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
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
Host plant choice by marine herbivores: ecological, genetic and historical constraints. Understanding the factors that determine plant choice by herbivores is crucial to predicting the ecological effects of herbivores on plants and herbivore adaptation to plants. This proposal aims to establish how evolution of host choice by a marine herbivore is constrained by ecological, genetic and historical factors. It will determine how the spatial arrangement of plants modifies host use, and whether evol ....Host plant choice by marine herbivores: ecological, genetic and historical constraints. Understanding the factors that determine plant choice by herbivores is crucial to predicting the ecological effects of herbivores on plants and herbivore adaptation to plants. This proposal aims to establish how evolution of host choice by a marine herbivore is constrained by ecological, genetic and historical factors. It will determine how the spatial arrangement of plants modifies host use, and whether evolutionary change by herbivores is constrained by genetic relationships among herbivore traits. The generality of important evolutionary hypotheses that predict plant choice by herbivores will be tested by extending such theory to new organisms and environments.Read moreRead less
The importance of phenotypic plasticity in maintaining and introducing variation. This research is a synthesis of behaviour, natural and sexual selection, physiology, and natural and breeding ecology-important interactions that are rarely considered simultaneously in biology. It will contribute to our understanding of life-history decisions, and a long-neglected source of the variation that is the raw material for adaptation and for economically-important breeding programs . These results will h ....The importance of phenotypic plasticity in maintaining and introducing variation. This research is a synthesis of behaviour, natural and sexual selection, physiology, and natural and breeding ecology-important interactions that are rarely considered simultaneously in biology. It will contribute to our understanding of life-history decisions, and a long-neglected source of the variation that is the raw material for adaptation and for economically-important breeding programs . These results will have far-reaching implications for economically-important improvements to medicine, conservation, and crop and livestock production. This work will strengthen Australia's strong research profile in evolutionary genetics, physiology and ecology.Read moreRead less
Evolution of maternal provisioning in echinoderms: characterisation of egg nutrients and their roles in development. In the complex life histories of marine invertebrates modification of maternal provisioning lies at the nexus between the evolution of development and speciation in the sea. This project investigates the relationship between egg nutritive profile and developmental mode in echinoderms. It uses the Patiriella sea stars, a powerful model to examine evolution of egg constituents in a ....Evolution of maternal provisioning in echinoderms: characterisation of egg nutrients and their roles in development. In the complex life histories of marine invertebrates modification of maternal provisioning lies at the nexus between the evolution of development and speciation in the sea. This project investigates the relationship between egg nutritive profile and developmental mode in echinoderms. It uses the Patiriella sea stars, a powerful model to examine evolution of egg constituents in ancestral-type developers with small eggs and derived developers exhibiting multiple parallel evolution of large eggs. This project provides insights into evolutionary fine-tuning of oogenesis and its influence on larval type and location of development, features that strongly influence the biogeography of marine invertebrate populations.Read moreRead less
Quantifying the costs and benefits of cooperative behaviour in birds: An experimental test of the group augmentation hypothesis. Cooperation is seen as a hallmark of human evolution, but is common throughout the animal kingdom. Indeed, our greatest appreciation of the factors associated with family living and cooperation comes from animal research. My project uses novel approaches to address questions about the role of kinship and energetic costs of cooperation in the evolution of cooperation an ....Quantifying the costs and benefits of cooperative behaviour in birds: An experimental test of the group augmentation hypothesis. Cooperation is seen as a hallmark of human evolution, but is common throughout the animal kingdom. Indeed, our greatest appreciation of the factors associated with family living and cooperation comes from animal research. My project uses novel approaches to address questions about the role of kinship and energetic costs of cooperation in the evolution of cooperation and family living. My study species is a highly charismatic, desert-living cooperative Australian bird, the chestnut-crowned babbler. This study will add significantly to our understanding of the evolution of social behaviour and the extended family. The results will be of international significance and make an impact in scientific journals and through the mediaRead moreRead less
Understanding how reproduction and sexual conflict drive sex-dependent longevity and ageing. The biological study of longevity and ageing has two important fronts: understanding how evolution shapes lifespan and ageing, and the mechanistic study of how molecules, genes, hormones, tissues and cells interact during ageing. The evolutionary study of ageing is considered one of the success stories of the emerging field of evolutionary medicine, yet we desperately need greater integration of the evol ....Understanding how reproduction and sexual conflict drive sex-dependent longevity and ageing. The biological study of longevity and ageing has two important fronts: understanding how evolution shapes lifespan and ageing, and the mechanistic study of how molecules, genes, hormones, tissues and cells interact during ageing. The evolutionary study of ageing is considered one of the success stories of the emerging field of evolutionary medicine, yet we desperately need greater integration of the evolutionary and mechanistic spheres. This project addresses why males and females have different lifespans and age differently in a way that bridges evolutionary and mechanistic study, and will build Australia's research capacity to study ageing at both levels. Read moreRead less
Mate choice near and far: Genetic compatibility, sexual selection, and speciation in Australian grass finches. The pressure on individuals to choose a genetically compatible partner has the capacity to drive the evolution of mating systems and the process of speciation, and is therefore a major engine of biodiversity. Reproductive failure resulting from incompatibility between individuals is more likely when individuals from fragmented and genetically structured populations mate with one another ....Mate choice near and far: Genetic compatibility, sexual selection, and speciation in Australian grass finches. The pressure on individuals to choose a genetically compatible partner has the capacity to drive the evolution of mating systems and the process of speciation, and is therefore a major engine of biodiversity. Reproductive failure resulting from incompatibility between individuals is more likely when individuals from fragmented and genetically structured populations mate with one another. This work will give new insight into biological processes that drive biodiversity and effect the management of threatened populations and endangered species. The proposed research will raise the international profile of Australian science and biodiversity and improve our ability to manage our natural biological resources. Read moreRead less
Integrating sexual selection and the allocation of sex in the zebra finch: back to the outback. The Australian zebra finch has become the primary avian model species in evolutionary biology studies in Europe and North America as the focus of classic laboratory-based studies of sexual selection, and sex allocation. Surprisingly, these studies have focused on populations of birds maintained in an unnatural environment and in captivity for decades that have been through tens of generations of artif ....Integrating sexual selection and the allocation of sex in the zebra finch: back to the outback. The Australian zebra finch has become the primary avian model species in evolutionary biology studies in Europe and North America as the focus of classic laboratory-based studies of sexual selection, and sex allocation. Surprisingly, these studies have focused on populations of birds maintained in an unnatural environment and in captivity for decades that have been through tens of generations of artificial selection, the effects of which are unknown - not a trivial issue for students of evolution. Using experimental manipulations I will study these high profile research areas in wild populations, focusing international attention on this internationally recognised Australian species and raising the profile of Australian research. Read moreRead less
Heterarchical modelling of nutritional ecology: from individuals to communities. The project will combine advances in nutritional theory, agent-based modelling and landscape ecology to produce a modelling framework with which to understand the interrelationships between the physiology and behaviour of individual organisms and the populations, communities and ecosystems in which they reside. The resulting computational model will provide a major new initiative in quantitative ecology and allow sp ....Heterarchical modelling of nutritional ecology: from individuals to communities. The project will combine advances in nutritional theory, agent-based modelling and landscape ecology to produce a modelling framework with which to understand the interrelationships between the physiology and behaviour of individual organisms and the populations, communities and ecosystems in which they reside. The resulting computational model will provide a major new initiative in quantitative ecology and allow specific practical problems to be addressed in relation to agricultural pests, invasive species, conservation biology and animal production systems.Read moreRead less