A5041628955- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Dietary Effects on Health
- Air Quality Monitoring and Forecasting
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Plant and animal studies
- Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
Monash University
2016-2024
Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute
2021-2023
The University of Queensland
2009-2019
Lesley University
2011
Google (United States)
2011
The University of Adelaide
2007
Organisms use energy to grow and reproduce, so the processes of metabolism biological production should be tightly bound. On basis this tenet, we developed tested a new theory that predicts relationships among three fundamental aspects life: metabolic rate, growth, reproduction. We show optimization these yields observed allometries metazoan life, particularly scaling. conclude metabolism, reproduction are inextricably linked; together they determine fitness; and, in contrast longstanding...
Metabolic cold adaptation (MCA), the hypothesis that species from climates have relatively higher metabolic rates than those warm climates, was first proposed nearly 100 years ago and remains one of most controversial hypotheses in physiological ecology. In present study, we test MCA fishes at level whole animal, mitochondria enzyme. support hypothesis, find when normalized to a common temperature, with ranges extend high latitude (cooler climates) aerobic enzyme (citrate synthase) activity,...
As a consequence of anthropogenic environmental change, the world is facing possible sixth mass extinction event. The severity this biodiversity crisis exemplified by rapid collapse hundreds amphibian populations around world. Amphibian declines are associated with range factors including habitat loss/modification, human utilisation, exotic/invasive species, acidification and contamination, infectious disease, climate increased ultraviolet-B radiation (UVBR) due to stratospheric ozone...
Metabolic cold adaptation, or Krogh's rule, is the controversial hypothesis that predicts a monotonically negative relationship between metabolic rate and environmental temperature for ectotherms living along thermal clines measured at common temperature. Macrophysiological patterns consistent with rule are not always evident in nature, experimentally evolved responses to have failed replicate such patterns. Hence, may be sole driver of observed variation rate. We tested temperature, as...
Abstract Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids are essential nutrients to all animals; however, closely related species, populations, individuals can display dramatic variation in diet. Here we explore the macronutrient tolerance Drosophila melanogaster using genetic reference panel, a collection of ~200 strains derived from single natural population. Our study demonstrates that D. , often considered “dietary generalist”, displays marked survival on different diets, notably high-sugar analysis...
Summary 1. Global increases in ultraviolet‐B radiation (UVBR) associated with stratospheric ozone depletion are thought to be contributing the rapid disappearance of amphibian populations from pristine habitats around world. Much research has been dedicated understanding effects ultraviolet (UVR) alone and combination other environmental stressors on early life stages amphibians. Little is known, however, how UVR affects metabolism, or metabolism may change response exposure addition UVR. 2....
Burrowing is an important form of locomotion in reptiles, but no study has examined the energetic cost burrowing for reptiles. This significant since most energetically expensive mode undertaken by animals, and many species therefore show specialisations their subterranean lifestyle. We effect temperature substrate characteristics (coarse sand or fine sand) on net (NCOB) rate two Egernia group skinks (Liopholis striata Liopholis inornata) compared it with those other animals. further tested...
The effect of temperature on the evolution metabolism has been subject debate for a century; however, no consistent patterns have emerged from comparisons metabolic rate within and among species living at different temperatures. We used experimental to determine how evolves in populations Drosophila melanogaster exposed one three selective treatments: constant 16°C, 25°C, or temporal fluctuations between 16 25°C. tested August Krogh's controversial hypothesis that colder environments select...
Anthropogenic climate change and invasive species are two of the greatest threats to biodiversity, affecting survival, fitness distribution many around globe. Invasive often expected have broad thermal tolerance, be highly plastic, or high adaptive potential when faced with novel environments. Tropical island ectotherms vulnerable as they narrow tolerance limited plasticity. In Fiji, only one endemic bee, Homalictus fijiensis, is commonly found in lowland regions, but bee species, Braunsapis...
Abstract Aim Physiological responses to climate can be used quantify the environmental limits that a species tolerate and are, therefore, key biogeographical studies. Several ecophysiological climatic factors may shape distribution of species, but our knowledge is mostly centred in thermal ecophysiology. We applied an integrative approach investigate how small ectotherm are modulated by variation across elevational gradient. Location Victoria, Australia. Taxon Lampropholis guichenoti...
Temperature has pervasive effects on physiological processes and is critical in setting species distribution limits. Since invading Australia, cane toads have spread rapidly across low latitudes, but slowly into higher latitudes. Low temperature the likely factor limiting high-latitude advancement. Several previous attempts been made to predict future toad distributions understanding potential contribution of phenotypic plasticity adaptation range expansion remains challenging. Previous...
Ultraviolet B radiation (UVBR) damages the DNA of exposed cells, causing dimers to form between adjacent pyrimidine nucleotides. These block replication, mutations and apoptosis. Most organisms utilize biochemical or biophysical repair strategies restore structure; however, as with most biological reactions, these processes are likely be thermally sensitive. Tadpoles elevated UVBR at low environmental temperatures have significantly higher rates mortality developmental deformities compared...
Pharmaceutical pollution is a major driver of global change, with the capacity to alter key behavioural and physiological traits in exposed animals. Antidepressants are among most commonly detected pharmaceuticals environment. Despite well-documented pharmacological effects antidepressants on sleep humans other vertebrates, very little known about their ecologically relevant impacts as pollutants non-target wildlife. Accordingly, we investigated acute 3-day exposure eastern mosquitofish...
Abstract Amphibian declines are a prominent part of the global biodiversity crisis and have received special consideration because they occurred relatively recently, on scale, in seemingly pristine habitats where no obvious anthropogenic cause is apparent. Although several causes for been implicated, isolation singular has proven elusive. Consequently, it hypothesized that complex interactions between multiple environmental stressors, particularly those associated with change, may be...
Thermal conditions in the developmental environment can substantially affect an individual's phenotype, particularly egg-laying ectotherms. However, whether these effects persist into adulthood is rarely examined. To investigate this, we incubated delicate skink, Lampropholis delicata , eggs at either cool (22°C), mild (26°C) or hot (30°C) temperatures. After hatching, measured growth, thermal performance curves of locomotor activity, and sensitivity resting metabolic rate offspring as...
Increased ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation as a consequence of ozone depletion is one the many potential drivers ongoing global amphibian declines. Both alone and in combination with other environmental stressors, UV-B known to have detrimental effects on early life stages amphibians, but our understanding fitness consequences these remains superficial. We examined independent interactive predatory chemical cues (PCC) suite traits Limnodynastes peronii embryos tadpoles, assessed tadpole...
Abstract The current policy has the world on track to experience around 3°C of warming by 2100. responses organisms our will be mediated changes in physiological processes, including metabolic rate. Metabolic rate represents energetic cost living, and is fundamental understanding energy required sustain populations. Current evidence indicates that animals have a limited capacity adapt warmer environments reducing their Consequently, may more reliant plasticity ameliorate thermodynamic effect...
Respirometry is an important tool for understanding whole-animal energy and water balance in relation to the environment. Consequently, growing number of studies using respirometry over last decade warrants reliable reporting data sharing effective dissemination research synthesis. We provide a checklist guideline on five key sections facilitate transparency, reproducibility, replicability studies: 1) materials, set up, plumbing, 2) subject conditions/maintenance, 3) measurement conditions,...
SUMMARY The effects of experimental alterations aerial O2 partial pressure (PO2,air) on bimodal gas exchange and air-breathing behaviour were investigated in the aquatic fish Trichogaster leeri normoxic water. Fish responded to increasing PO2,air by decreasing frequency,increasing consumption rate(V̇O2), mean uptake per breath(V̇O2/breath) V̇O2 maintain a constant total V̇O2. rate oxygen from organ (ABO) during apnoea(V̇O2,ap) was derived breath-by-breath basis VO2/breath apnoea duration....