Research Interests

● Evolutionary theory

● Phenotypic plasticity

● Non-mendelian and nongenetic inheritance

● Sexual selection and conflict

● Ageing

Study Organisms

(Click on the photos for information, pictures and videos)

● Neriid flies

Telostylinus angusticollis and T. lineolatus are large, stilt-legged flies that breed in rotting vegetation. These species exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size and shape.

● Piophilid flies

Piophilidae are small carrion flies, most famously represented by the 'cheese skipper' Piophila casei.

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 interesting species, Prochyliza xanthostoma, exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in body shape, and fascinating sexual behaviours.

● 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.