Zoology & Ecology

Saul Chemonges

Saul Chemonges

Daniel Montesinos Torres

Daniel Montesinos Torres

Claire Gely

Claire Gely

Ben Hirsch

Ben Hirsch

Stephen Williams

Stephen Williams

Myles Menz

Myles Menz

Martijn van de Pol

Martijn van de Pol

Slade Allen-Ankins

Slade Allen-Ankins

Noel Preece

Noel Preece

Conrad Hoskin

Conrad Hoskin

Developmental and labile plasticity in mating displays (Old ID 26296)
Megan Higgie
01 Jan 2019 - 31 Dec 2019
Species interactions can alter the direction of evolution of sexual traits through reproductive interference. This project will look at how male pheromone displays in the presence and absence of reproductive interference may differ after being reared under experimental sympatry and allopatry conditions. I predict that being reared in a sympatric environment will influence differing mate display pheromones and will improve the ability plastically alter pheromones when reproductive interference is present. The ability to plastically alter mate displays to avoid the negative effects of reproductive interference is highly beneficial for population viability in a changing world.
Predicting habitat vulnerable to invasion: Diet and body condition of introduced chital deer (Axis axis) in the Australian dry tropics (Old ID 27884)
Lin Schwarzkopf
09 Nov 2022 - 09 Nov 2023
This project aims to detail the dietary richness of chital deer diet, and explore the association between individual dietary quality and body condition. This will be achieved utilising faecal sample DNA metabarcoding techniques to sequence and analyse the dietary items consumed by chital deer, in combination with faecal chromatography techniques to estimate dietary quality, and exploration of animal morphometric data to investigate the variance in body condition among individuals. My results will detail the dietary items that are associated with chital deer of higher body condition, and more importantly, the dominant vegetation communities that chital deer may utilise to facilitate further range expansion.
Research to inform yellow crazy ant management in the Wet Tropics (Old ID 26714)
Peter Yeeles
01 Apr 2020 - 30 Jun 2025
Continuation and consolidation of four years of scientific activities to support yellow crazy ant eradication in the Wet Tropics (data analysis, monitoring non-target effects of baiting, probability of detection).
Conservation genomics of the Critically endangered Kuranda Treefrog (Old ID 27603)
Conrad Hoskin
01 Aug 2022 - 31 Dec 2023
This project aims to assess the conservation status of the Critically Endangered Kuranda Treefrog using a population genomics approach. The last sampling for this declining and localised species took place more than 10 years ago, and continuing declines have been detected in the field. It is unclear whether the population is retaining genetic diversity despite the small and declining population size or whether it is rapidly losing genetic diversity. Resolving this will be crucial for the management of this species. In this project I aim to assess genetic diversity, connectivity and population size of this Critically Endangered species using population genomics.
Conservation genomics of the Critically endangered Kuranda Treefrog (Old ID 27603)
Megan Higgie
01 Aug 2022 - 31 Dec 2023
This project aims to assess the conservation status of the Critically Endangered Kuranda Treefrog using a population genomics approach. The last sampling for this declining and localised species took place more than 10 years ago, and continuing declines have been detected in the field. It is unclear whether the population is retaining genetic diversity despite the small and declining population size or whether it is rapidly losing genetic diversity. Resolving this will be crucial for the management of this species. In this project I aim to assess genetic diversity, connectivity and population size of this Critically Endangered species using population genomics.
Species interactions and the volution of plasticity in mating signals (Old ID 23407)
Megan Higgie
01 May 2017 - 30 Apr 2018
Displaying for mates is one of the most important forms of communication. The impact on mating displays in the presence of other species (reproductive interference) has generally been overlooked but is increasingly being recognised as a major selective force driving the evolution of mating traits. This project will investigate if species interactions can evoke immediate (plastic) changes to male mating displays. Plastic changes to mating displays will allow species to stand out in the crowd, thus avoiding reproductive interference and continue being reproductively successful. This adaptation may become extremely important due to changing species distributions in this rapidly changing world.
Population connectivity in the Kuranda Tree frog (Litoria myola) (Old ID 22198)
Conrad Hoskin
01 Aug 2015 - 31 Jul 2016
The critically endangered Kuranda Tree frog (Litoria myola) occurs only in a small distribution near Kuranda. This population is divided into 13 known breeding sites (subpopulations). Connectivity between these subpopulations is not known; therefore I will use genetic analysis to gain insight into both historical and current connectivity. Knowledge of population connectivity is of great importance for management, as it will help focus conservation efforts. This study will provide information on genetic distinctness of subpopulations, potential for natural recolonization if subpopulations decline or disappear, and where individuals should be sourced from if managers wanted to reintroduce the species to a site.
Population connectivity in the Kuranda Tree frog (Litoria myola) (Old ID 22198)
Megan Higgie
01 Aug 2015 - 31 Jul 2016
The critically endangered Kuranda Tree frog (Litoria myola) occurs only in a small distribution near Kuranda. This population is divided into 13 known breeding sites (subpopulations). Connectivity between these subpopulations is not known; therefore I will use genetic analysis to gain insight into both historical and current connectivity. Knowledge of population connectivity is of great importance for management, as it will help focus conservation efforts. This study will provide information on genetic distinctness of subpopulations, potential for natural recolonization if subpopulations decline or disappear, and where individuals should be sourced from if managers wanted to reintroduce the species to a site.
Fluorescent fur remote camera field experiment (Old ID 27576)
Tasmin Rymer
20 Mar 2022 - 20 Mar 2023
Aims: To determine if fur fluorescence can be excited by natural light and detected by nocturnal vertebrates. Outcomes: If wild animals interact consistently more often with one fur type during full moons, it will change the way we think about how nocturnal animals use light. If animals cannot detect fluorescence, the outcome will negate the need for further testing of a visual function. Significance: Using real fluorescent fur pelts in natural lighting is a world-first in discovering if nocturnal vertebrates use fluorescence as a visual cue. The result will determine if fluorescence becomes visible in different terrestrial lighting conditions
Conservation genomics of the Critically endangered Kuranda Treefrog (Old ID 28987)
Conrad Hoskin
01 May 2023 - 31 May 2023
This project aims to assess the conservation status of the Critically Endangered Kuranda Treefrog using a population genomics approach. The last sampling for this declining and localised species took place more than 10 years ago, and continuing declines have been detected in the field. It is unclear whether the population is retaining genetic diversity despite the small and declining population size or whether it is rapidly losing genetic diversity. Resolving this will be crucial for the management of this species. In this project I aim to assess genetic diversity, connectivity and population size of this Critically Endangered species using population genomics.
Title: ARC Future Fellow ($680,000), Global Change: Rainforest responses to experimental drought
Reseracher: Susan Laurance (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2014
Title: American Society of Naturalists
Reseracher: Megan Higgie (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2003
Title: European Research Council Advanced Grant 2018, ($2.5 million Euros). Role: collaborator, Lead Investigator: Dr Lourens Poorter
Reseracher: Susan Laurance (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2018
Title: Habilitation (Venia Docendi), University of Bern
Reseracher: Myles Menz (Senior Lecturer, Zoology and Ecology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2013
End Date: 01 Jan 2018
Title: PhD, The University of Western Australia
Reseracher: Myles Menz (Senior Lecturer, Zoology and Ecology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2009
End Date: 01 Jan 2013
Title: MSc in Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern
Reseracher: Myles Menz (Senior Lecturer, Zoology and Ecology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2006
End Date: 01 Jan 2008
Title: Bachelor of Science , The University of Western Australia
Reseracher: Myles Menz (Senior Lecturer, Zoology and Ecology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2000
End Date: 01 Jan 2003
Title: Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Witwatersrand
Reseracher: Tasmin Rymer (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2004
End Date: 01 Jan 2009
Title: Minibeast Wildlife, I partnered with Minibeast Wildlife to support an Honour's student's project focusing on subsociality in tarantulas. That work is in the process of being published.
Reseracher: Tasmin Rymer (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
End Date: 01 Jan 2025
Title: Master of Science, University of Pretoria
Reseracher: Tasmin Rymer (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2003
End Date: 01 Jan 2004