What's bred in bone: effects of thyroid hormone supplementation on bone growth and remodelling in ectotherms and endotherms. Influence of resting metabolic rate (RMR) and exercise activity on bone microstructure is investigated in a variety of amniote taxa. By varying the dose of supplemental triiodothyronine (T3), ectotherms are made hyperthyroid with elevated RMR, and endotherms - hypothyroid with depressed RMR. Effects of T3 are compared against those of mechanical loading, in form of increa ....What's bred in bone: effects of thyroid hormone supplementation on bone growth and remodelling in ectotherms and endotherms. Influence of resting metabolic rate (RMR) and exercise activity on bone microstructure is investigated in a variety of amniote taxa. By varying the dose of supplemental triiodothyronine (T3), ectotherms are made hyperthyroid with elevated RMR, and endotherms - hypothyroid with depressed RMR. Effects of T3 are compared against those of mechanical loading, in form of increased daily treadmill exercise. Rates of bone growth and secondary remodelling are determined by histological analysis, and correlated with T3 and bone strain levels. The study tests the hypothesis that evolution of endothermy can be inferred from bone microstructure of fossil bones.Read moreRead less
Insights into macroevolution using a model adaptive radiation of lizards (Lerista). Australia has arguably the greatest diversity of lizards in the world. This research will investigate how this diversity arose, using Lerista, a radiation of skinks with over 80 species spanning fully limbed to totally legless forms. We will investigate how development, geographic distribution and morphological features have influenced the evolutionary diversification of Lerista. We will also map the biodivers ....Insights into macroevolution using a model adaptive radiation of lizards (Lerista). Australia has arguably the greatest diversity of lizards in the world. This research will investigate how this diversity arose, using Lerista, a radiation of skinks with over 80 species spanning fully limbed to totally legless forms. We will investigate how development, geographic distribution and morphological features have influenced the evolutionary diversification of Lerista. We will also map the biodiversity of Lerista across Australia using (and thus testing) several alternative methods of quantifying biodiversity. Such knowledge is important as many hotspots of Lerista diversity are coming under increasing human pressure (e.g. mid-coast of WA), and many species have very localised ranges.Read moreRead less