Insect Ecology
Participants |
Overview
Insects and other terrestrial arthropods are vital contributors to biodiversity and ecosystem function. Our research is focussed on insect ecology and conservation, with an emphasis on biotic and abiotic drivers of insect community structure. We work both in the field and the laboratory, use both experimental and mensurative approaches, and address ecological questions at a range of scales. Study organisms include ants, saproxylic and epigaeic beetles and arachnids. We collaborate with a range of organisations, including the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, CSIRO, Department of Sustainability and the Environment, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and other universities.
See below for Images | Current students | Potential projects
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Current & Recent Students
Honours students
- Daniel Muscat - Does climate drive spider morphology and web architecture? - completed 2010.
Collaboration with Dr Nigel Andrew (UNE) and A/Prof. David Warton (UNSW)) - Christopher Churcher – Home range and habitat selection by reintroduced numbats, Myrmecobius fasciatus ,
in Scotia Sanctuary, NSW - completed 2010.
Supervised by Heloise Gibb (La Trobe) and Matt Hayward (Australian Wildlife Conservancy) - Colin Silvey - How does reintroduction of threatened native omnivores affect arachnid assemblages? Collaboration with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
- Blair Grossman - Does the reintroduction of native omnivores affect invertebrate regulation of soil structure and function? A collaboration with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy
- Emma McLennan - Nest relocation in beauty ants, Calomyrmex sp. A collaboration with Dr Ajay Narendra (ANU)
PhD students
- Philip Barton - How do we restore degraded bushland? Getting the insects back for function, food and biodiversity. A collaboration with Prof. David Lindenmayer and Dr Adrian Manning (ANU) and Saul Cunningham (CSIRO).
- Katayo Sagata - Ant-plant interactions and climatic gradients.
Supervised by Heloise Gibb (La Trobe), Nigel Andrew (UNE) and David Warton (UNSW). - Nicole Coggan - Effects of native omnivores on invertebrate biodiversity and function: An experimental approach. A collaboration with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
- Sebastian Buckingham - Refuges for invertebrate biodiversity in fire-prone landscapes. A collaboration with the Department of Sustainability and other researchers at La Trobe: Nick Murphy (Genetics) and A. Prof. Mike Clarke (Zoology).
Potential student projects
I welcome enquiries about potential honours or PhD projects in the realm of insect community ecology and conservation. Possible topic areas include:
- Effects of reintroduced critical weight range omnivores on vegetation
- Competition and the role of resource clustering in structuring ant assemblages
- Biodiversity responses to refuges in fire-prone landscapes
- The role of morphology in moderating responses of ant assemblages to climate and habitat modification
- Restoration of insect biodiversity and function in agricultural landscapes
