Darrell Kemp
Lecturer/Lab head
Email: dkemp@science.mq.edu.au
Location: Building E8A room 275
I am a biologist with over 10 years experience in using new and/or underutilized insect systems to address fundamental questions in evolution, genetics and ecology. My interests mirror those of the lab, and include sexual competition and conflict, visual signal evolution, host-endosymbiont biology and co-evolution, and in predicting/appraising adaptive evolution. My most significant contributions have arisen in two contexts: (1) the evolution and genetics of colour-based sexual signals (particularly iridescent colours), and (2) the evolutionary/behavioural ecology of contest competition in ‘weaponless’ animals. My findings have been disseminated through 50+ refereed scientific papers, multiple invited book chapters, plenary conference presentations, talks and departmental seminars, and via the popular press.
Webpages:
www.bio.mq.edu.au/about/people/staff/dk.html
www.jcu.edu.au/mtb/staff/adjunct/JCUPRD_040110.html
www.mq.academia.edu/DarrellKemp
www.publicationslist.org/dkemp
Kate Barry
Postdoctoral scientist
Email: kbarry@mq.edu.au
Location: Building E8A room 174
I am generally interested in the ecology and evolution of sexual reproduction, but my specific area of interest lies in the evolutionary outcome of reproductive conflict between and within the sexes. My research focuses on the evolution of mating strategies, sexual signalling and mate choice (both pre and post-copulatory). In March 2010 I began working with the Australian butterfly Eurema hecabe. The overall aim of this project is to use a novel, virtually unstudied phenomenon - feminisation due to the Wolbachia bacterium - to test whether pathogen infection can drive the evolution of sexual advertisement traits (eg. wing colouration) and subsequently affect the evolution of pre-copulatory and/or post-copulatory mate choice.
Webpages:
http://sites.google.com/site/katebarrybehavecol/
Raelene Giffney
PhD student
Email: rgiffney@optusnet.com.au
I am a doctoral candidate with research interests in the ecology and evolution of sex. My main areas of interest are sexual dimorphism, maternal care, sexual conflict, and sexual selection. Current research involves the investigation of the evolution of colour signals in a sexual context, using the highly colourful and sexually dimorphic hibiscus harlequin bug.
Jonathon Davis
Honours student
Irini Malliaros
Research assistant
I'm interested in way too many aspects of biology including animal behaviour and conservation. I also dabble a (tiny) bit in genetics. More recently, I have become interested in biology of archaeological contexts, namely archaeozoology/archaeobotany (yes, it is a very different concept to paleontology). But at the end of the day, what would the world look like without butterflies? *cough*
Thomas White
Undergraduate researcher
Email: thomas.white@students.mq.edu.au
I’m an undergraduate student with an interest in anything relating to behavior, evolution and ecology, particularly when insects are involved. At the moment I enjoy working on projects regarding the structure and function of colour signals in Eurema butterflies.
Erin Rozgonyi
Undergraduate researcher
Email: erin.rozgonyi@students.mq.edu.au
I am an undergraduate student with a wide variety of interests; including behavioural ecology, neuroethology, biological anthropology and science communication. My current projects include a study on the heritibility of mate choosiness and understanding the mechanisms behind female-biases lines (either feminising or male-killing Wolbachia infection), both utilising Eurema hecabe butterflies.
Elizabeth Daniel
Undergraduate researcher
Email: elizabeth.daniel@students.mq.edu.au
Lab affiliates:
Scott Fabricant
PhD student co-supervised with Marie Herberstein. Colour signalling in hibiscus bugs.
Anne-Laurence Bibost
PhD student co-supervised with Culum Brown. Laterality in fishes.
Martin Garwood
PhD student co-supervised with Culum Brown. Colour signalling in blue-ringed octopus.
It surely is nice!