How does climate change affect arid zone birds? This project aims to address how climate affects avian behaviour and the consequences for survival and reproduction. The project will apply a suite of methods to explore fundamental questions within behavioural ecology that also have applied relevance. The data will be used for building individual-based models that predict population dynamics in response to climate change, and biophysical models that can provide insights into species sensitivities. ....How does climate change affect arid zone birds? This project aims to address how climate affects avian behaviour and the consequences for survival and reproduction. The project will apply a suite of methods to explore fundamental questions within behavioural ecology that also have applied relevance. The data will be used for building individual-based models that predict population dynamics in response to climate change, and biophysical models that can provide insights into species sensitivities. The intended outcome is to improve understanding of the mechanistic links between climate and population processes.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100174
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Family matters: kin selection and competition in cooperative breeders. In the absence of dispersal of one or both sexes kin competition and inbreeding are expected to increase. This project will study group living fairy-wrens, which vary in whether or not one sex disperses. The results will shed new light on how species overcome the negative aspects of this behaviour and inform us about the consequences for populations and habitat management.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101446
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The battle of the sexes heats up: climate change and the ecological and evolutionary fate of reptiles when sex is determined by temperature. In species where gender (male or female) is determined by temperature early in life, what will happen when climate changes? This project will examine the sex ratios, behaviour and evolutionary potential of a native Australian lizard in relation to climate, addressing a question of global significance and informing management of native species.
Cuckoo - host coevolution: a model system for investigating the impact of climate change on interspecific interactions and biodiversity. Climate change is causing alterations to the timing of breeding and migration in Australian birds, resulting in mismatches in timing between closely interacting species. This project will assess the impact of climate change on interactions between parasitic cuckoos, hosts and prey and formulate predictions about the long-term viability of these species.