The evolution of energy metabolism in ectotherms. Metabolic rate is the rate at which organisms take up, transform, and expend energy and materials. The primary outcome of this initiative is a comprehensive understanding of the effect of climate on the metabolic rate of ectothermic vertebrates, including goannas, fish and toads. Our research will encompass aquatic and terrestrial environments; temperate and tropical habitats; and include both iconic native species and alien invasive ones. We se ....The evolution of energy metabolism in ectotherms. Metabolic rate is the rate at which organisms take up, transform, and expend energy and materials. The primary outcome of this initiative is a comprehensive understanding of the effect of climate on the metabolic rate of ectothermic vertebrates, including goannas, fish and toads. Our research will encompass aquatic and terrestrial environments; temperate and tropical habitats; and include both iconic native species and alien invasive ones. We seek to understand not only how and why species in these environments vary in their metabolic rate, but also the consequences of this variation. Such knowledge will be important in understanding how climate change does and will affect animals and in predicting its consequences.Read moreRead less
The evolution of periodic ventilation in insects. The primary outcome of this research initiative is a new approach to the understanding of the evolution of periodic ventilation in insects. It involves researchers from four Australian universities, and will showcase the strength of Australian research and the diversity of the Australian insect fauna, and demonstrate the utility of the Australian environment as a model system for the study of fundamental biological problems. The research deals wi ....The evolution of periodic ventilation in insects. The primary outcome of this research initiative is a new approach to the understanding of the evolution of periodic ventilation in insects. It involves researchers from four Australian universities, and will showcase the strength of Australian research and the diversity of the Australian insect fauna, and demonstrate the utility of the Australian environment as a model system for the study of fundamental biological problems. The research deals with the influence of microclimate on the physiology of insects. This will lead to an appreciation of the ability of these species to respond to climate change.Read moreRead less
The evolution of dim light vision in vertebrates. High sensitivity (rod-based) vision has been extremely important for the survival and adaptive radiation of many vertebrates, including humans over evolutionary time. This multidisciplinary project will reveal the evolutionary and physiological constraints on early photoreception and the difficulties in operating over an enormous range of lighting conditions. Not only will the findings be crucial for our understanding of basic mechanisms of dim l ....The evolution of dim light vision in vertebrates. High sensitivity (rod-based) vision has been extremely important for the survival and adaptive radiation of many vertebrates, including humans over evolutionary time. This multidisciplinary project will reveal the evolutionary and physiological constraints on early photoreception and the difficulties in operating over an enormous range of lighting conditions. Not only will the findings be crucial for our understanding of basic mechanisms of dim light vision, but also provide potential insights into the physiological bases of various rod dystrophies affecting humans and the improved design of more sensitive cameras and safe light environments for rearing animals in captivity e.g. for aquaculture.Read moreRead less
Testing the adaptive benefit of physiological acclimation. For over a century, physiologists have observed that organisms can modify their physiological function in response to changes in the environment, a process known as acclimation. However, until recently, the adaptive benefit of these acclimation responses has been assumed rather than tested. In this study, I will utilize the effects of temperature on the ability of male mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki) to obtain matings and subsequently ....Testing the adaptive benefit of physiological acclimation. For over a century, physiologists have observed that organisms can modify their physiological function in response to changes in the environment, a process known as acclimation. However, until recently, the adaptive benefit of these acclimation responses has been assumed rather than tested. In this study, I will utilize the effects of temperature on the ability of male mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki) to obtain matings and subsequently sire offspring to test the benefit of both thermal acclimation and developmental plasticity. This will allow the most comprehensive test of two important hypotheses in comparative physiology: the Beneficial Acclimation Hypothesis and the Beneficial Developmental Plasticity Hypothesis.Read moreRead less
The evolution of colour vision in vertebrates. Colour vision plays a crucial role in the lives of many animals including vertebrates. However, very little is known about the origins of colour vision and we aim to fill this gap. Photoreceptors (cone cells) with sensitivities to different colours mediate colour vision (humans possess blue, green and red cones). This study will examine the structure, physiological responses and molecular biology of these cells in the closest living relatives of the ....The evolution of colour vision in vertebrates. Colour vision plays a crucial role in the lives of many animals including vertebrates. However, very little is known about the origins of colour vision and we aim to fill this gap. Photoreceptors (cone cells) with sensitivities to different colours mediate colour vision (humans possess blue, green and red cones). This study will examine the structure, physiological responses and molecular biology of these cells in the closest living relatives of the early vertebrates. The underlying mechanisms for spectral tuning, the genetic rate of evolutionary change and the importance of colour in visual ecology will also be examined.Read moreRead less
Seeing without eyes: the evolution of non-visual photoreceptors in vertebrates. Australia's underwater biodiversity is second to none with endemic species representing the earliest stages in vertebrate evolution, many of them relying heavily on vision for survival. Tracing the evolution of light detection and image formation will provide crucial information about the lifestyles of our vertebrate ancestors, the environmental selection pressures driving speciation and colour communication. Charact ....Seeing without eyes: the evolution of non-visual photoreceptors in vertebrates. Australia's underwater biodiversity is second to none with endemic species representing the earliest stages in vertebrate evolution, many of them relying heavily on vision for survival. Tracing the evolution of light detection and image formation will provide crucial information about the lifestyles of our vertebrate ancestors, the environmental selection pressures driving speciation and colour communication. Characterisation of optimal light environments and extra-ocular light detection will also help protect and manage endemic species in wild and captive environments. Read moreRead less