Ecological dynamics of parasite infections in reptiles. Australian ecosystems are threatened by new epidemics of diseases and parasites, some local, others from overseas. Examples include the facial tumours of Tasmanian devils and the fungus that threatens many native frog species. To manage these epidemics effectively, we must understand how they spread through animal populations. With better knowledge of how diseases of wildlife spread, we can develop more effective control of those diseases t ....Ecological dynamics of parasite infections in reptiles. Australian ecosystems are threatened by new epidemics of diseases and parasites, some local, others from overseas. Examples include the facial tumours of Tasmanian devils and the fungus that threatens many native frog species. To manage these epidemics effectively, we must understand how they spread through animal populations. With better knowledge of how diseases of wildlife spread, we can develop more effective control of those diseases thereby protecting wildlife species, animal populations and, ultimately, Australian ecology. This project will help to protect our fauna from invasive diseases and contribute to sustaining the biodiversity of the country. Read moreRead less
An ecophysiological analysis of key factors determining jarrah forest productivity on rehabilitated bauxite minesites. Following bauxite mining, soils are prepared for rehabilitation. After sowing or planting of the original species, a vegetation is established. Despite a successful first phase of rehabilitation, there is large variation between stands 5 to 10 years later. The aim of this project is to analyse the causes of this variation, especially variation in performance of jarrah (Eucalypt ....An ecophysiological analysis of key factors determining jarrah forest productivity on rehabilitated bauxite minesites. Following bauxite mining, soils are prepared for rehabilitation. After sowing or planting of the original species, a vegetation is established. Despite a successful first phase of rehabilitation, there is large variation between stands 5 to 10 years later. The aim of this project is to analyse the causes of this variation, especially variation in performance of jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) between sites. Nutrient and water status of trees will be assessed, in a search for correlations with plant performance. Effects of fertilisation and irrigation on plant peformance will be investigated. The remarkably high phosphate-use efficiency of jarrah will also be analysed.Read moreRead less
Facultative sex-determination in a montane lizard. Why is the sex of some reptiles determined by their genetic constitution (sometimes involving heteromorphic sex chromosomes) whereas in other species the animal's sex is determined by the environment (especially, incubation temperature)? Multiple phylogenetic transitions between genetic sex determination (GSD) and environmental sex determination (ESD) suggest that these alternative modes of sex determination possess adaptive significance. Howe ....Facultative sex-determination in a montane lizard. Why is the sex of some reptiles determined by their genetic constitution (sometimes involving heteromorphic sex chromosomes) whereas in other species the animal's sex is determined by the environment (especially, incubation temperature)? Multiple phylogenetic transitions between genetic sex determination (GSD) and environmental sex determination (ESD) suggest that these alternative modes of sex determination possess adaptive significance. However, the selective forces favouring one versus the other remain obscure, despite sustained research in this field by many workers. The recent discovery of BOTH sex-determining systems simultaneously within a single population of alpine lizards provides a unique opportunity to test among competing hypotheses for the evolution of sex-determining systems. I propose an integrated study, in both the field and the laboratory, to clarify the mechanisms and the selective forces involved in the evolution of sex-determination.Read moreRead less
Evolutionary ecology of snakes and lizards. Although reptiles provide excellent "model systems" with which to examine evolutionary and ecological processes, most research in this field has been dominated by studies on other kinds of organisms. I propose a broad-ranging series of studies that will use a diverse array of lizard and snake species to erect and test novel hypotheses on the evolution of phenomena such as mating systems, sexual dimorphism, foraging biology, and reproductive investment ....Evolutionary ecology of snakes and lizards. Although reptiles provide excellent "model systems" with which to examine evolutionary and ecological processes, most research in this field has been dominated by studies on other kinds of organisms. I propose a broad-ranging series of studies that will use a diverse array of lizard and snake species to erect and test novel hypotheses on the evolution of phenomena such as mating systems, sexual dimorphism, foraging biology, and reproductive investment. My experimental studies will clarify the evolutionary role of phenotypic plasticity (that is, direct environmental effects) as well as genetic factors.Read moreRead less
Ecology and phylogeography of bird migration between Australia and New Guinea: paradise kingfishers as a model species. This project examines the evolutionary causes and ecological consequences of intra-tropical bird migration between north Australia and New Guinea, one of the major migration systems of the southern hemisphere. I will use the buff-breasted paradise kingfisher as a model species, exploiting two features of its biology (an aerodynamically costly tail and a breeding distribution wi ....Ecology and phylogeography of bird migration between Australia and New Guinea: paradise kingfishers as a model species. This project examines the evolutionary causes and ecological consequences of intra-tropical bird migration between north Australia and New Guinea, one of the major migration systems of the southern hemisphere. I will use the buff-breasted paradise kingfisher as a model species, exploiting two features of its biology (an aerodynamically costly tail and a breeding distribution with a large latitudinal range) to shed light on the costs, benefits, and ecological correlates of intra-tropical migration. Molecular markers will be used to identify non-breeding distributions, migratory patterns, and the biogeographic histories of the different breeding populations within Australia.Read moreRead less
Boom and bust: the role of fire and rain in driving the dynamics of seeds and rodents in arid Australia. The arid Australian environment oscillates between spectacular boom periods, when biotic productivity and diversity are high, and busts, when biotic resources are depleted. This project first outlines a conceptual model of this dynamic and complex system. It then investigates the roles of rainfall and fire in driving boom-bust events, focusing particularly on food resources (seeds) and their ....Boom and bust: the role of fire and rain in driving the dynamics of seeds and rodents in arid Australia. The arid Australian environment oscillates between spectacular boom periods, when biotic productivity and diversity are high, and busts, when biotic resources are depleted. This project first outlines a conceptual model of this dynamic and complex system. It then investigates the roles of rainfall and fire in driving boom-bust events, focusing particularly on food resources (seeds) and their consumers (desert rodents) in the hyper-variable Simpson Desert. We propose observations and experiments to quantify how these climatic events affect seed production, seed fate, and ultimately the dynamics of desert rodents, and outline their importance for effective management of the desert environment.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
Influence of energy intake on reproduction. Understanding reproduction is fundamentally important to ecology and conservation. Despite intensive research, the processes that regulate energy acquisition and allocation for reproduction are still unclear for most animal species. Many of the obstacles to progress in this field of research are logistical, reflecting the complexity and temporal overlap of significant components of energy allocation pathways. Our proposed study avoids many of these l ....Influence of energy intake on reproduction. Understanding reproduction is fundamentally important to ecology and conservation. Despite intensive research, the processes that regulate energy acquisition and allocation for reproduction are still unclear for most animal species. Many of the obstacles to progress in this field of research are logistical, reflecting the complexity and temporal overlap of significant components of energy allocation pathways. Our proposed study avoids many of these logistical difficulties by focusing on animals (snakes) that display clear temporal partitioning between successive segments of the reproductive cascade (i.e., vitellogenesis, ovulation, embryogenesis); and by adopting a simple but novel method (based on stable isotope analysis) to tease apart the relationship between energy acquisition and energy expenditure in different phases of the animal's life-history.Read moreRead less
Heterarchical modelling of nutritional ecology: from individuals to communities. The project will combine advances in nutritional theory, agent-based modelling and landscape ecology to produce a modelling framework with which to understand the interrelationships between the physiology and behaviour of individual organisms and the populations, communities and ecosystems in which they reside. The resulting computational model will provide a major new initiative in quantitative ecology and allow sp ....Heterarchical modelling of nutritional ecology: from individuals to communities. The project will combine advances in nutritional theory, agent-based modelling and landscape ecology to produce a modelling framework with which to understand the interrelationships between the physiology and behaviour of individual organisms and the populations, communities and ecosystems in which they reside. The resulting computational model will provide a major new initiative in quantitative ecology and allow specific practical problems to be addressed in relation to agricultural pests, invasive species, conservation biology and animal production systems.Read moreRead less
Population response to climate change in a host-parasite system. A computer model will be developed to predict the impact of climate change on geographic ranges and population densities of the sleepy lizard, the world's only lizard to be recorded to show long-term monogamy, and its associated parasitic ticks. A blood parasite, carried by the tick, and potentially harmful to the lizards, will also be included in the investigation. The study forms the next step in a 21 year research project by Fli ....Population response to climate change in a host-parasite system. A computer model will be developed to predict the impact of climate change on geographic ranges and population densities of the sleepy lizard, the world's only lizard to be recorded to show long-term monogamy, and its associated parasitic ticks. A blood parasite, carried by the tick, and potentially harmful to the lizards, will also be included in the investigation. The study forms the next step in a 21 year research project by Flinders university biologists. It will inform wildlife management about disease control and provide deeper understanding of the response of Australian fauna to climate change.Read moreRead less