Behavioural and Evolutionary Ecology

Tasmania an interesting place to study evolutionary biology. It is ecologically diverse by Australian standards, and its history is relatively well-known. The fauna includes cool temperate elements with strong Gondwanan affinities, and includes ancient or relictual groups, in a landscape that retains large tracts of undisturbed land.

Dr Erik Wapstra's active research group is focusing on four main topics. Honours and postgraduate projects are available in each of these:

• Climate variability and climate change and their impacts on vertebrate populations:
  
• Maternal effects on offspring characters
• Maintenance of individual variation in behaviour
  
• Evolution of social behaviour in reptiles