Increased phenotypic variation via evolutionarily novel stressors. This project aims to understand how evolutionarily novel stressors such as obesogenic diets induce phenotypic variation in organismal traits. Such increased phenotypic variation is traditionally thought to be genetic. However, growing evidence points to non-genetic mechanisms that are capable of transgenerational inheritance. The project will use complementary approaches to study how novel stressors generate phenotypic variation ....Increased phenotypic variation via evolutionarily novel stressors. This project aims to understand how evolutionarily novel stressors such as obesogenic diets induce phenotypic variation in organismal traits. Such increased phenotypic variation is traditionally thought to be genetic. However, growing evidence points to non-genetic mechanisms that are capable of transgenerational inheritance. The project will use complementary approaches to study how novel stressors generate phenotypic variation. The project aims to deliver a more integrated evolutionary perspective not only on phenotypic evolution and the maintenance of variation, but also on the transgenerational cost of obesity.Read moreRead less
The sparrows in the mining towns: a century of adaptation to contamination. Our research will characterise how contamination from the extraction of precious metals can spread through the environment and how it effects a highly urbanised bird – the house sparrow. In many cases, populations of these birds have been intimately associated with mining operations for over a century, and our recent work has provided evidence of adaptation over time. House sparrows provide a great natural system to unde ....The sparrows in the mining towns: a century of adaptation to contamination. Our research will characterise how contamination from the extraction of precious metals can spread through the environment and how it effects a highly urbanised bird – the house sparrow. In many cases, populations of these birds have been intimately associated with mining operations for over a century, and our recent work has provided evidence of adaptation over time. House sparrows provide a great natural system to understand the genetic potential of organisms to adapt to anthropomorphic change in the environment connected with the resources industry. Our work, will bring new insight into the future management of environmental contamination, and the mitigation of adverse effects arising from resource extraction.Read moreRead less
Body size in the 21st century: integrating evolution, economics and culture. This project will study how evolution and biology interact with culture and economics to shape two important aspects of our world and our lives: the unfolding global obesity crisis and the complex, nuanced judgments people make about body shape. This research will inform the public health issues of obesity and body image problems.
Towards a balanced veiw of parental effects: gaps, biases and opportunities. This project aims to identify and address knowledge gaps in research on parental effects by employing different methodologies (bibliometrics, systematic mapping) and developing novel methods of meta-analysis. This project expects to generate a more holistic and complete view of parental effects on offspring traits than currently appreciated, by elucidating the role of fathers and offspring in addition to mothers. Expect ....Towards a balanced veiw of parental effects: gaps, biases and opportunities. This project aims to identify and address knowledge gaps in research on parental effects by employing different methodologies (bibliometrics, systematic mapping) and developing novel methods of meta-analysis. This project expects to generate a more holistic and complete view of parental effects on offspring traits than currently appreciated, by elucidating the role of fathers and offspring in addition to mothers. Expected outcomes of the project include advancing the field of parental effects and creating new and powerful meta-analytic methods, opening up new avenues for research synthesis. This should provide significant benefits by directing future research in related fields and inspiring new kinds of meta-analyses across disciplines.Read moreRead less
Lamarckian lizards: novel integration of telomere epigenetics, free radicals and innate antioxidants in condition-dependant sexual signal evolution. In 2009, the Nobel Prize in physiology was awarded Drs. Blackburn, Greider and Szostak for discoveries on telomeres. This project will investigate how telomeres not only cap chromosomes from destruction by free radicals, but also have a key role in life itself, in their influence on ageing, longevity, ornaments and lifetime reproductive success.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100202
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
Interplay between plasticity and senescence. This project aims at bridging two fundamental human stressors together in a quantitative genetic framework. The environment changes globally on a huge scale coupled with effect on the age-structures and genetic composition of countless populations by over-harvesting and exploitation. This project will provide significant benefits, such as potential strategies of dealing with future human-induced changes more effectively.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100214
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Re-evaluating evolution by examining developmental plasticity in response to the social environment. Our understanding of trait evolution is derived from our assumption that traits are a signal of male quality as they are costly to produce. The project will integrate this concept with a new theory stating that males shift their development to exploit the weaknesses of rivals; thereby leading to a more holistic understanding of evolution.
Environmentally Induced Non-genetic Effects on Ageing and Fitness over Multi-generations and the Evolution of Life-history Trade-offs. This project will study trade-offs among growth, lifespan and fecundity, and test the following three predictions by employing a short-lived fish model and cutting-edge statistical and computational modelling. First, different dietary conditions not only affect the fitness of the organism, but also that of subsequent generations. Second, different nutritional eff ....Environmentally Induced Non-genetic Effects on Ageing and Fitness over Multi-generations and the Evolution of Life-history Trade-offs. This project will study trade-offs among growth, lifespan and fecundity, and test the following three predictions by employing a short-lived fish model and cutting-edge statistical and computational modelling. First, different dietary conditions not only affect the fitness of the organism, but also that of subsequent generations. Second, different nutritional effects and transgenerational effects on fitness-related traits are underpinned by epigenetic (or non-genetic) modifications. Third, such epigenetic modifications and their inheritance influence the evolution of life-history trade-offs. This project will link the emerging field of epigenetics with evolutionary theory, and reveal mechanisms of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Read moreRead less
A life-course approach to the nutrition-lifespan-reproduction nexus. This project aims to address the “cost of reproduction”, where lifespan and fecundity are negatively correlated. Bringing together nutritional geometry and evolutionary theory, to the project will produce an over-arching theory of why animals have finite lifespans and limited reproductive capacity. Benefits include developing research strategies for managing the nexus between diet, reproduction and lifespan in animals and human ....A life-course approach to the nutrition-lifespan-reproduction nexus. This project aims to address the “cost of reproduction”, where lifespan and fecundity are negatively correlated. Bringing together nutritional geometry and evolutionary theory, to the project will produce an over-arching theory of why animals have finite lifespans and limited reproductive capacity. Benefits include developing research strategies for managing the nexus between diet, reproduction and lifespan in animals and humans, placing Australia at the forefront of a paradigm shift in understanding the relationship between diet, reproduction and lifespan.Read moreRead less
Combining evolutionary, physiological and molecular approaches to understand ageing and performance. How organisms grow, behave and perform is a result of environmentally triggered molecular, physiological and biochemical reactions. Little is known about how these different levels of organisation interact to create the infinite morphological and behavioural complexities seen in adults. This project aims to integrate the fields of developmental, physiological and evolutionary biology to elucidate ....Combining evolutionary, physiological and molecular approaches to understand ageing and performance. How organisms grow, behave and perform is a result of environmentally triggered molecular, physiological and biochemical reactions. Little is known about how these different levels of organisation interact to create the infinite morphological and behavioural complexities seen in adults. This project aims to integrate the fields of developmental, physiological and evolutionary biology to elucidate how the environment moderates cell and tissue development through gene expression. This will highlight how early developmental decisions affect lifetime energetic trade-offs and efficiency, and how underlying biology manifests into emergent phenomena such as performance, behaviour, ageing and lifespan.Read moreRead less