Dr Jeremy Austin

Biography/ Background

I grew up in Tasmania and completed a Science Degree and PhD at the Unversity of Tasmania. Since then I have worked on ancient DNA projects at the Natural History Museum (London) from 1994-2000, a brief stint with a marine ecology consultancy company undertaking marine park surveys along the Victorian coastline, comparative phylogeography of rainforest vertebrates at the University of Queensland (2000-2003), phylogeography and molecular systematics of Australian owls and lizards at Museum Victoria (2003-2005), taught a one semester third year course in human evolutionary genetics at Latrobe University (2004) and have been based at the University of Adelaide since 2005. My research uses ancient and modern DNA to understand the impacts of human activities over the last 200 years on threatened and endangered species, the impacts of climate change on genetic diversity and demography over the last 50,000 years and the phylogeography of a range of vertebrates.

Qualifications

BSc (Hons), University of Tasmania, 1991

PhD, University of Tasmania, 1995

Teaching Interests

RESEARCH STUDENTS AND PROJECTS

Alex Anderson, Honours Project: Population genetics of grey-headed robins in the Australian Wet Tropics (submitted 2002)

Sarah Bray, PhD Project: Evolution and demography of giant short-faced bears and brown bears (commenced 2005)

Gaynor Dolman, PhD Project: Speciation in Wet Tropics fauna: Carlia skinks (submitted February 2006)

Josh Hale, PhD Project: Human induced changes in the genetic structure of amphibian populations (based at Museum Victoria, commenced 2007)

Conrad Hoskin, PhD Project: Evolution in a secondary contact zone between two lineages of the Green-eyed Tree Frog Litoria genimaculata (submitted May 2006)

Andrew Hugall, PhD Project: Wet Tropics land snail phylogeography (commenced 2006)

Katrina Morris, PhD Project: Genetics of the Tasmanian devil and immunology of the devil facial tumour disease (based at University of Sydney, commenced 2008)

James Nicholls, PhD Project: Call and genetic variation in the satin bowerbird (submitted 2005)

Lindi Olivier, Hons Project: Conservation genetics of Wedge-tailed Eagles (2010)

Nicolas Rawlence, PhD Project: Population demographics of moa in New Zealand during the late Pleistocene and Holocene (commenced 2005)

Michelle Roberts, Hons Project: Morphological and molecular analysis of diet in the arrow squid, Nototodarus gouldi (submitted November 2007)

Katie Smith, PhD Project: Human induced changes in the genetic structure of amphibian populations (based at Museum Victoria, commenced 2007)

Jessica Wadley, Hons Project: Phylogeography and conservation genetics of Wedge-tailed Eagles (submitted November 2009)

Publications

Book Chapters

1.              Kowalchuk GA, Austin JJ, Gooding PS & Stephen JR (2007) Valid Recovery of Nucleic Acid Sequence Information from High Contamination Risk Samples – Ancient DNA and Environmental DNA. In: Perspectives in Bioanalysis, Volume 2 (ed. K. Mitchelson), pp 357-371, Elsevier, Amsterdam

 

2.              Austin, JJ (2001) DNA from Museum Specimens. In: Encyclopaedia of Genetics, (ed. ECR Reeve), pp 817-820, Fitzroy Dearborn, London.

 

Journal Articles

3.              Haile J, Froese D, MacPhee RDE, Roberts RG, Arnold LJ, Rasmussen M, Nielsen R, Brook BW, Robinson S, Demuro M, Gilbert MTP, Munch K, Austin JJ, Cooper A, Barnes I, Möller P, Willerslev E (2009) Ancient DNA reveals late survival of mammoth and horse in interior Alaska. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 106: 22352-22357.

4.              Slater GJ, Thalmann O, Leonard JA, Schweizer RM, Koepfli K-P, Pollinger JP, Rawlence NJ, Austin JJ, Cooper A, Wayne RK (2009) Evolutionary history of the Falklands Wolf. Current Biology 19:R937-938.

5.              Denham T, Atchison J, Austin J, Bestel S, Bowdery D, Crowther A, Dolby N, Fairbairn A, Field J, Kennedy A, Lentfer A, Matheson C, Nugent S, Parr J, Prebble M, Robertson G, Specht J, Torrence R, Barton H, Fullagar R, Haberle S, Horrocks M, Lewis T, Matthews P (2009) Archaeobotany in Australia and New Guinea: Practice, potential and prospects. Australian Archaeology 68: 1-10.

6.              Orlando L, Metcalf J, Alberdi MT, Telles-Antunes M, Bonjean D, Otte, M, Martin F, Eisenmann V, Mashkour M, Morello F, Prado JL, Salas-Gismoni R, Shockey BJ, Wrinn PJ, Vasil’ev SK, Ovodov ND, Cherry MI, Hopwood B, Male D, Austin JJ, Hanni C, Cooper A (2009) Revising the recent evolutionary history of equids using ancient DNA. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 106: 21754-21759.

7.              Sands, CJ, Lancaster ML, Austin JJ, Sunnucks P (2009) Single copy nuclear DNA markers for the onychophoran Phallocephale tallagandensis Conservation Genetics Resources DOI 10.1007/s12686-009-9004-0

8.              Bray SCE, Østybe K, Østbye E, Lauritzen S-E, Aaris-Sørensen K, Valdiosera C, Austin JJ, Cooper A (submitted) Ancient DNA analysis of post-glacial Scandinavian brown bears. Molecular Ecology

9.              Braley M, Goldsworthy SD, Page B, Steer M, Austin JJ (2009) Assessment of morphological and molecular diet analysis techniques: application of a combined approach to resolve the diet of arrow squid, Nototodarus gouldi, in the eastern Great Australian Bight. Molecular Ecology Resources doi: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02767.x

10.            Austin JJ, Arnold EN, Jones CG (2009) Interrelationships and history of the slit-eared skinks (Gongylomorphus, Scincidae) of the Mascarene islands, based on mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences. Zootaxa 2153: 55-68.

11.            Gongora J, Rawlence NJ, Mobegi VA, Jianlin H, Alcalde JA, Matus JT, Hanotte O, Moran C, Austin JJ, Ulm S, Anderson AJ, Larson G, Cooper A (2008) Reply to Storey et al.: More DNA and dating studies needed for ancient El Arenal-1 chickens. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 105: E100

12.            Boessenkool S, Austin JJ, Worthy TH, Scofield P, Cooper A, Seddon PJ, Waters JM (2008) Relict or colonizer? Extinction and range expansion of penguins in the South Seas. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B. doi:10.1098/rspb.2008.1246

13.            Wood JR, Rawlence, NJ, Rogers GM, Austin JJ, Worthy TH, Cooper A (2008) Coprolite deposits reveal the diet and ecology of the extinct New Zealand megaherbivore moas (Aves, Dinornithiformes). Quaternary Science Reviews 27: 2593-2602.

14.            Gongora J, Rawlence NJ, Mobegi VA, Jianlin H, Alcalde JA, Matus JT, Hanotte O, Moran C, Austin JJ, Ulm S, Anderson AJ, Larson G, Cooper A (2008) Indo-European and Asian origins for Chilean and Pacific chickens revealed by mtDNA. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 105: 10308-10313.

15.            Brotherton P, Endicott P, Beaumont M, Barnett R, Austin J, Cooper A, Sanchez JJ (2008) Single primer extension (SPEX) amplification to accurately genotype highly damaged DNA templates. Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series 1: 19-21.

16.            Shoo LP, Rose R, Doughty P, Austin JJ, Melville J (2008) Diversification patterns of pebble-mimic dragons are consistent with historical disruption of important habitat corridors in arid Australia. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48: 528-542.

17.            Brotherton P, Endicott P, Sanchez JJ, Beaumont M, Barnett R, Austin J & Cooper, A (2007) Novel high-resolution characterization of ancient DNA reveals C>U-type base modification events as the sole cause of post mortem miscoding lesions. Nucleic Acids Research 35: 5717-5728

18.            Nicholls JA, Austin JJ, Pavlacky DC & Green DC (2007) Characterization of polymorphic microsatellites in the logrunner, Orthonyx temminckii (Aves : Orthonychidae) Molecular Ecology Notes 7:1117-1119

19.            Melville J, Goebel S, Starr C, Keogh JS & Austin JJ (2007) Conservation genetics and species status of an endangered Australian dragon, Tympanocryptis pinguicolla (Reptilia: Agamidae). Conservation Genetics 8:185-195

20.            Doughty P, Maryan B, Melville J & Austin JJ (2007) Independent evolution of salt lake specialization in the genus Ctenophorus (Lacertilia: Agamidae), with a description of a new species from Lake Disappointment, Western Australia. Herpetologica 63:72-86.

21.            Austin, JJ & Arnold, EN (2006) Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39: 503-511.

22.            Nicholls JA, Austin JJ, Moritz C & Goldizen AW (2006) Genetic population structure and call variation in a passerine bird, the satin bowerbird, Ptilonorhynchus violaceus. Evolution 60: 1279-1290.

23.            Austin, JJ & Melville, J (2006) Incorporating historical museum specimens into molecular systematic and conservation genetics research. Molecular Ecology Notes 6: 1089-1092.

24.            Austin, JJ, Rose, RR & Melville, J (2006) Polymorphic microsatellite markers in the painted dragon lizard, Ctenophorus pictus. Molecular Ecology Notes 6: 194-196.

25.            Nicholls, JA & Austin, JJ (2005) Phylogeography of an east Australian wet forest bird, the satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), derived from mtDNA and morphology. Molecular Ecology 14, 1485-1496.

26.            Rheindt, FE & Austin, JJ (2005) Major analytical and conceptual short-comings in a recent taxonomic revision of the Procellariiformes – a reply to Penhallurick and Wink (2004). Emu 105, 181-186.

27.            Beadell, JS, Gering, E, Austin, JJ, Dumbacher, JP, Pierce, MA, Pratt, TK, Atkinson, CT & Fleischer, RC (2005) Host-specificity and prevalence of avian malaria parasites in the Austral-Papuan region. Molecular Ecology 13, 3829-3844.

28.            Bardeleben, C, Semple-Delaney, K, Austin, JJ & Moore, RL (2005) Isolation of polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite markers for the grey-headed robin Poecilodryas albispecularis. Molecular Ecology Notes 5, 146-148.

29.            Bardeleben, C, Gray, MM, Austin, JJ & Amorim do Rosario, I (2005) Isolation of polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite markers for the large-billed scrubwren Sericornis magnirostris. Molecular Ecology Notes 5, 143-145.

30.            Bardeleben, C, Moore, RL, Austin, JJ & Robson, T (2005) Isolation of polymorphis tetranucleotide microsatellite markers for the Satin Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus. Molecular Ecology Notes 5, 305-307.

31.            Austin, JJ, Bretagnole, V & Pasquet, E (2004) A global molecular phylogeny of the small Puffinus shearwaters and implications for the systematics of the Little/Audubon’s shearwater complex. Auk 121, 847-864.

32.            Austin, JJ, Arnold, EN & Jones, CG (2004) Reconstructing an island radiation using ancient and recent DNA: the extinct and living geckos (Phelsuma) of the Mascarene islands. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 31, 109-122.

33.            Cook, CE, Austin, JJ, and Disney, RHL (2004) A mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA phylogeny of critical genera of the Phoridae (Diptera) and related families of Aschiza. Zootaxa 593, 1-11.

34.            Austin, JJ, Arnold, EN & Bour, R (2003) Was there a second adaptive radiation of giant tortoises in the Indian Ocean? Using mitochondrial DNA to investigate speciation and biogeography of Aldabrachelys (Reptilia, Testudinidae) Molecular Ecology 12, 1415-1424

35.            Austin, JJ, Arnold, EN & Bour, R (2002) The provenance of type specimens of extinct Mascarene Island giant tortoises (Cylindraspis) revealed by ancient mitochondrial DNA sequences. Journal of Herpetology 36, 280-285.

36.            Shapiro, B, Sibthorpe, D, Rambaut, A, Austin, JJ, Wragg, GM, Bininda-Emonds, ORP, Lee, PLM, & Cooper, A (2002) Flight of the Dodo. Science 295,1683.

37.            Austin, JJ and Arnold, EN (2001) Ancient mitochondrial DNA and morphology elucidate an extinct island radiation of Indian Ocean giant tortoises (Cylindraspis). Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B. 268, 2515-2523.

38.            Cooper, A, Lalueza-Fox, C, Anderson, S, Rambaut, A, Austin, J and Ward, R (2001) Complete mitochondrial genome sequences of two extinct moas clarify ratite evolution. Nature  409: 704-707.

39.            Austin, JJ, Smith, AB, Fortey, RA and Thomas, RH (1998) Ancient DNA from amber inclusions: a review of the evidence. Ancient Biomolecules  2: 167-176.

40.            Austin, JJ, Smith, AB and Thomas, RH (1997) Palaeontology in a molecular world: the search for authentic ancient DNA. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 12: 303-306.

41.            Austin, JJ, Ross, AJ, Smith, AB, Fortey, RA, and Thomas, RH (1997) Problems of reproducibility - does geologically ancient DNA survive in amber preserved insects? Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B. 264: 467-474.

42.            Smith, AB and Austin, JJ (1997) Can geologically ancient DNA be recovered from the fossil record? GeoScientist 7: 8-11.

43.            Bowman, JP, Cavanagh, J, Austin, JJ, and Sanderson, K (1996) Novel psychrobacter species from antarctic ornithogenic soils. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 46: 841-848.

44.            Austin, JJ (1996) Molecular phylogenetics of Puffinus shearwaters: preliminary evidence from mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 6: 77-88.

45.            Austin, JJ and Parkin, DT (1996) Low frequency of extra-pair paternity in two colonies of the socially monogamous Short-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris). Molecular Ecology 5: 145-150.

46.            Austin, JJ and Parkin, DT (1995) Female-specific restriction fragments revealed by DNA fingerprinting and implications for extra-pair fertilisations in the Short-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris, Procellariiformes: Procellariidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 43: 443-447.

47.            Austin, JJ and Edmunds, M (1994) Hatching success of the Short-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris) in two Tasmanian colonies. Corella 18: 44-46.

48.            Austin, JJ, White, RWG and Ovenden, JR (1994) Population genetic structure of a philopatric, colonial nesting seabird, the Short-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris) The Auk 111: 70-79.

49.            Austin, JJ, Carter, RE and Parkin, DT (1993) Genetic evidence for extra-pair fertilisations in socially monogamous Short-tailed Shearwaters, Puffinus tenuirostris (Procellariiformes, Procellariidae), using DNA fingerprinting. Australian Journal of Zoology 41: 1-11.

 

Conference Abstracts

 

50.            Austin JJ, Bray S, Worthy T, Medlin G, Cooper A (2007) Reconstructing Southern Hemisphere late-Pleistocene and Holocene palaeo-environments using ancient DNA from cave and swamp-preserved bones and sediments. Quaternary International 167-168: 19

51.            Bray S, Austin J, Barnes I, Weinstock J, Shapiro B , Cooper A (2007) The evolution and genetic diversity of the extinct Tremarctine bears. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts 85: 41

 

Other Publications

52.            Murphy S, Berryman A, Burbridge A, Joseph L, Austin J (2009) Raising the stakes: Ancient and modern population history of Western Ground Parrots combine to suggest a new addition to Australia’s critically endangered species list. Wingspan 19: 19.

53.            Austin JJ and Haak W (2009) Mitochondrial DNA Identification of Human Skeletal Remains. Report to the Munro Family

54.            Austin JJ and Haak W (2009) Mitochondrial DNA Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from a WWII site on the Kokoda Trail, Papua New Guinea. Report to the Army History Unit, Australian Defence Force.

55.            Austin JJ and Haak W (2009) Mitochondrial DNA Anlaysis of Human Skeletal Remains. Report to the University of Oxford

56.            Austin JJ (2008) DNA barcoding. Can You Believe It? Popular science article for the Advertiser Newspaper.

57.            Austin JJ (2007) DNA-based identification of human skeletal remains from the HMAS Sydney, Report to the Royal Australian Navy.

58.            Austin JJ (2007) Nowhere to hide. Can You Believe It? Popular science article for the Advertiser Newspaper

59.            Austin JJ (2007) Turning back time. Can You Believe It? Popular science article for the Advertiser Newspaper

 

Conference Presentations

Rawlence N, Worthy TH, Austin J, Cooper A (2008) Phylogeography of the extinct New Zealand moa genus Pachyornis: insights from ancient DNA and morphology.  Society for Avian Palaeontology and Evolution Conference, Sydney Museum, Australia

Rawlence N, Worthy TH, Austin J, Cooper A (2008) Phylogeography of the extinct New Zealand moa genus Pachyornis: insights from ancient DNA and morphology.  Genetics Society of Australasia Conference, Adelaide, Australia

Bray S, Austin J, Shapiro B, Weinstock J, Barnes I, Soibelzon L, Cooper A (2008) Ancient DNA analysis of the extinct Tremarctine bears. Genetics Society of Australasia Conference, Adelaide, Australia

Rawlence N, Worthy TH, Austin J, Cooper A (2008) Temporal population demographics of heavy-footed moa (Pachyornis elephantopus) in relation to climate and habitat change in South Island, New Zealand.  Adelaide Conference on Mathematical and Evolutionary Biology, Naracoorte Caves, South Australia

Bray S, Austin J, Cooper A (2007) Using ancient DNA to assess the phylogeography of European, Russian and North American brown bears (Ursus arctos). Genetics Society of Australasia Annual Conference, Sydney, Australia.

Austin JJ, Bray S, Worthy T, Kasper M, Rawlence N, Wood J, Medlin G, Cooper A (2007) Reconstructing Southern Hemisphere late-Pleistocene and Holocene palaeo-environments using ancient DNA from cave and swamp-preserved bones and sediments.  XVII INQUA Congress 2007, Cairns, Australia.

Bray S, Austin J, Barnes I, Shapiro B, Weinstock J, Cooper A (2007) The evolution and genetic diversity of the extinct Tremarctine bears. Evolution 2007, Christchurch NZ

Bray S, Austin J, Barnes I, Weinstock J, Shapiro B , Cooper A (2007) The evolution and genetic diversity of the extinct Tremarctine bears. Conference on Australasian Vertebrate Evolution, Palaeontology and Systematics, Melbourne, Australia

Rawlence N, Worthy T, Austin J, Cooper A (2007) Ancient DNA sheds light on moa gigantism and dwarfism in New Zealand. Genetics Society of Australasia Annual Conference, Sydney, Australia.

Austin JJ, Arnold EN (2006) Island radiation, island extinction - ancient DNA reveals the evolutionary history of extinct and endemic reptiles from the Mascarene islands. Dodo Conference, University of Oxford, UK

Austin JJ (2004) Islands in the sun – ancient DNA reveals the evolutionary history of extinct and endemic reptiles from the Mascarene islands. Ancient DNA 7, Brisbane, Queensland

Austin JJ, Williams SE, Moritz C (2002) Ecological determinants of diversity in the bird fauna of the Wet Tropics. Ecological Society of Australia. Cairns, Queensland

Austin JJ, Moritz C (2002) Avian genetic diversity in rainforests of eastern Australia. Center for Tropical Research Conference on Rainforest Diversification UCLA, California

Austin JJ, Arnold EN (1998) Islands in the Sun - Evolution at a Tortoise's pace in the south-west Indian Ocean. British Association Annual Festival of Science. , Cardiff University, Wales.

Austin JJ, Arnold EN (1998) Molecular perspectives on the evolution of Mascarene Island reptiles. Evolution and Conservation in the Mascarene Islands.  The Natural History Museum, London.

Austin JJ, Thomas RH, Fortey, RA, Smith AB (1995) Characterisation of DNA's from amber and copal preserved insects. Ancient DNA III, University of Oxford, England.

Austin JJ (1993) Molecular analyses of mating systems in the Short-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus tenuirostris. Royal Australian Ornithologists Union Seabird Congress, University of Tasmania, Australia.

 

 

 

Community Engagement

Science Communication to the Wider Community

2009    Public lecture on ancient DNA - Museum Victoria, Melbourne (http://museumvictoria.com.au/about/mv-news/2009/ancient-dna-lecture/)

            Public lecture on ancient DNA - Research Tuesdays, University of Adelaide (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/researchtuesdays/2009/jaustin.html)

            Palaeontology Week – public lecture at the South Australian Museum

            Public lecture on ancient DNA - Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston

2008    Can You Believe It – popular science article for the Advertiser newspaper

            Maths Science Life Impact – ancient DNA presentation and activity for high school students

2007    Science@Adelaide - ancient DNA presentation to high school students

            Can You Believe It – two popular science articles for the Advertiser newspaper

2006    National Science Week – CSIRO Cutting Edge Science Lecture, University of Adelaide

            CONASTA – National Science Teachers Conference, University of Adelaide

2004    National Science Week, Museum Victoria – public presentation on ancient DNA

2003    National Science Week, Museum Victoria – public presentation on ancient DNA

            Owl Genetics Project  - with Australian Geographic magazine – co-ordinator of this public participation research project, and associated media coverage (TV, news and radio).

            DNA Lab – live laboratory-based public display at Museum Victoria which received

widespread media coverage and won the 2004 Museum Australia – Museum Industry

Recognition Award.

Media

2010      Totally Wild, Channel 10 – Yellow-eyed penguins

2009      Catalyst, ABC TV (http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2501080.htm) – Ancient DNA           Monsterquest, The History Channel (http://www.history.com/minisites/monsterquest) – Isle of the Lost Tiger

The Age, Education Section (http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/cracking-the-dna-code-20090306-8qln.html) – Ancient DNA

 

2008

ABC TV (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/04/2409352.htm?section=justin), The Advertiser (http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sa-help-in-tasmanian-devil-cancer-fight/story-e6freol3-1111117932009), Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,446348,00.html), Science Daily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081103164725.htm) - Tasmanian Devils

Readers Digest “The Hunt for the Unknown Sailor” Helen O’Neill – HMAS Sydney DNA identification

Stateline, ABC TV (http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/sa/content/2006/s2184782.htm) - HMAS Sydney DNA identification

BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7276943.stm), ABC News (http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/03/05/2181122.htm?site=science&topic=latest) - Hobbit debate

Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE4AJ1SD20081120), BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7735500.stm), Sydney Morning Herald (http://news.smh.com.au/national/research-identifies-new-penguin-species-20081119-6b8i.html), ABC News (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/19/2423903.htm?section=justin) - Yellow-eyed penguins.

 

2007            The Bulletin Magazine “The Bone Sailor” Cheryl Jones – HMAS Sydney DNA identification

Entry last updated: Tuesday, 9 Feb 2010