Social insect behaviour: the importance of individual-decision making and information transfer. Insect societies are complex systems. Understanding complex systems is often hampered by our inability to study the individual units that comprise the system without also disturbing the system. Insect societies are unique in that the individual insects can be studied within their natural setting. This project will study foraging behaviour of honey bees with respect to individual decision-making and in ....Social insect behaviour: the importance of individual-decision making and information transfer. Insect societies are complex systems. Understanding complex systems is often hampered by our inability to study the individual units that comprise the system without also disturbing the system. Insect societies are unique in that the individual insects can be studied within their natural setting. This project will study foraging behaviour of honey bees with respect to individual decision-making and information transfer. In doing so we will obtain insights in the working of other, less accessible, complex systems such as the mammalian brain or the Australian economy.Read moreRead less
Retracing the Early Evolution of Metazoa using Novel Methods and Strategies. Metazoa is one of the best-characterised groups of species in terms of its morphology, fossil record, development, and genetic make-up, but the phylogeny remains obscure because the fossil record is incomplete and because molecular phylogenetic methods have not yet been developed with the complexity of genomic data in mind. We will develop methods and strategies for the analysis of whole genomes, and use them in studies ....Retracing the Early Evolution of Metazoa using Novel Methods and Strategies. Metazoa is one of the best-characterised groups of species in terms of its morphology, fossil record, development, and genetic make-up, but the phylogeny remains obscure because the fossil record is incomplete and because molecular phylogenetic methods have not yet been developed with the complexity of genomic data in mind. We will develop methods and strategies for the analysis of whole genomes, and use them in studies of the mitochondrial genome. We will infer the animal phylogeny, and use it to chart the evolution of animal morphology and development, and the evolution of mitochondrial genetic codes, gene order, and nucleotide content.Read moreRead less
House hunting honey bees: speed-accuracy trade-offs in collective decision-making. This project will uncover the mechanisms that underlie the trade-off between speed and accuracy in collective decision-making. We will study two species of honey bee that differ in the relative importance of speed and accuracy when deciding on a new home. Natural selection has shaped the decision-making process differently in the two species, one favouring speed, the other accuracy. We will use the natural wisdom ....House hunting honey bees: speed-accuracy trade-offs in collective decision-making. This project will uncover the mechanisms that underlie the trade-off between speed and accuracy in collective decision-making. We will study two species of honey bee that differ in the relative importance of speed and accuracy when deciding on a new home. Natural selection has shaped the decision-making process differently in the two species, one favouring speed, the other accuracy. We will use the natural wisdom evolved by the bees to design new mathematical models of collective decision-making. These can be applied to create efficient decision-making tools that will be useful for any large organization.Read moreRead less
A new universal mechanism controlling body proportions in animals. This project aims to establish that a recently-discovered mechanism, the inhibitory cascade, determines the basic proportions of appendages and body segments in a diverse range of animal groups, particularly vertebrates and arthropods. The goals of the project are to reveal the molecular mechanisms in mice and insects, and build computer simulations to show how to manipulate the control of development by the inhibitory cascade. T ....A new universal mechanism controlling body proportions in animals. This project aims to establish that a recently-discovered mechanism, the inhibitory cascade, determines the basic proportions of appendages and body segments in a diverse range of animal groups, particularly vertebrates and arthropods. The goals of the project are to reveal the molecular mechanisms in mice and insects, and build computer simulations to show how to manipulate the control of development by the inhibitory cascade. The project should benefit bioengineering by establishing control mechanisms for the manipulation and regeneration of teeth and limbs.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL100100183
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,168,370.00
Summary
Biological adaptation under natural and anthropogenic conditions. This project covers all four national priority areas. Nature abounds with conflicts between what is good for the individual or a larger entity (a population, a society, or a species). Researching them will explain why populations adapt or fail to adapt to novel conditions (e.g., climate change) and predict when interventions are beneficial. Similar rules govern the spread of invasive species. Even health problems, e.g., new virule ....Biological adaptation under natural and anthropogenic conditions. This project covers all four national priority areas. Nature abounds with conflicts between what is good for the individual or a larger entity (a population, a society, or a species). Researching them will explain why populations adapt or fail to adapt to novel conditions (e.g., climate change) and predict when interventions are beneficial. Similar rules govern the spread of invasive species. Even health problems, e.g., new virulent strains of human, animal or plant diseases, require such evolutionary thinking. Cutting-edge mathematical tools also prepare Australians for an era in the near future where genomic data are so cheap to acquire that training in complex mathematical and logical analysis becomes a factor limiting scientific progress.Read moreRead less
How beetles harness near-infrared properties to enhance energy efficiency. This project aims to discover how animals use nanophotonic structures to manipulate near infra-red light for thermal control and visual information. Almost nothing is currently known about the mechanism, function and evolution of near-infrared properties in animals, despite their potential importance for maintaining body temperatures within the critical thermal limits for survival. The project uses multidisciplinary techn ....How beetles harness near-infrared properties to enhance energy efficiency. This project aims to discover how animals use nanophotonic structures to manipulate near infra-red light for thermal control and visual information. Almost nothing is currently known about the mechanism, function and evolution of near-infrared properties in animals, despite their potential importance for maintaining body temperatures within the critical thermal limits for survival. The project uses multidisciplinary techniques from optical physics, physiology and evolutionary biology to reveal near-infrared adaptations in socially and economically important Christmas beetles. The intended outcomes include a bio-informed blueprint for a new class of functional nanomaterials that enhance energy efficiency.Read moreRead less
Discovering nature's photonic devices to control light and heat. This project aims to discover how and why beetles and butterflies reflect near-infrared light. Reflection of near-infrared radiation may be critical to prevent overheating, yet its role in thermal protection remains largely unexplored. The project will integrate evolutionary biology, optical physics and biophysics to reveal the diversity, mechanism, function and evolution of near-infrared signatures. Expected outcomes include the d ....Discovering nature's photonic devices to control light and heat. This project aims to discover how and why beetles and butterflies reflect near-infrared light. Reflection of near-infrared radiation may be critical to prevent overheating, yet its role in thermal protection remains largely unexplored. The project will integrate evolutionary biology, optical physics and biophysics to reveal the diversity, mechanism, function and evolution of near-infrared signatures. Expected outcomes include the discovery of nature’s solutions to selection for both optical (camouflage, communication) and thermal functions. The project will have significant benefits such as creating opportunities to develop biomimetic and bioinspired materials to enhance energy efficiency, which will have significant economic and environmental benefits.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the role of heteroplasmy in mitochondrial adaptation. This project aims to unravel the evolutionary implications of heteroplasmy – a scenario in which multiple mitochondrial DNA genotypes exist in one individual. Recent studies indicate heteroplasmy is widespread, and can be caused by paternal transmission of mtDNA. But the effects of heteroplasmy on evolutionary processes remain unknown. Leveraging state-of-the-art methods, this project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas ....Unravelling the role of heteroplasmy in mitochondrial adaptation. This project aims to unravel the evolutionary implications of heteroplasmy – a scenario in which multiple mitochondrial DNA genotypes exist in one individual. Recent studies indicate heteroplasmy is widespread, and can be caused by paternal transmission of mtDNA. But the effects of heteroplasmy on evolutionary processes remain unknown. Leveraging state-of-the-art methods, this project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of evolutionary ecology and mitochondrial genetics. Expected outcomes include discoveries that advance understanding of fundamental biological processes, and student training. Expected benefits include strengthening of Australia’s research capacity, by setting the research agenda in this rapidly developing field.Read moreRead less
Evolutionary limits. This project aims to understand the processes that limit adaptation to rapid environmental change. Adaption to rapid environmental change determines population persistence. Species with restricted distributions may lack the genetic variation necessary to adapt to changing environments, although they represent the vast majority of biodiversity. Understanding why they lack the necessary genetic variation for adaptation is important for identifying and managing vulnerable biolo ....Evolutionary limits. This project aims to understand the processes that limit adaptation to rapid environmental change. Adaption to rapid environmental change determines population persistence. Species with restricted distributions may lack the genetic variation necessary to adapt to changing environments, although they represent the vast majority of biodiversity. Understanding why they lack the necessary genetic variation for adaptation is important for identifying and managing vulnerable biological systems. This project will empirically determine the contribution of mutations to key traits to better understand what limits evolutionary adaptation. Better prediction of extinction risk should inform conservation and biodiversity management.Read moreRead less
Evolutionary models and biodiscovery tools from neurotoxic snake venoms. This project aims to identify the selection pressures that shape snake venom neurotoxins and how they interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and to elucidate their biodiscovery potential. This project aims to test these important toxins on model systems that represent natural prey items in order to determine the molecular and functional evolution of neurotoxic peptides. Expected outcomes include substantial contri ....Evolutionary models and biodiscovery tools from neurotoxic snake venoms. This project aims to identify the selection pressures that shape snake venom neurotoxins and how they interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and to elucidate their biodiscovery potential. This project aims to test these important toxins on model systems that represent natural prey items in order to determine the molecular and functional evolution of neurotoxic peptides. Expected outcomes include substantial contributions to the body of evolutionary biology knowledge, while also having the applied benefit of discovering novel compounds with potential for use in drug design and discovery. These outcomes will benefit Australian science and society by elucidating fundamental processes while revealing biodisovery resources.Read moreRead less