● Evolutionary theory

● Genetic and environmental sources of phenotypic variation

● Non-mendelian and nongenetic inheritance

● Sexual selection and conflict

● Effects of environment on the expression of ageing and lifespan

We are interested in how selection shapes phenotypes and  genetic systems. Our research encompasses a variety of approaches, including the development of new theory, and testing of existing theory through laboratory experiments, quantitative genetics, and field observations. Much of our work focuses on the mechanisms and evolutionary consequences of sexual selection and conflict. We also investigate how environment affects ageing and, in particular, how animals age in wild versus laboratory populations. We use a variety of insects in our empirical investigations.

Field-work

Lab-work

Study Organisms

● Neriid flies

Telostylinus angusticollis and T. lineolatus are large, stilt-legged flies that breed in rotting vegetation. T. angusticollis is endemic to New South Wales and southern Queensland. This species exhibits a pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size and shape, and is remarkable for its phenotypic plasticity. Telostylinus lineolatus lives in tropical north-Queensland. These flies are smaller and less sexually dimorphic than T. angusticollis, and breed in rotting fruit and dense flowers.

● Piophilid flies

Piophilidae are small carrion flies, most famously represented by the 'cheese skipper' Piophila case. One very peculiar species, the 'antler fly' Protopiophila litigata, which is native to Canada, is remarkable for its specialization on discarded cervid antlers, and has become a key model for research on ageing in wild insects.  Another very interesting species, Prochyliza xanthostoma, exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism in body shape.

● Other systems

We use a variety of other animals in our research, such as the Australian black field cricket Teleogryllus commodus, the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus, and Drosophila serrata.