glenn.brock@mq.edu.au
Publications list
Website | Our research activities focus on elucidating the evolution, phylogeny, biodiversity, ecology and biostratigraphy of the earliest (stem group) members of the three major supergroups of bilaterian animals (Ecdysozoa, Spiralia and Deuterostomia) that arose during the Cambrian Explosion. Our work focuses on studying exceptionally preserved macro- and microfossils from a variety of localities in Australasia. We are particularly interested in the phylogenetic, ecological and biostratigraphic significance of early Cambrian ‘Small Shelly Fossils’. |
michael.gillings@mq.edu.au
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Website | The unifying theme of research in our lab is the investigation of genetic diversity using DNA markers and sequence analysis. Over the past 10 years, we have worked on viruses, bacteria, fungi, plants, invertebrates, sharks, bony fish, birds and mammals. We have developed a range of molecular methods for rapidly assessing genetic and functional diversity in genomic DNA and DNA extracted directly from environmental samples (metagenomic DNA). |
darrell.kemp@mq.edu.au
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Website | We are interested in addressing fundamental questions in evolution, genetics and behaviour. Broadly, our research deals with extravagant traits (like flashing iridescent signals) and behaviours (like courtship rituals) that evolve as a consequence of sexual reproduction. We study how such traits are inherited, how different environments affect their development, and how they integrate with other tasks and traits critical to the Darwinian fitness of males as well as females. A general theme of the lab is to exploit the novel and often exciting empirical opportunities presented by new, non-traditional study organisms. Although not limited to particular taxonomic groups, we have specialist expertise with insects and freshwater fishes, and major ongoing research programs using colourful tropical butterflies, spiders and guppies. |
matthew.kosnik@mq.edu.au
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Website | We use sedimentary records to provide a historical context to modern marine ecosystems. We seek to quantify how western colonisation and development have impacted Australian marine ecosystems. To achieve this goal, we are actively working to understand the preservation of biological remains in sedimentary records and the idiosyncrasies of palaeontological assemblages. More generally, we are interested in the interplay between ecological and evoluntionary processes at the broadest spatial and temporal scales. |
fleur.ponton@mq.edu.au
Publications list
Website | Nutrition is critical to immune defence and resistance to pathogens, with consequences that affect the health, welfare and reproductive success of individual organisms, and poor nutrition has profound ecological an evolutionary implications. Despite the undoubted importance of nutrition to immune defence, the challenge remains to capture the complexity of this relationship. The prospect of our research is to study the network of relationships between food composition, immunity, gut microbiota and disease. Describing the network of interactions underlying nutritional immunology is essential to provide a more comprehensive and robust understanding of the key determinants of the outcome of host-pathogen interactions. |
