Global Utilities

La Trobe University
Department of Zoology

Herpetology and Freshwater Ecology

Overview

Research in our lab is heavily focussed on conservation biology, ecology and evolution of native reptiles, amphibians and fish. A diverse range of projects is catered for, with current research covering topics such as management and conservation of endangered species, life history variation, competition, and thermal ecology. While much of our research is field based, there is also scope for laboratory-based projects.

The lab is supervised by Dr Brian Malone.

Postgraduates

There are currently three postgraduate students in the lab.
  • Geoff Heard, Garry Peterson, and Evelyn Nicholson

Potential projects

  • Feeding ecology of tadpoles
  • Larval ecology of the Growling Grass Frog Litoria raniformis
  • Ecological interactions among yabbies in streams
  • Life history variation in lizards or frogs
  • Impact of predators on tadpole populations
  • Ecomorphology of lizards
  • Comparative ecology of water skinks
  • Ecological implications of temperature-dependant sex determination in dragon lizards
  • Other projects may be available; suggestions from prospective students will be considered.

Past projects

Further information

Please contact