
Start Date:
01 Jan 2024
End Date:
01 Jan 2025
Start Date:
01 Jan 2003
End Date:
01 Jan 2004