Evolution & Diversity of Australasian Vertebrates

Our research has three broad foci:

1. discovery and description of biodiversity in the Australasian region
2. evolutionary history of the Australasian vertebrates
3. understanding the evolutionary basis of the generation and maintenance of biodiversity

These basic research approaches generate knowledge and expertise that can be used for natural resource management and conservation and so consequently many opportunities arise for us to provide research solutions for a range of government and private resource management and conservation agencies.

We have substantial resources to support our exciting and diverse research program, including the Australian Biological Tissue Collection, one of the worlds largest tissue collections for molecular genetic research, a regional facility fully equipped and staffed for molecular ecology and evolutionary research, a world class ancient DNA laboratory, local supercomputer facilities for data analysis and a diverse field work program.

Our research is supported by the Australian Research Council, the Australian Biological Resources Study, the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments, and numerous private companies and foundations. We collaborate with a large number of researchers elsewhere in Australia and overseas and often organise reciprocal laboratory exchanges to facilitate our research.

Major Projects

1. Conservation genetics of malleefowl, Raoul Mulder (University of Melbourne) and Peter Dunn (University of Wisconsin)
2. Ecological restoration strategies for endangered amphibians, Michael Mahony (Newcastle University)
3. Systematics and Evolution of Australasian vertebrates, Nicholas Vidal (Paris Museum), Blair Hedges (University of Pennsylvannia)Scott Keogh (ANU), Ken Aplin (Pappinbarra, NSW), Conrad Hoskin (James Cook University), Craig Moritz (University of California, Berkeley), Kevin Rowe (Museum Victoria), Steve Richards (Northern Territory Museum)
4. Diversification in major continental vertebrate radiations, Dan Rabosky (University of Michigan), Alan Cooper (University of Adelaide)