Sexual selection on female phenotypes and maternal effects as adaptations. Recent work has queried the paradigm that female ornamentation is the consequence of a genetic correlation and non-adaptive. Whilst the circumstances under which male choosiness is expected have widened, the benefits to females of investing in ornamentation, rather than offspring, remain prohibitively small. An alternative explanation may be that sexually antagonistic alleles or social competition amongst females maintain ....Sexual selection on female phenotypes and maternal effects as adaptations. Recent work has queried the paradigm that female ornamentation is the consequence of a genetic correlation and non-adaptive. Whilst the circumstances under which male choosiness is expected have widened, the benefits to females of investing in ornamentation, rather than offspring, remain prohibitively small. An alternative explanation may be that sexually antagonistic alleles or social competition amongst females maintain female ornamentation, however prudent males use this ornamentation for adaptive mating decisions. This proposal addresses the selection pressures on female phenotypes, trade-offs in offspring and ornamentation allocation, maternal effects and the extent to which sex determination mechanisms determine the expression of female ornamentation.Read moreRead less
The evolution of female multiple mating: genetic benefits and indirect genetic effects. This work will yield results at the forefront of evolutionary biology, thereby contributing to Australia's reputation as a country where excellent and original research is conducted. A greater understanding of the processes determining offspring viability, paternity success, and the acquisition of genetic quality will also benefit animal breeding and conservation biology. My research will work towards a bette ....The evolution of female multiple mating: genetic benefits and indirect genetic effects. This work will yield results at the forefront of evolutionary biology, thereby contributing to Australia's reputation as a country where excellent and original research is conducted. A greater understanding of the processes determining offspring viability, paternity success, and the acquisition of genetic quality will also benefit animal breeding and conservation biology. My research will work towards a better understanding of an ecologically important Australian native coastal species which supports commercial fisheries. Australian science will further benefit from the training of young scientists and from collaborations with international researchers that will promote excellence in Australian research.Read moreRead less
Causes and consequences of multiple mating: Benefits of polyandry, sperm competition, and reproductive costs. The project will yield results that are at the forefront of research in evolutionary biology and that will have a significant international impact thereby placing Australia at the forefront of the international scientific arena. The undertaking of the project will foster strong linkages between Australian and European researchers that will lead to international collaborations that will p ....Causes and consequences of multiple mating: Benefits of polyandry, sperm competition, and reproductive costs. The project will yield results that are at the forefront of research in evolutionary biology and that will have a significant international impact thereby placing Australia at the forefront of the international scientific arena. The undertaking of the project will foster strong linkages between Australian and European researchers that will lead to international collaborations that will promote excellence in Australian research.
Identifying sperm quality or male viability is a crucial issue for livestock production. A greater understanding of the mechanisms of sperm competition and the benefits of multiple mating can also benefit conservation biology since these issues are being applied to undertake strategic plans for endangered species.Read moreRead less
Assessment of the diversity, distribution and uniqueness of subterranean animals from calcrete aquifers in central western Australia. Recently a rich and diverse subterranean invertebrate fauna (stygofauna) was unexpectedly discovered from numerous isolated calcrete aquifers associated with palaeodrainage channels in central Western Australia. Our recent taxonomic and molecular studies have suggested that stygofaunas within each aquifer may be highly endemic. We aim to test this hypothesis by in ....Assessment of the diversity, distribution and uniqueness of subterranean animals from calcrete aquifers in central western Australia. Recently a rich and diverse subterranean invertebrate fauna (stygofauna) was unexpectedly discovered from numerous isolated calcrete aquifers associated with palaeodrainage channels in central Western Australia. Our recent taxonomic and molecular studies have suggested that stygofaunas within each aquifer may be highly endemic. We aim to test this hypothesis by investigating the diversity, distribution and uniqueness of stygofauna from three major calcrete regions. We further aim to document the environmental conditions and variability within the aquifers and to develop rigorous sampling protocols. Such data are essential for the development of appropriate strategies for sustainable management of subterranean water and their ecosystems.Read moreRead less