Welcome
to the website of the Behavioural Biology Research Group in Macquarie
University's Department
of Brain, Behaviour & Evolution
(BBE). Research in the group is based on terrestrial invertebrates as
convenient and tractable models for a wide diversity of ultimate (evolutionary)
and proximate (mechanistic) questions of why animals behave as they
do. Current
work focusses on reproductive and nutritional biology of Queensland
fruit flies (Bactrocera
tryoni, aka 'Q-fly'),
flexible predatory strategies of Stenolemus assassin bugs and
communication, assessment and decision-making of jumping spiders. In
addition to addressing questions of basic Behavioural Biology, we have
a parallel interest in applying the concepts and techniques of Behavioural
Biology to current issues of environmentally benign pest management.
In particular, we provide valuable R&D support for the Sterile Insect
Technique used to combat outbreaks of the Queensland fruit fly in Australia.
For more details on our current projects, see Research
and personal websites of our group members.
We
maintain active collaborations with diverse colleagues from BBE and
other departments at Macquarie, as well as elsewhere in Australia and
overseas (see Research). Facilities of the
group include several large controlled environment laboratories, acoustic
chamber, air table and laser vibrometer/accelerometers for seismic recording,
video/acoustic recording, analysis and playback, high quality stereoscopes
with mounted cameras and computers for morphometric analysis, brightfield/phase
contrast microscope, high speed video recording (including infra-red),
wind tunnel & olfactometers, electroantennogram, general laboratory
equipment (balances, refrigerated centrifuge etc), and numerous field
cages. Through cooperative arrangements and collaborations we have ready
access to an even wider range of expertise and facilities in adjacent
laboratories (e.g., molecular biology, HPLC, histology suite, DIC/fluorescence
microscopy), and we actively encourage members to take advantage of
such opportunities to explore new perspectives and techniques.
We welcome
enquiries from potential Postdoctoral
Fellows, PhD
students and Honours
students in any of our current research areas, and are always interested
in new questions of our current subjects, new subjects for our current
questions and even new questions for new subjects.
Contact
A/Prof Phil Taylor,
Department of Brain, Behaviour & Evolution (BBE),
Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)2 9850 1311; Fax: +61 (0)2 9850 4299
e-mail: phil.taylor@mq.edu.au