Higher Degree Research Students
Julie Bednarski
Location: W19C |
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Comparing cognitive functions of jumping spiders with different ecological challenges.
Lab Affiliation: Phil Taylor |
James Brazill-Boast
Location: W19C |
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Breeding behaviour and ecology of the endangered Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae). I am investigating ecological factors affecting reproduction and population dynamics of Gouldian finches in the east Kimberely region of Western Australia. Specifically, factors such as nest site limitation and interspecific competition with long-tailed finches (Poephila acuticauda), and their potential contribution to the species' recent decline in the wild. Lab Affiliation: Simon Griffith |
Sam CollinsLocation: W19C |
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Developing improved irradiation procedures to sterilize tephritid flies for use in the Sterile Insect Techniqe (SIT) of pest management.
Lab Affiliation: Phil Taylor |
Libby Eyre
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Variation in the song of migrating humpback whales.
Lab Affiliation: Chris Evans |
Ben Fanson
Location: W19C |
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Strategies used by Queensland fruit flies to optimize nutritition.
Lab Affiliation: Phil Taylor |
Amanda Gilby
Location: W19C |
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Maintenance of genetically determined polymorphism in the Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae). The Gouldian finch exists in three forms (red-, black-, and yellow-headed) of which the yellow-headed morph is extremely rare in wild populations and is generally shunned by the other two forms. I will investigate the yellow-headed morph using behavioural, physiological and molecular approaches.
Lab Affiliation: Simon Griffith |
Mylene Mariette
Location: W19C |
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The evolution of coloniality in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). In wild populations of this classic model organism I aim to understand the evolutionary forces underlying the social reproductive behaviour and the alliances formed between small groups of individuals over time.
Lab Affiliation: Simon Griffith |
Ajay Narendra
Location: W19A |
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Navigation strategies of solitary foraging ants. I am currently working with Melophorus bagoti (Central Australia) and Cataglyphis fortis (North African Sahara).
Lab Affiliation: Ken Cheng For Further Information: http://antlinks.blogspot.com |
Catherine Prabhu
Location: W19A |
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Learning, memory and memory retrieval processes in free flying honeybees. I am studying the acquisition, retention and integration of odour and odometric memories in honeybees. My research is concerned with both behavioral ecology and comparative cognition.
Lab Affiliation: Ken Cheng |
Veena Prabhu
Location: W19A |
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Predictors of pre-copulatory mating success of male Queensland fruit flies. Who are the sexiest males and do the females agree? What role does diet play in maturation and sexual activity?
Lab Affiliation: Phil Taylor |
Marianne Peso
Location: W19A |
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Bees are amazing and complex little creatures. From the highly social honeybee to semisocial and solitary species, bees exhibit immense variation in social structure and mechanisms of resolving conflict. My research will focus on whether bee queens are actively coercing her daughters into helping her raise offspring or whether workers are using queen cues to choose their most productive fitness strategy. Lab Affiliation: Andrew Barron |
Preethi Radhakrishnan
Location: W19C |
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Post-copulatory sexual selection of the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni). I am determining the role of accessory gland proteins (Acp's) in modulating female behavior. Other questions include, individual male variation and tracking down of Acp's in the female reproductive tract using radioactive isotopes.
Lab Affiliation: Phil Taylor |
Dinesh Rao
Location: W19A |
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Behavioural interactions between prey items and Orb-web spider webs. My project consists of laboratory and field experiments examining the conditions under which honeybees and native bees are captured.
Lab Affiliation: Ken Cheng |
Erica van Rooij
Location: W19C |
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Behavioural ecology of the long-tailed finch (Poephila acuticauda). The aim of my project is to study the breeding behaviour and basic ecology of this species which occurs in the tropical northern Savannah country. My work focuses on a population around Wyndham, WA. This species is of interest because of the clinal expression in bill colour (from yellow in the west to red in the east), and because it is ecologically very similar to the endangered Gouldian finch and yet has not declined over the same period. Lab Affiliation: Simon Griffith |
Patrick Schultheiss
Location: W21A |
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Foraging ecology of the Australian desert ant Melophorus bagoti. This thermophilic ant is widespread in central Australia. I am looking at patterns of foraging and food use over the course of a season. I am also interested in the search patterns and strategies that these ants display when locating food sources or nest sites. Fieldwork will be conducted in two different habitats, namely Buffel grassland (an invasive species of grass) and Spinifex grassland (the natural habitat). Lab Affiliation: Ken Cheng |
Sebastian Schwarz
Location: W21D3
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Learning and memory in social insects. I am currently working with Australian desert ants (Melophorus bagoti). The main focus of my project is a better understanding of their cognitive abilities such as learning and memory. Moreover I am interested in the navigation behaviour of African desert ants (Cataglyphis fortis) and honeybees (Apis mellifera). Lab Affiliation: Ken Cheng |
Carolynn "K-lynn" Smith
Location: W21C |
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Multi-modal communication in birds. I am primarily interested in animal communication and the evolution of social signals. I am currently studying the tidbitting behavior of chickens (Gallus gallus) to understand the relationship between and the integration of the two components of this multi-modal (visual and vocal) signal.
Lab Affiliation: Chris Evans For more information: http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/~kls/ |
Fernando Soley
Location: W19C |
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Life history, behaviour and ecology of an Australian assassin bug, Stenolemus giraffa. My project combines expansive field studies at numerous sites in The Northern Territories as well as detailed laboratory studies in Sydney.
Lab Affiliation: Phil Taylor |
Enrico SoratoLocation: W19C |
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A comparative study of multiple populations of the cooperatively breeding chestnut-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps). I will work on several populations of this Australian bird in the arid zone across four states, studying families in three ecological settings from scrubland to sand dune country. This work using a combination of behavioural field techniques and molecular techniques will help us to understand the evolution of cooperative breeding and animal societies. Lab Affiliation: Simon Griffith |
Danielle Sulikowski
Location: W19E |
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Evolution of cognition. I'm investigating specific cognitive abilities that represent evolved adaptations and the ecological pressures that resulted in their selection. I'm using native Australian honeyeaters as model species.
Lab Affiliation: Andrew Barron For more information: http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/~dani/ |
Jessica Taubert
Location: W21C |
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Evolution of visual system. I'm primarily interested in comparative research, focusing on the evolution of the visual system. Currently I'm investigating higher-level, perceptual expertise.
Lab Affiliation: Chris Evans |
Miyako Warrington
Location: W21C |
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Optimal strategies for different individuals in a structured society. I am looking at the role of social status on signal structure, receiver response and associations in fowl. I am also interested in which factors predict association in fowl, and how they choose associations.
Lab Affiliation: Chris Evans |
Anne Wignall
Location: W19C |
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Stenolemus assassin bug hunting behaviour. Assisin bugs hunt spiders by mimicking insect prey, luring the spider within attacking range. I want to understand how they do this.
Lab Affiliation: Phil Taylor For More Information: http://stenolemus.blogspot.com |
David Wilson
Location: |
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Evolution of alarm communication by integrating aspects of cognition, sexual selection, parental investment, and predation risk.
Lab Affiliation: Chris Evans For More Information: www.uwindsor.ca/drwilson |
Kevin Woo
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Psychophysics of the Jacky dragon visual system, signal design, and how it relates to species ecology.
Lab Affiliation: Chris Evans For Further Information: http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/lizard/index.html |
Daniel Zurek
Location: W21C |
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Visual perception in jumping spiders. I am investigating how the modular visual system of Servaea species manages to achieve extremely high acuity and large field of view with only modest computational power Lab Affiliation: Chris Evans /Ximena Nelson |