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Exposing genetic quality: whole-organism performance and life-history trade-offs under genetic and phenotypic stress in the field cricket Teleogryllus commodus. This project will provide fundamental knowledge by answering several important evolutionary questions concerning the relationship between performance and reproductive fitness, and in doing so will pave the way for future integration between traditionally separate disciplines. If funded, the project will enhance Australia's reputation for ....Exposing genetic quality: whole-organism performance and life-history trade-offs under genetic and phenotypic stress in the field cricket Teleogryllus commodus. This project will provide fundamental knowledge by answering several important evolutionary questions concerning the relationship between performance and reproductive fitness, and in doing so will pave the way for future integration between traditionally separate disciplines. If funded, the project will enhance Australia's reputation for integrative evolutionary research, and will contribute to the training of young scientists in this and related areas. Finally, the proposed work will provide important information to conservationists and animal breeders on the potential effects of inbreeding, and on factors affecting the spread of invasive species.Read moreRead less
Form, Function and Fitness: Multidisciplinary Evolutionary Biology Using Lizards as Models. What explains variation in reproductive success and its evolutionary consequences, within and among populations and species? Addressing this fundamental question in evolutionary biology requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating ecology, genetics, behaviour and biochemistry. Using lizards as models, I will test (i) the degree to which variation in male signals reflects differences in immunogenotyp ....Form, Function and Fitness: Multidisciplinary Evolutionary Biology Using Lizards as Models. What explains variation in reproductive success and its evolutionary consequences, within and among populations and species? Addressing this fundamental question in evolutionary biology requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating ecology, genetics, behaviour and biochemistry. Using lizards as models, I will test (i) the degree to which variation in male signals reflects differences in immunogenotype and stress tolerance, (ii) the degree to which paternity is determined by male genes, or male-female genetic similarity, (iii) whether offspring survival depends mostly on genes or on maternal investments, and (iv) how the relative importance of these factors vary among populations and species.Read moreRead less
Species and gene turnover across environmental gradients - a landscape-level approach to quantify biodiversity and resilience for climate adaptation. Biodiversity corridor planning in Australia desperately needs to progress beyond the simple linking up of remnant vegetation, based on aerial maps and start incorporating ecosystem features which will promote climate adaptation. This project will develop a new genomics method to assess ecosystem resilience for use in national biodiversity corridor ....Species and gene turnover across environmental gradients - a landscape-level approach to quantify biodiversity and resilience for climate adaptation. Biodiversity corridor planning in Australia desperately needs to progress beyond the simple linking up of remnant vegetation, based on aerial maps and start incorporating ecosystem features which will promote climate adaptation. This project will develop a new genomics method to assess ecosystem resilience for use in national biodiversity corridor planning.Read moreRead less
The evolution of diverse interactions between Wolbachia bacteria and their invertebrate hosts: insights from a novel lineage infecting termite societies. Wolbachia intracellular bacteria are widespread in invertebrates, having evolved a remarkable range of host-interactions, from parasitic to mutualistic. I have discovered phylogenetically novel Wolbachia that infect the structural pests termites, and will investigate their host-effects and transmission dynamics. This will determine the generali ....The evolution of diverse interactions between Wolbachia bacteria and their invertebrate hosts: insights from a novel lineage infecting termite societies. Wolbachia intracellular bacteria are widespread in invertebrates, having evolved a remarkable range of host-interactions, from parasitic to mutualistic. I have discovered phylogenetically novel Wolbachia that infect the structural pests termites, and will investigate their host-effects and transmission dynamics. This will determine the generality of phenomena known from other Wolbachia, such as cytoplasmic incompatibility and horizontal transfer. The complexity of termite societies make them interesting candidates for studying how Wolbachia spread, and the results will be potentially valuable for future termite control strategies. The first comparative phylogenetic examination of diverse Wolbachia will be performed, providing new perspectives on their evolutionary history.Read moreRead less
Evolution in action or the demise of iconic Australian flora? The project aims to investigate the evolutionary history and conservation status of a group of closely related Grevillea species, in the light of increasing pressure from landscape modification. This project will incorporate leading methodologies for massively parallel sequencing, pollinator preference and breeding capacity in order to detect the patterns and processes underpinning divergence in widely distributed species. A phylogene ....Evolution in action or the demise of iconic Australian flora? The project aims to investigate the evolutionary history and conservation status of a group of closely related Grevillea species, in the light of increasing pressure from landscape modification. This project will incorporate leading methodologies for massively parallel sequencing, pollinator preference and breeding capacity in order to detect the patterns and processes underpinning divergence in widely distributed species. A phylogenetic framework will provide the evolutionary relationships among taxa. This project is expected to inform requirements for long-term species persistence and, for threatened species within the group, guide the decision making of biodiversity managers as to what actions are required and where best to invest limited funds.Read moreRead less
The role of genome reorganisation in adaptation and speciation. Local adaptation and speciation are fundamental evolutionary processes that rely on changes to the genome. However, the role of genome architecture (e.g. chromosomal rearrangements, gene duplications) in driving these processes is poorly understood. This project will use advanced comparative genomics and bioinformatics to examine the role of chromosome rearrangements in driving adaptation and speciation, and evaluate rates of molec ....The role of genome reorganisation in adaptation and speciation. Local adaptation and speciation are fundamental evolutionary processes that rely on changes to the genome. However, the role of genome architecture (e.g. chromosomal rearrangements, gene duplications) in driving these processes is poorly understood. This project will use advanced comparative genomics and bioinformatics to examine the role of chromosome rearrangements in driving adaptation and speciation, and evaluate rates of molecular evolution between the X-chromosome and autosomes. Utilising Australia’s endemic mammalian fauna as a tractable model system, I will link population processes with macro-evolutionary outcomes to show how genome architecture underpins biodiversity.Read moreRead less
How are weeds adapting to life in Australia? Quantifying the rate and direction of evolution in introduced species. Introduced plants are a major problem throughout Australia. Introduced species are listed as one of the most severe threats to biodiversity in Australia, and managing them costs Australia around $4 billion per annum. The information we gather in this project will tell us what sort of changes introduced plants undergo when they arrive in Australia; how quickly plants can adapt to a ....How are weeds adapting to life in Australia? Quantifying the rate and direction of evolution in introduced species. Introduced plants are a major problem throughout Australia. Introduced species are listed as one of the most severe threats to biodiversity in Australia, and managing them costs Australia around $4 billion per annum. The information we gather in this project will tell us what sort of changes introduced plants undergo when they arrive in Australia; how quickly plants can adapt to a new environment, and what sort of species are best able to adapt to new conditions. We will also ask whether introduced species are still adapting to Australian conditions. If so, then we might expect even more naturalised species to become problem weeds in the future. This sort of knowledge is fundamental to our ability to develop appropriate control programs.Read moreRead less
The evolution of multipartite mitochondrial genomes in the cyst-forming nematodes. The cyst-forming nematodes are a serious pest of agricultural crops throughout the world, attacking cereal, root and legume crops. Although sporadically recorded in Australia, they have not become established here. This project will characterize unique sequences from the noncoding portion of the mitochondrial genome of a range of cyst-forming nematodes, facilitating the development of molecular diagnostic screen ....The evolution of multipartite mitochondrial genomes in the cyst-forming nematodes. The cyst-forming nematodes are a serious pest of agricultural crops throughout the world, attacking cereal, root and legume crops. Although sporadically recorded in Australia, they have not become established here. This project will characterize unique sequences from the noncoding portion of the mitochondrial genome of a range of cyst-forming nematodes, facilitating the development of molecular diagnostic screening tools for these crop pests. This program will train a number of young scientists with skills in biotechnology, preparing them to join programs safeguarding our agricultural industries.Read moreRead less
Parental imprinting and epigenetic inheritance in honey bees. This project aims to uncover the mechanisms behind epigenetic inheritance in bees, providing deep insights into their biology, and develop an outstanding new system for studying epigenetics. There are compelling theoretical and empirical reasons to predict epigenetic inheritance in honey bees. Further, reciprocal crosses reveal strong paternal effects suggesting that males modify their sperm to increase the reproductive success of the ....Parental imprinting and epigenetic inheritance in honey bees. This project aims to uncover the mechanisms behind epigenetic inheritance in bees, providing deep insights into their biology, and develop an outstanding new system for studying epigenetics. There are compelling theoretical and empirical reasons to predict epigenetic inheritance in honey bees. Further, reciprocal crosses reveal strong paternal effects suggesting that males modify their sperm to increase the reproductive success of their female offspring. Modification of DNA by methylation and the transfer of small RNA molecules in eggs or semen are two candidate mechanisms by which queens and drones may manipulate gene expression in their offspring.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100466
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,647.00
Summary
Mito-nuclear coevolution as an engine of biodiversity. This project aims to advance understanding of the processes that drive speciation and generate biodiversity. It will use Australia’s native social bees to test whether genetic diversity in mitochondrial genomes drives biodiversity at the population level, combining molecular and field studies in this uniquely tractable natural system. The expected outcome is a significant advance in knowledge of how coevolution between the two genomes of euk ....Mito-nuclear coevolution as an engine of biodiversity. This project aims to advance understanding of the processes that drive speciation and generate biodiversity. It will use Australia’s native social bees to test whether genetic diversity in mitochondrial genomes drives biodiversity at the population level, combining molecular and field studies in this uniquely tractable natural system. The expected outcome is a significant advance in knowledge of how coevolution between the two genomes of eukaryotic cells - mitochondrial and nuclear - affect the observable diversity of the natural world. The project is also expected to benefit the management and conservation of Australian native bees, which are vital pollinators in our natural and agro-ecosystems. Read moreRead less