Macroecology and phylogeny: the effects of evolutionary history on rarity and extinction risk in Australian vertebrates. We will combine ecological and phylogenetic analysis of Australian vertebrates to show how abundance and geographic range in living species has been shaped by the historical processes of speciation, transformations of range and abundance in relation to species age, and selective extinction. Our analysis will throw new light on the processes that have generated species diversit ....Macroecology and phylogeny: the effects of evolutionary history on rarity and extinction risk in Australian vertebrates. We will combine ecological and phylogenetic analysis of Australian vertebrates to show how abundance and geographic range in living species has been shaped by the historical processes of speciation, transformations of range and abundance in relation to species age, and selective extinction. Our analysis will throw new light on the processes that have generated species diversity in Australian vertebrates. We will also gain new understanding of the causes of rarity and vulnerability to extinction among living species, which will result in better identification and management of species at risk of extinction.Read moreRead less
Why aren't all species everywhere? The evolution of species' borders in tropical reef fishes. Virtually nothing is known about how geographic range limits evolve in the wild in the absence of barriers to dispersal and habitat discontinuities. This project will investigate the evolution of range limits of fishes on the Great Barrier Reef using combinations of mathematical modelling and field- and laboratory-based analyses of evolutionary patterns and processes. By advancing understanding of the ....Why aren't all species everywhere? The evolution of species' borders in tropical reef fishes. Virtually nothing is known about how geographic range limits evolve in the wild in the absence of barriers to dispersal and habitat discontinuities. This project will investigate the evolution of range limits of fishes on the Great Barrier Reef using combinations of mathematical modelling and field- and laboratory-based analyses of evolutionary patterns and processes. By advancing understanding of the fundamental causes of species' range limits, this research will provide new options for the management and conservation of this very valuable resource, and other complex biological systems, under increasing pressures of exploitation, habitat degradation and climate change.Read moreRead less
Evolution of Australia's globally unique hotspot of floral diversity. Australia has a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot, the southwest of Western Australia, but this unique eucalypt-dominated flora is threatened. This project will gain new insights into the evolutionary processes that generate and maintain such diversity, their vulnerability; and how the iconic eucalypts came to dominate the Australian landscape.
The role of ecological specialisation in insect-plant macroevolutionary processes: a molecular phylogenetic approach across three kingdoms. Flowering plants and phytophagous insects are major components of the world's biodiversity and their evolution has been closely linked. This project will increase our knowledge of insect-endosymbiont-plant interactions and enhance our understanding of the origin, generation and maintenance of much of the world's biodiversity. A broader understanding of how i ....The role of ecological specialisation in insect-plant macroevolutionary processes: a molecular phylogenetic approach across three kingdoms. Flowering plants and phytophagous insects are major components of the world's biodiversity and their evolution has been closely linked. This project will increase our knowledge of insect-endosymbiont-plant interactions and enhance our understanding of the origin, generation and maintenance of much of the world's biodiversity. A broader understanding of how insects, their symbionts and plants have co-evolved should improve our understanding of why and how some insects are able to become pests whereas others do not. Scale insects (the model system in this study) are important pests, both ecologically (Christmas Island interaction between coccids, rainforest plants and crazy ants) and economically (e.g. citrus mealybug).Read moreRead less
The evolution of dispersal on range edges. The rate at which an invasive species spreads, and the ability of a native species to adapt to environmental change, are both contingent on the dispersal ability of the species. Dispersal ability, however, evolves rapidly on the edge of a species' range. The rapid evolution of dispersal, therefore, determines the eventual range-limits of invasive species, as well as of native species responding to changing conditions. This research will provide tools ....The evolution of dispersal on range edges. The rate at which an invasive species spreads, and the ability of a native species to adapt to environmental change, are both contingent on the dispersal ability of the species. Dispersal ability, however, evolves rapidly on the edge of a species' range. The rapid evolution of dispersal, therefore, determines the eventual range-limits of invasive species, as well as of native species responding to changing conditions. This research will provide tools with which to predict the direction and rate of dispersal evolution on range-edges. The results of this work will, thus, massively facilitate management of invasive species and climate change.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101286
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,118.00
Summary
Conserving the evolutionary processes that generate coral reef biodiversity. Coral reefs have evolved to become the most biodiverse marine ecosystem we know. They now face an uncertain future due to escalating human impacts and this project aims to investigate how these disturbances change the evolutionary processes that generate and maintain life on the reef. Using an interdisciplinary approach, this project seeks to create new knowledge and demonstrate how evolutionary theory can be used to ad ....Conserving the evolutionary processes that generate coral reef biodiversity. Coral reefs have evolved to become the most biodiverse marine ecosystem we know. They now face an uncertain future due to escalating human impacts and this project aims to investigate how these disturbances change the evolutionary processes that generate and maintain life on the reef. Using an interdisciplinary approach, this project seeks to create new knowledge and demonstrate how evolutionary theory can be used to advance biodiversity conservation. Other expected outcomes include developing new techniques and an enhanced capacity to solve conservation problems through cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional collaborations. This should benefit the conservation of Australia’s coral reef biodiversity through improved management policies.Read moreRead less
The ecology of parasite transmission in fauna translocations. Parasitic diseases pose a threat to the conservation management of Australia's biodiversity. This project will improve our understanding of the impact and transmission of parasites in fauna translocations, contributing to the conservation management of Australian ecosystems by government and private agencies.