Interactions between sensory systems, signals and the environment and the direction of evolution - wild guppy populations.

I welcome new Ph.D. students with general interests in the interaction between sensory systems, signals, and the environment, and using these interactions to predict the direction of evolution under known environmental conditions.

My project involves Bowerbirds, Guppies and Bearded Dragons and involve a mixture of field work, field experiments, lab experiments, and modelling, and students can work on any aspect of these. I am always happy to have Ph.D. students with similar interests, but they do not have to work with one of these three systems. I've also had students working with various kinds of insects and spiders. I do not give my students set projects but expect students to develop their own unique projects with my extensive help. Ask yourself what scientific question interests you most then we can start talking about it! Email me at: [Email Address Removed]

Experimental evolution under known changed conditions in laboratory (Mesocosm) and wild guppy populations. How do changed visual environments (mimicking changes in the forest canopy as a result of climate change) affect visibility of mates to females hence the direction of evolution of male displays, and how does this affect the
evolution of female mating preferences and the visual system. How does artificial selection for chasing particular colours affect female preferences, male traits and the visual system? What are the effects in the field of canopy thinning on wild guppy populations? I have multiple minor projects resulting from these main questions.