Sociogenomics of honeybees. From genes to society. This project will show how complex social behaviour of honeybees like dance communication and thermoregulation is genetically controlled. The complete sequence of the honeybee genome will be published in 2003, and a gene chip based on it will be created shortly afterwards. These new technologies will make our project technically feasible. By backcrossing, workers with different genetic tendencies to do a task can be generated within an otherwi ....Sociogenomics of honeybees. From genes to society. This project will show how complex social behaviour of honeybees like dance communication and thermoregulation is genetically controlled. The complete sequence of the honeybee genome will be published in 2003, and a gene chip based on it will be created shortly afterwards. These new technologies will make our project technically feasible. By backcrossing, workers with different genetic tendencies to do a task can be generated within an otherwise uniform background. Age-matched workers that perform a behaviour like thermoregulation can be compared to sisters that do not, and the genes that are switched on in the two groups compared.Read moreRead less
Decision-making in social insects and nature-inspired optimisation algorithms. Insect societies are ideal for the study of complex systems. Contrary to other complex systems, insect colonies can be modified without destroying the system. Computer scientists have found a source of inspiration in the behaviour of social insects for solving optimisation problems. Here we will study the influence of information flow on decision-making in real insect societies using:
1) Experiments aimed at investig ....Decision-making in social insects and nature-inspired optimisation algorithms. Insect societies are ideal for the study of complex systems. Contrary to other complex systems, insect colonies can be modified without destroying the system. Computer scientists have found a source of inspiration in the behaviour of social insects for solving optimisation problems. Here we will study the influence of information flow on decision-making in real insect societies using:
1) Experiments aimed at investigating how storage and transfer of information affects individual decision-making within a honey bee colony (University of Sydney)
2) Design of a new class of 'bee' algorithms that incorporate direct information transfer and are aimed at solving dynamic multicriterion optimisation problems (University of Leipzig).
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To be cooperative or selfish: individual decisions in a model society. Understanding the basis of cooperative behaviour is a major challenge to biological and social science. Our ability to deal with problems such as global warming and the rapid loss of biodiversity, will depend upon an unprecedented level of cooperation between individuals and countries. Our work will use an animal model that shares a number of key characteristics with the societies of our early human ancestors to explore, thro ....To be cooperative or selfish: individual decisions in a model society. Understanding the basis of cooperative behaviour is a major challenge to biological and social science. Our ability to deal with problems such as global warming and the rapid loss of biodiversity, will depend upon an unprecedented level of cooperation between individuals and countries. Our work will use an animal model that shares a number of key characteristics with the societies of our early human ancestors to explore, through experiments and detailed molecular analysis, the basis of cooperative interactions between individuals. This work will uncover the key principles that drive the evolution of cooperation in society and will help us to understand the basis of one the most important components of human nature.Read moreRead less
Form, Function and Fitness: Multidisciplinary Evolutionary Biology Using Lizards as Models. What explains variation in reproductive success and its evolutionary consequences, within and among populations and species? Addressing this fundamental question in evolutionary biology requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating ecology, genetics, behaviour and biochemistry. Using lizards as models, I will test (i) the degree to which variation in male signals reflects differences in immunogenotyp ....Form, Function and Fitness: Multidisciplinary Evolutionary Biology Using Lizards as Models. What explains variation in reproductive success and its evolutionary consequences, within and among populations and species? Addressing this fundamental question in evolutionary biology requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating ecology, genetics, behaviour and biochemistry. Using lizards as models, I will test (i) the degree to which variation in male signals reflects differences in immunogenotype and stress tolerance, (ii) the degree to which paternity is determined by male genes, or male-female genetic similarity, (iii) whether offspring survival depends mostly on genes or on maternal investments, and (iv) how the relative importance of these factors vary among populations and species.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883055
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,000.00
Summary
Video analysis suite for the integrative analysis of resource acquisition behaviour in animals. How do animals find food, choose places to live and select mates? How do insect swarms and fish schools make collective decisions without leaders? These are fundamental questions in understanding the ecological roles and environmental impacts of endangered native and damaging invasive animals. The video analysis suite will be used to analyse the behaviour of such animals in environments from the land ....Video analysis suite for the integrative analysis of resource acquisition behaviour in animals. How do animals find food, choose places to live and select mates? How do insect swarms and fish schools make collective decisions without leaders? These are fundamental questions in understanding the ecological roles and environmental impacts of endangered native and damaging invasive animals. The video analysis suite will be used to analyse the behaviour of such animals in environments from the land to the deep-sea floor; track exceptionally fast movements during courtship and predator escape; study how animals achieve temperature balance in complex habitats; understand the dietary choices of herbivores, and discover the rules that govern the behaviour of swarms. Read moreRead less
Vibro-acoustic communication in termites. Termites can affect any Australian: one third of all Australian homes are likely to be infested by termites during their lifespan, costing a damage bill of A$780 million annually. Despite this level of damage, our understanding of the underlying foraging behaviour of termites is poor. Termites, being blind, cannot use visual cues and chemical cues are insufficient to explain observed phenomena. Our preliminary work has identified vibro-acoustic signal ....Vibro-acoustic communication in termites. Termites can affect any Australian: one third of all Australian homes are likely to be infested by termites during their lifespan, costing a damage bill of A$780 million annually. Despite this level of damage, our understanding of the underlying foraging behaviour of termites is poor. Termites, being blind, cannot use visual cues and chemical cues are insufficient to explain observed phenomena. Our preliminary work has identified vibro-acoustic signals used for information gathering and communication in foraging. The project aims to study vibro-acoustic mechanisms for communication in termite foraging behaviour. Anticipated outcomes include a significant impact on termite control.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354888
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
Australian Research Council Research Network for Parasitology. Parasites are a major cause of death and suffering in humans and animals throughout the world. The ARC Research Network for Parasitology aims to bring together Australia's finest researchers and establish a world class environment and web of facilities that attracts and retains the most talented young investigators and places Australia in a strong position to deal with current and future parasitological threats. The Network will focu ....Australian Research Council Research Network for Parasitology. Parasites are a major cause of death and suffering in humans and animals throughout the world. The ARC Research Network for Parasitology aims to bring together Australia's finest researchers and establish a world class environment and web of facilities that attracts and retains the most talented young investigators and places Australia in a strong position to deal with current and future parasitological threats. The Network will focus and enhance Australia's fundamental, strategic and applied parasitology research capabilities to :
(1) develop new approaches to vaccination;
(2) identify novel drug targets; and
(3) ensure the sustainability of wildlife and ecosystem health.
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Solving Darwin's dilemma: Molecular analysis of worker sterility in social insects. One of Darwin's greatest puzzles was how natural selection resulted in worker sterility in social insects. We now know from mathematical modelling that a gene that causes sterility in workers can be at a selective advantage if it increases the reproductive success of queens. This project will take the only known gene that causes sterility, 'Anarchy' from honey bees, and determine how this gene evolved. We will de ....Solving Darwin's dilemma: Molecular analysis of worker sterility in social insects. One of Darwin's greatest puzzles was how natural selection resulted in worker sterility in social insects. We now know from mathematical modelling that a gene that causes sterility in workers can be at a selective advantage if it increases the reproductive success of queens. This project will take the only known gene that causes sterility, 'Anarchy' from honey bees, and determine how this gene evolved. We will determine if Anarchy is the same gene that causes sterility in all social insects, or only in honey bees. The project will be at the forefront of international research by providing a molecular perspective to Darwin's greatest dilemma.
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Domestication of blue-banded bees for greenhouse pollination. The tomato industry is currently shifting towards production in greenhouses, which allows climate control and improved pest management. A lack of pollinators is an obstacle to this move. This project will establish protocols for large-scale use of native blue-banded bees as pollinators in greenhouses, especially for tomatoes. Pollination by native bees increases fruit weight by 15%, comparable to the effects of bumblebees used overs ....Domestication of blue-banded bees for greenhouse pollination. The tomato industry is currently shifting towards production in greenhouses, which allows climate control and improved pest management. A lack of pollinators is an obstacle to this move. This project will establish protocols for large-scale use of native blue-banded bees as pollinators in greenhouses, especially for tomatoes. Pollination by native bees increases fruit weight by 15%, comparable to the effects of bumblebees used overseas. Significant economic, environmental and health benefits are expected from this project. The outcome will satisfy an industry need and remove an environmental threat by finding indigenous substitutes for alien bumblebees.Read moreRead less
Listen and see: Remote sensing and imaging of insect pests. Australia is the third largest market for termite control, after the USA and Japan. It has been estimated by CSIRO that about one in three Australian houses will be attacked by termites at some stage. Currently, an Australian designed, patented and manufactured product is the only reliable termite detector. This research, developing a novel sensor array and imaging technology, will further consolidate Australia's world leading position ....Listen and see: Remote sensing and imaging of insect pests. Australia is the third largest market for termite control, after the USA and Japan. It has been estimated by CSIRO that about one in three Australian houses will be attacked by termites at some stage. Currently, an Australian designed, patented and manufactured product is the only reliable termite detector. This research, developing a novel sensor array and imaging technology, will further consolidate Australia's world leading position in termite detection technology, revolutionise how termite behavioural research will be conducted and significantly increase the world-wide capability in termite control and hence reduce the costs of termite damage. It will deliver significant economic and environmental benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less