F R A M E W O R K
Our research framework integrates physiological principles with ecological and evolutionary theory to understand how species’ respond to environmental and anthropogenic change across space and time. We combine experiments, field observations, data synthesis with simulation-based and statistical models to develop casual models that can help inform conservation practices.
Some example research that incorporates this framework include size-scaling relationships, multi-stressor impacts, environmental influence on population dynamics, and vulnerability to emerging diseases.
A P P R O A C H
EXPERIMENTAL
We use experimental approaches to examine a range from physiological, behavioural, and developmental response. Experiments allow us to tease out cause-and-effect relationships under controlled conditions which are important for developing causal models and a mechanistic understanding.
Example research
• Skin function and chytridiomycosis
• Multi-stressor interactions
• Lizard bipedalism
FIELD-BASED
Data from free-ranging animals and their habitat provides important information on how animals work in the real-world and allow experiments to be validated under ecologically-relevant conditions.
Example research
• Vulnerability of bats to white-nose syndrome
• Habitat use
COMPARATIVE & SYNTHESIS
Comparative analyses use large-scale data synthesis for understanding broad-scale ecological and evolutionary patterns. We also use meta-analytic approaches to reveal commonalities, differences, and bias in studies that ask similar questions. Skills include systematic compiling of data from the literature, creating clear and replicable datasets, and running multi-level phylogenetic models.
Example research
• Size-reproductive scaling relationship
• Physiology explains dispersal and activity
• Sublethal effects of UV radiation
SIMULATION-BASED
Beyond traditional statistical (phenomenological) approaches for modelling biological phenomenon, we also use mechanistic models to understand nonlinear, complex phenomenon based on explicit processes. For example, biophysical models can be used to calculate the body temperature of the organism given its surrounding microclimate and its traits to predict yearly activity, phenology, and energy use.
Example research
• Habitat mediates heating risk
• Global risk to environmental drying
• Vulnerability of frogs to global warming
Emerging Infectious Disease & Australian Wildlife
Emerging infectious diseases are a growing threat for biodiversity worldwide. Given their negative ecological and socioeconomic repercussions, it is crucial to predict the likely exposure and sensitivity of populations to the global spread of pathogens, particularly because novel pathogens can have severe impacts on evolutionarily and geographically naive hosts.
Chytridiomyocosis
This work contributed to understanding how a lethal fungal disease, responsible for the largest loss of vertebrate biodiversity from a single disease, causes mortality in amphibians by examining disruption at the site of colonisation—the skin. We explicitly linked how the disease altered molecular and cellular processes with the disruption of the skin function [1,2,3]. We also discovered that smaller frogs had a higher infection load, and higher physiological costs, which may explain size-specific mortalities observed in the wild [4]. This work contributed significantly to understanding the causal mechanisms for how frogs die from this disease, while also highlighting the role of physiological approaches to understanding ecological threats [5].
White-nose syndrome
White-nose syndrome, a disease affecting hibernating cave-roosting bats, has killed millions of bats throughout North America since it’s accidental introduction in 2007. There is concern that if the fungus is accidentally introduced to Australia, WNS could pose similar threats to our native bat fauna. Predicting the vulnerability of Australian cave-roosting bats to WNS is difficult because of scant knowledge of their winter biology [6]. We find 90% of winter hibernation caves had microclimates suitable for the fungus to grow, and the winter fat use and torpor patterns of eastern bent-winged bats are similar to North American cave-roosting bats in related climates. Our research suggests that our cave-roosting bats are at high risk of being infected by the fungus that causes WNS.
Plastic pollution is a monumental global environmental and health problem, and Australia has one of the highest exposures to bisphenol A (BPA), a plastic leachate. We show that BPA exposure, which now represents a novel environmental driver, has a widespread impact on aquatic organisms across the literature [1]. Using experimental approaches, we show BPA exposure at ecologically relevant concentrations can disrupt the thermal responses of swimming performance of adult fish [2], and the energetic cost of growth of juvenile fish [3].
Plastic Pollution & Climate Change
Role of microclimates in buffering climate change
Realistic predictions of how animals will response to and survive climate change require an understanding of how animals interact with their microclimate. Microclimates buffer the effects of climate change by creating localised conditions that reduce temperature extremes, retain moisture, and provide thermal refugia for species.
Some example research focusing on this theme include the effects of sand substrate and temperature on burrowing energetics [1] and burrow use [2] of lizards, how shaded habitats influence the thermoregulation of snakes [3], and warming risk [4, 5] and drying risk of amphibians [6].
We also use curiosity-driven research to better understand ecological and evolutionary patterns observed in nature. Some example research include:
How agamid lizards are able to achieve running on two-legs with implications for robotic designs [1].
If tuatara are able to discriminate scent from within and/or between populations [2].
How does size-scaling relationships influence the reproductive output and population trajectories of sea turtles [3].
Does physiology explain individual-variation in activity, dispersal, and exploration [4].
Curiosity-Driven Research
1. Background photo caption: Eastern horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus megaphyllus). Jasmine Vink.
2. Infected frog photo caption: Left photo is a healthy green tree frog, and the right photo is a green tree frog heavily infected with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Nicholas Wu.
3. BPA photo caption: Wild-type zebrafish (Danio rerio). Yi-Kai Tea.
4. Microclimate caption: Thermal landscape. Michael Logan.
5. Lizard running caption: Eastern water dragon running (Intellagama lesueurii). Christofer Clemente.