Intra-genomic conflict and the evolution of sexually selected traits. The dynamics of sexual selection may prevent the simultaneous optimization of traits shared by the sexes, or of different traits within each sex. This proposal focuses on the consequences of these conflicts for phenotypic and genomic evolution. First, I will compare selection acting on a sexually dimorphic trait in males and females. Second, I will use artificial selection to create a novel sexually dimorphic trait, and track ....Intra-genomic conflict and the evolution of sexually selected traits. The dynamics of sexual selection may prevent the simultaneous optimization of traits shared by the sexes, or of different traits within each sex. This proposal focuses on the consequences of these conflicts for phenotypic and genomic evolution. First, I will compare selection acting on a sexually dimorphic trait in males and females. Second, I will use artificial selection to create a novel sexually dimorphic trait, and track the evolutionary response. Third, I will investigate the link between two important fitness traits: body size and ageing rate. This work will enhance important on-going research in the laboratory of Robert Brooks (UNSW).Read moreRead less
Sex, parthenogenesis and adaptation: a novel laboratory 'natural selection' experiment testing the adaptive significance of sexual and asexual reproduction. One of the greatest challenges for evolutionary biology is explaining the widespread occurrence of sexual reproduction. Many theoretical models show some inherent benefits of sex, however these models make assumptions that little or no empirical data exists for. Using a novel phenomenon found in the parasitoid wasp genus Trichogramma, I will ....Sex, parthenogenesis and adaptation: a novel laboratory 'natural selection' experiment testing the adaptive significance of sexual and asexual reproduction. One of the greatest challenges for evolutionary biology is explaining the widespread occurrence of sexual reproduction. Many theoretical models show some inherent benefits of sex, however these models make assumptions that little or no empirical data exists for. Using a novel phenomenon found in the parasitoid wasp genus Trichogramma, I will investigate the adaptive significance of sexual and asexual reproduction in a laboratory natural selection experiment and therefore directly test the theory for the evolution and maintenance of sex. This will be the first such test in a higher organism.Read moreRead less
The Maintenance of Genetic Variation by Antagonistic Sexual Selection. The principle outcomes of my proposed research are fundamental knowledge, training of young scientists and the improvement of Australia's research capacity and profile. My research will have a major impact on two major branches of evolutionary biology that are seldom integrated - sexual selection and quantitative genetics. My research will enable me to establish myself as an independent researcher. Moreover, my collaborations ....The Maintenance of Genetic Variation by Antagonistic Sexual Selection. The principle outcomes of my proposed research are fundamental knowledge, training of young scientists and the improvement of Australia's research capacity and profile. My research will have a major impact on two major branches of evolutionary biology that are seldom integrated - sexual selection and quantitative genetics. My research will enable me to establish myself as an independent researcher. Moreover, my collaborations with one of the leading research laboratories in the UK, will teach me several modern techniques that I can disseminate to Australian students participating on the proposed project.Read moreRead less
Putting sexual selection in a life-history context: What is meant by genetic quality? Theories of sexual signalling have been developed largely without reference to life-history theory and quantitative genetics. We will test recent theory that shows the costs of signals are best measured in units of future survival and reproduction. In a series of field and laboratory experiments on the cricket Teleogryllus commodus, we will test the idea that the "male genetic quality" referred to by good-genes ....Putting sexual selection in a life-history context: What is meant by genetic quality? Theories of sexual signalling have been developed largely without reference to life-history theory and quantitative genetics. We will test recent theory that shows the costs of signals are best measured in units of future survival and reproduction. In a series of field and laboratory experiments on the cricket Teleogryllus commodus, we will test the idea that the "male genetic quality" referred to by good-genes models of sexual selection is quality in the general ability to acquire resources, rather than in how resources are allocated among fitness components.Read moreRead less
Hybridization, polyploidy and the evolution of parthenogenesis in the Australian desert. This project considers the ecology and evolution of Australian animals that reproduce by parthenogenesis, i.e. without sex. These animals have long fascinated evolutionary biologists for the clues they provide about the role of sex in evolution. The Australian desert is a hot-spot for parthenogenesis, providing a unique opportunity to study the ecological and evolutionary forces favouring the loss of sex. Ou ....Hybridization, polyploidy and the evolution of parthenogenesis in the Australian desert. This project considers the ecology and evolution of Australian animals that reproduce by parthenogenesis, i.e. without sex. These animals have long fascinated evolutionary biologists for the clues they provide about the role of sex in evolution. The Australian desert is a hot-spot for parthenogenesis, providing a unique opportunity to study the ecological and evolutionary forces favouring the loss of sex. Our research will exploit Australian cases of parthenogenesis to understand how genetic changes associated with the transition to parthenogenesis affect ecological success. This will significantly extend our understanding of both the role of sex in evolution, and of the evolutionary history of the Australian arid zone.Read moreRead less
Evolutionary genetics of the immune system in social insects. Insects possess efficient innate immunity against pathogens, but social insects are suggested to be vulnerable due to their packed colonies of related individuals. We predict that pathogen pressure varies with life history and microhabitat details, and that this variation will be reflected in the molecular evolutionary rates of immune system genes. Sequence information will be obtained to test these predictions. The results should ....Evolutionary genetics of the immune system in social insects. Insects possess efficient innate immunity against pathogens, but social insects are suggested to be vulnerable due to their packed colonies of related individuals. We predict that pathogen pressure varies with life history and microhabitat details, and that this variation will be reflected in the molecular evolutionary rates of immune system genes. Sequence information will be obtained to test these predictions. The results should be of widespread interest as reflecting the importance of pathogens and life pattern, and increase our knowledge of insect immune systems, potentially enabling circumvention of pest defenses and better protection of beneficial species.Read moreRead less
The genetic basis of differentiation: Towards a predictive understanding of evolution in the wild. Given that Australia cannot escape the effects of, among others, climate change and habitat deterioration, the question of how this is going to impact Australia's unique flora and fauna is an important one. Since extinction is the final consequence of the inability to adapt with sufficient speed to changing environmental conditions, this raises the issue of how well we understand the processes unde ....The genetic basis of differentiation: Towards a predictive understanding of evolution in the wild. Given that Australia cannot escape the effects of, among others, climate change and habitat deterioration, the question of how this is going to impact Australia's unique flora and fauna is an important one. Since extinction is the final consequence of the inability to adapt with sufficient speed to changing environmental conditions, this raises the issue of how well we understand the processes underlying evolutionary adaptation. This project will provide insight into the process of population divergence and the role of genetics therein, and will enhance our understanding of the effects of environmental change, habitat fragmentation and population bottlenecks on population viability and Australia's biodiversity in general. Read moreRead less
Evolutionary immunology of social insects. Social insects are particularly abundant in Australia. They live in a wide range of habitats with social systems differing greatly in size and structure. They are both ecologically and economically important because they form a large part of terrestrial ecosystems and control much of the energy flow. Their immune system resembles the immune system of humans. Finding how the social insect immune system evolves will have the potential to help us manag ....Evolutionary immunology of social insects. Social insects are particularly abundant in Australia. They live in a wide range of habitats with social systems differing greatly in size and structure. They are both ecologically and economically important because they form a large part of terrestrial ecosystems and control much of the energy flow. Their immune system resembles the immune system of humans. Finding how the social insect immune system evolves will have the potential to help us manage them better, and yield functional insights into the human innate immune system. Placing the observed patterns in context also involves study of the associated microbes, finds how social insects interact with this important part of the environment, and may assist in land management.Read moreRead less
To be cooperative or selfish: individual decisions in a model society. Understanding the basis of cooperative behaviour is a major challenge to biological and social science. Our ability to deal with problems such as global warming and the rapid loss of biodiversity, will depend upon an unprecedented level of cooperation between individuals and countries. Our work will use an animal model that shares a number of key characteristics with the societies of our early human ancestors to explore, thro ....To be cooperative or selfish: individual decisions in a model society. Understanding the basis of cooperative behaviour is a major challenge to biological and social science. Our ability to deal with problems such as global warming and the rapid loss of biodiversity, will depend upon an unprecedented level of cooperation between individuals and countries. Our work will use an animal model that shares a number of key characteristics with the societies of our early human ancestors to explore, through experiments and detailed molecular analysis, the basis of cooperative interactions between individuals. This work will uncover the key principles that drive the evolution of cooperation in society and will help us to understand the basis of one the most important components of human nature.Read moreRead less
The mechanisms and fitness consequences of nongenetic inheritance. For many decades, it was assumed that parents influence the characteristics of their offspring almost exclusively through the genes that they transmit, and this assumption forms the basis of modern genetics and evolutionary theory. However, it is becoming increasing clear that parents can also influence their offspring in many other ways, and that such 'nongenetic inheritance' can allow for the transmission of environmental influ ....The mechanisms and fitness consequences of nongenetic inheritance. For many decades, it was assumed that parents influence the characteristics of their offspring almost exclusively through the genes that they transmit, and this assumption forms the basis of modern genetics and evolutionary theory. However, it is becoming increasing clear that parents can also influence their offspring in many other ways, and that such 'nongenetic inheritance' can allow for the transmission of environmental influences across generations. Accumulating evidence suggests that nongenetic inheritance plays a crucial role in heritable diseases, and theory suggests that it can influence evolution. Following up on intriguing preliminary findings, this project will investigate the mechanisms and consequences of nongenetic inheritance.Read moreRead less