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
Biogeography of avian mating systems: polyandry, reverse-plumage dimorphism, and sexual selection in Cape York and New Guinea eclectus parrots. Current sexual selection theory explains how one sex can be strongly sexually selected through competition or mate choice, or how sexual selection can push both sexes in the same direction through mutual mate choice. However, the strong and independent sexual selection in both sexes of eclectus parrot is unique amongst birds, and poses a major challenge ....Biogeography of avian mating systems: polyandry, reverse-plumage dimorphism, and sexual selection in Cape York and New Guinea eclectus parrots. Current sexual selection theory explains how one sex can be strongly sexually selected through competition or mate choice, or how sexual selection can push both sexes in the same direction through mutual mate choice. However, the strong and independent sexual selection in both sexes of eclectus parrot is unique amongst birds, and poses a major challenge to existing theory. Here I propose novel field experiments and biogeographical comparisons of populations in Cape York and New Guinea that, when combined with molecular techniques and spectro-radiometry, will identify the elements of competition and mate choice responsible for their extraordinary reverse plumage dimorphism.Read moreRead less
Sperm Competition and Sexual Selection. Competition between the sperm of two males within a single female has had profound implications for the evolution of male reproductive biology and behaviour. However, the reasons why females should mate with more than one male and thus generate sperm competition remains an evolutionary puzzle. Few studies have examined sperm competition from the female perspective and indeed, female perspectives are currently the subject of considerable debate. Using in ....Sperm Competition and Sexual Selection. Competition between the sperm of two males within a single female has had profound implications for the evolution of male reproductive biology and behaviour. However, the reasons why females should mate with more than one male and thus generate sperm competition remains an evolutionary puzzle. Few studies have examined sperm competition from the female perspective and indeed, female perspectives are currently the subject of considerable debate. Using insects as models I will examine the benefits of sperm competition for females and thereby the selective pressures that favour multiple mating. Moreover, I will determine whether sexual selection can act after copulation.Read moreRead less
Sexual signalling and parental care: A life-history perspective. I will use a fish, the Australian desert goby, to gain pivotal insights into male reproductive investment. Under-appreciated as potential study subjects, desert gobies are ideal because males must make important reproductive decisions regarding how much effort to spend on mate attraction and parental care but, importantly, they must do so within the constraints imposed by desert-living. The likely impact of my work in the field of ....Sexual signalling and parental care: A life-history perspective. I will use a fish, the Australian desert goby, to gain pivotal insights into male reproductive investment. Under-appreciated as potential study subjects, desert gobies are ideal because males must make important reproductive decisions regarding how much effort to spend on mate attraction and parental care but, importantly, they must do so within the constraints imposed by desert-living. The likely impact of my work in the field of behavioural ecology will improve Australia's research capacity and profile. By using an Australian study species, my research will also raise awareness and understanding of extraordinary fishes living in habitats vulnerable to human impact. Read moreRead less
Multi-modal signals: an experimental analysis. This project is built upon innovations that permit the first exploration of an important, but previously-inaccessible, problem. We will continue to develop techniques with wide applicability for the analysis of movement, and will make them available to other research groups. The proposed work addresses a hot topic that is generating international attention; it will hence make a distinctive Australian contribution to a rapidly expanding research area ....Multi-modal signals: an experimental analysis. This project is built upon innovations that permit the first exploration of an important, but previously-inaccessible, problem. We will continue to develop techniques with wide applicability for the analysis of movement, and will make them available to other research groups. The proposed work addresses a hot topic that is generating international attention; it will hence make a distinctive Australian contribution to a rapidly expanding research area. Results will be communicated through the WWW and science documentaries. Animal Behaviour is of great interest to the general public. This can be engaged to attract more young people to careers in science. We will continue to train postgraduates in a well-resourced and stimulating environment.Read moreRead less
Sperm competition and the evolution of ejaculates. This research will yield results that are at the cutting-edge in evolutionary biology, that will have a significant international impact, promoting the international profile of Australian science. The award will foster a world-class centre for research, and will train internationally competitive research scientists, adding to Australia's scientific capabilities. Through the development of IVF techniques in frogs, the research has the potential ....Sperm competition and the evolution of ejaculates. This research will yield results that are at the cutting-edge in evolutionary biology, that will have a significant international impact, promoting the international profile of Australian science. The award will foster a world-class centre for research, and will train internationally competitive research scientists, adding to Australia's scientific capabilities. Through the development of IVF techniques in frogs, the research has the potential to contribute to conservation outcomes for Australia's native frog fauna via captive breeding programs. The research groups connections with local infertility clinics has the potential to inform those studying human sperm in a time of growing concern over rising human infertility. Read moreRead less
Interspecific communication and the evolution of alarm calls in birds. There are probably more papers on vocal communication in some individual European and American species of birds than there are on all Australian species combined. Our work will contribute to redressing this imbalance by carrying out detailed studies on acoustic communication in a major group of Australian songbirds (scrubwrens, fairy-wrens, honeyeaters and allies), while at the same time addressing an unsolved general problem ....Interspecific communication and the evolution of alarm calls in birds. There are probably more papers on vocal communication in some individual European and American species of birds than there are on all Australian species combined. Our work will contribute to redressing this imbalance by carrying out detailed studies on acoustic communication in a major group of Australian songbirds (scrubwrens, fairy-wrens, honeyeaters and allies), while at the same time addressing an unsolved general problem in call design first identified 50 years ago in European songbirds. Specifically, we will test whether different prey species have repeatedly evolved 'hawk' alarm calls of similar structure, and whether such evolution could be due to benefits of having similar calls when communicating with other prey species. Read moreRead less
Communication and predation in scrubwrens: alarm calls and eavesdropping. Animal behaviour, including acoustic communication, is shaped by the risk of being killed by predators. Many animals give alarm calls, potentially warning others of danger, and all face the risk that calls intended for conspecifics might be overheard by predators. We will use observations and playback experiments on birds to test what information is conveyed in alarm calls, and measure the risk of predators eavesdropping o ....Communication and predation in scrubwrens: alarm calls and eavesdropping. Animal behaviour, including acoustic communication, is shaped by the risk of being killed by predators. Many animals give alarm calls, potentially warning others of danger, and all face the risk that calls intended for conspecifics might be overheard by predators. We will use observations and playback experiments on birds to test what information is conveyed in alarm calls, and measure the risk of predators eavesdropping on the calls of young birds. Such work has never before been carried out on wild birds, and will contribute to the understanding of non-human communication about the environment and the design of signals.Read moreRead less
The evolution of female mating frequency and its consequences. This project explores the evolutionary significance of female mating frequency for male and female reproductive biology. The research proposes to use innovative approaches to examine the evolution of ejaculate characteristics, will focus on the evolution of sperm form and function, and will examine the fitness benefits of promiscuity from the females' perspective. The research uses both vertebrates and invertebrates as model organi ....The evolution of female mating frequency and its consequences. This project explores the evolutionary significance of female mating frequency for male and female reproductive biology. The research proposes to use innovative approaches to examine the evolution of ejaculate characteristics, will focus on the evolution of sperm form and function, and will examine the fitness benefits of promiscuity from the females' perspective. The research uses both vertebrates and invertebrates as model organisms to test predictions and assumptions of theoretical models relevant to both internal and external modes of fertilization. The design of this project will allow cutting-edge, theoretically informed and experimentally grounded conclusions to be drawn regarding selection under sperm competition.Read moreRead less
What is the genetic relationship between attractiveness, fighting ability and fertilization success in field crickets? The persistence of extravagant male sexual features like horns and bright colours remains a puzzle. There are many theoretical explanations but empirical tests are still rare. This study, which uses selective breeding, will provide insight into the genetic basis of male sexual attractiveness and dominance. Although focused on an endemic field cricket the potential results have w ....What is the genetic relationship between attractiveness, fighting ability and fertilization success in field crickets? The persistence of extravagant male sexual features like horns and bright colours remains a puzzle. There are many theoretical explanations but empirical tests are still rare. This study, which uses selective breeding, will provide insight into the genetic basis of male sexual attractiveness and dominance. Although focused on an endemic field cricket the potential results have wider implications. They may be applicable to many animals of importance to the community, including livestock, domesticated animals, pests and native wildlife. All these animals are subject to selection pressure created by humans. This study will help us understand how selection on one trait (e.g. weight) may influence the evolution of another (e.g. lifespan).Read moreRead less