Life history constraints on sexual selection: an investigation using territoriality in butterflies. Contemporary studies into the evolution of male contest behaviour largely ignore the influence of life history. However, contest behaviour should be influenced by life history because the costs of fighting (injury or death) are extracted in a life history currency. Here I aim to measure reproductive value in a territorial butterfly, and to isolate the effects of this parameter, physiological condi ....Life history constraints on sexual selection: an investigation using territoriality in butterflies. Contemporary studies into the evolution of male contest behaviour largely ignore the influence of life history. However, contest behaviour should be influenced by life history because the costs of fighting (injury or death) are extracted in a life history currency. Here I aim to measure reproductive value in a territorial butterfly, and to isolate the effects of this parameter, physiological condition and fighting experience upon male aggression. I propose an innovative experimental approach to unraveling the effects of these covarying life history influences which promises exciting and highly original insights into the evolution of contest behaviour.Read moreRead less
The role of plant chemical defences in the population ecology of mammal herbivores. Plants defend themselves against herbivores by producing toxic compounds in their leaves. Many studies show that such compounds influence diet selection by mammal herbivores, but we understand much less about their effects on populations of such species. This project will investigate how concentrations of leaf toxins in eucalypts affect reproductive success, distribution and abundance of the marsupials that feed ....The role of plant chemical defences in the population ecology of mammal herbivores. Plants defend themselves against herbivores by producing toxic compounds in their leaves. Many studies show that such compounds influence diet selection by mammal herbivores, but we understand much less about their effects on populations of such species. This project will investigate how concentrations of leaf toxins in eucalypts affect reproductive success, distribution and abundance of the marsupials that feed on them. The knowledge gained by this study will be important in modelling populations of these marsupial species and predicting their responses to environmental change.Read moreRead less
Movement patterns and behavioural strategies of Estuarine Crocodiles: A long-term remote monitoring study using an underwater acoustic array. The on-going recovery of the estuarine crocodile population is creating a paradox for Australians. Although a salient species, an iconic animal, and a firm tourist attraction, estuarine crocodiles pose a significant risk to the public. Knowledge of where crocodiles go, what they do when they get there, and why they select particular habitats at certain tim ....Movement patterns and behavioural strategies of Estuarine Crocodiles: A long-term remote monitoring study using an underwater acoustic array. The on-going recovery of the estuarine crocodile population is creating a paradox for Australians. Although a salient species, an iconic animal, and a firm tourist attraction, estuarine crocodiles pose a significant risk to the public. Knowledge of where crocodiles go, what they do when they get there, and why they select particular habitats at certain times is critical for sustaining the Australian crocodile population, whilst ensuring public safety. This long term study will utilise the latest advancement in underwater acoustic technology to monitor the behavioural and physiological strategies used by estuarine crocodiles in occupying critical habitats, providing vital information for resource managers and policy makers. Read moreRead less
Habitat degradation on coral reefs. This project aims to determine how reef degradation modifies predator-prey dynamics in fish communities, and how parental effects may help species to cope with habitat change. Live corals are ecosystem engineers that support the world’s most biodiverse communities, but anthropogenic factors have led to unprecedented global declines in live coral. The transition from live to dead coral-dominated habitats is associated with a modified sensory landscape of fear f ....Habitat degradation on coral reefs. This project aims to determine how reef degradation modifies predator-prey dynamics in fish communities, and how parental effects may help species to cope with habitat change. Live corals are ecosystem engineers that support the world’s most biodiverse communities, but anthropogenic factors have led to unprecedented global declines in live coral. The transition from live to dead coral-dominated habitats is associated with a modified sensory landscape of fear for resident fishes, via chemical interference emanating from degraded coral. Inter-generational advantages would help management to regulate reef usage to promote resilience.Read moreRead less
Australian alpine seed ecology: Plant conservation and adaptation to climate change. The Australian alpine region is critically vulnerable to climate change. Many alpine plant species are already threatened. Our project facilitates effective management of Australian alpine flora, enabling us to preserve alpine biodiversity and improve ecosystem resilience to climate change. Seed banking provides conservation of nationally vulnerable and threatened flora, providing insurance against extinction. O ....Australian alpine seed ecology: Plant conservation and adaptation to climate change. The Australian alpine region is critically vulnerable to climate change. Many alpine plant species are already threatened. Our project facilitates effective management of Australian alpine flora, enabling us to preserve alpine biodiversity and improve ecosystem resilience to climate change. Seed banking provides conservation of nationally vulnerable and threatened flora, providing insurance against extinction. Our exemplary contribution to global seed conservation provides a national resource of alpine seeds for revegetation and research and interpretive resources at the Australian National Botanic Gardens facilitate public awareness of the ecological significance and fragility of Australian alpine ecology in response to climate change.Read moreRead less
Spatial scale of influence of riparian and catchment land use on stream ecosystem health. Human activities at the landscape scale comprise one of the greatest threats to the ecological integrity of river ecosystems. Government and community groups across Australia are making significant efforts in riparian protection and rehabilitation in an attempt to improve the health of degraded waterways but are hampered in their goal to maximise the environmental gains for every dollar or unit effort inve ....Spatial scale of influence of riparian and catchment land use on stream ecosystem health. Human activities at the landscape scale comprise one of the greatest threats to the ecological integrity of river ecosystems. Government and community groups across Australia are making significant efforts in riparian protection and rehabilitation in an attempt to improve the health of degraded waterways but are hampered in their goal to maximise the environmental gains for every dollar or unit effort invested. The proposed research on understanding the spatial scale of influence of land use and the aggregative effects on stream ecosystems will provide a robust framework to assess various options and optimise benefits from management actions. Read moreRead less
Chain formation in weaver ants: a new system for understanding the decision-making and problem-solving mechanisms of complex biological systems. Every day in Australia, groups of social insects solve problems with a skill beyond human capacity. Despite their tiny brains and simple behaviours, their daily activities mirror many of the same problems faced by human societies (regulating traffic flow, achieving 3-D construction tasks and modulating information transfer networks) and social insects s ....Chain formation in weaver ants: a new system for understanding the decision-making and problem-solving mechanisms of complex biological systems. Every day in Australia, groups of social insects solve problems with a skill beyond human capacity. Despite their tiny brains and simple behaviours, their daily activities mirror many of the same problems faced by human societies (regulating traffic flow, achieving 3-D construction tasks and modulating information transfer networks) and social insects studies have excellent track-records in providing innovative solutions. Studies of problem solving in weaver ants enhances knowledge of a significant Australian species, improves the national skill base through collaborations with overseas researchers leading this new field, and highlights Australia's role in solving internationally relevant questions, including problem-solving in complex systems.Read moreRead less
The function and maintenance of aggressive mimics: the cleaner fish - fangblenny system. Mimicry is an important biological phenomenon, which is studied extensively by scientists. However, only 5% of papers that were published on mimicry systems in the last five years were from Australian institutes, yet mimicry is ubiquitous in Australia. Therefore, this study will enhance the recognition of Australian research on the international stage in mimicry studies, animal communication systems and beha ....The function and maintenance of aggressive mimics: the cleaner fish - fangblenny system. Mimicry is an important biological phenomenon, which is studied extensively by scientists. However, only 5% of papers that were published on mimicry systems in the last five years were from Australian institutes, yet mimicry is ubiquitous in Australia. Therefore, this study will enhance the recognition of Australian research on the international stage in mimicry studies, animal communication systems and behavioural ecology. This work will aid communication of biology to the general public, as mimicry is a celebrated example of Darwinian adaptation and stories about coral reefs are interesting and intuitive. This study will also provide empirical data to support theoretical development of mimicry theory. Read moreRead less
Can Sexual Selection Generate Reproductive Isolation? Sexual selection has long been thought to be central to the process of speciation and numerous models have been proposed to explain its contribution. However, the ability of sexual selection to generate reproductive isolation has never been evaluated experimentally and there is limited direct evidence for its role in speciation in nature. Using Drosophila serrata, I intend to conduct a large scale experimental test of the role of sexual selec ....Can Sexual Selection Generate Reproductive Isolation? Sexual selection has long been thought to be central to the process of speciation and numerous models have been proposed to explain its contribution. However, the ability of sexual selection to generate reproductive isolation has never been evaluated experimentally and there is limited direct evidence for its role in speciation in nature. Using Drosophila serrata, I intend to conduct a large scale experimental test of the role of sexual selection in the origin of new species. I will manipulate mate choice by placing male pheromones under artificial selection and then tracking the evolution of reproductive isolation in the presence and absence of sexual selection.Read moreRead less
Transformations of catchment nutrients in southeast Queensland. Human activity in catchments throughout southeast Queensland has increased nutrient loads in receiving waters. However, until recently there has been a lack of accurate quantification of these loads, and little understanding of their role in stimulating algal blooms. This proposal will examine the links between catchment nutrient inputs to waterways, their transformations and effects on stimulating algal growth in freshwater systems ....Transformations of catchment nutrients in southeast Queensland. Human activity in catchments throughout southeast Queensland has increased nutrient loads in receiving waters. However, until recently there has been a lack of accurate quantification of these loads, and little understanding of their role in stimulating algal blooms. This proposal will examine the links between catchment nutrient inputs to waterways, their transformations and effects on stimulating algal growth in freshwater systems. The outcomes from this research will be information on how catchment nutrients are affecting water quality, thus providing a vehicle for targeting management strategies designed to reduce nutrient loads.Read moreRead less