Evolving with sexually transmitted infections. This project aims to understand how sexually transmitted infections (STIs) affect the evolution of host mating systems. STIs threaten the health of most sexually-reproducing organisms. In evolutionary terms, their mode of transmission imposes distinct selection patterns on hosts. This project will use an Australian beetle and its sexually transmitted mite to investigate how STIs lead to evolutionary changes in host mating behaviour and explore the g ....Evolving with sexually transmitted infections. This project aims to understand how sexually transmitted infections (STIs) affect the evolution of host mating systems. STIs threaten the health of most sexually-reproducing organisms. In evolutionary terms, their mode of transmission imposes distinct selection patterns on hosts. This project will use an Australian beetle and its sexually transmitted mite to investigate how STIs lead to evolutionary changes in host mating behaviour and explore the genetic basis for STI resistance. This project is expected to affect the evolution of host mating biology and lead to sex-specific optimal levels of disease resistance, which can influence disease dynamics and host-disease coevolution.Read moreRead less
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.