SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION OF INVERTEBRATES
Academic and Research Staff
Prof Andy Austin
Prof Steve Cooper
Dr Michelle Guzik
Dr Rachael King
Dr Gary Taylor
Dr Simon Tierney
Prof Phil Weinstein
andy.austin@adelaide.edu.au
steve.cooper@samuseum.sa.gov.au
michelle.guzik@adelaide.edu.au
rachael.king@samuseum.sa.gov.au
gary.taylor@adelaide.edu.au
simon.tierney@adelaide.edu.au
phil.winstein@adelaide.edu.au
Arthropods are the most diverse and ubiquitous animals in terrestrial and freshwater
environments. They are important targets for evolutionary and systematics research, as well
as for examining biodiversity, ecosystem function, and as pests and beneficial species. Our
research focuses on a number of key issues in contemporary biology, using an array of both
morphological and molecular techniques. As a guide to the types of projects honours
students might undertake, here are some specific examples below. There are numerous
other similar projects available which can be discussed on request.
Evolution and phylogeography of subterranean invertebrates
Supervisors: Prof Steve Cooper, Dr Michelle Guzik, Prof Andy Austin, and Dr Rachael King
Contact:
Steve.Cooper@samuseum.sa.gov.au or andy.austin@adelaide.edu.au
This project focuses on an extraordinary new ecosystem of subterranean animals that were
recently discovered in numerous isolated calcrete aquifers of central Western Australia. The
entire system resembles a subterranean archipelago and each aquifer appears to have a
unique suite of different species, including water beetles and a variety of different
crustaceans. The water beetle fauna alone is the most diverse of its kind in the world with
over 100 species known so far. The species represent living fossils of an earlier time period
when Australia was covered in rainforest, and as such the system provides a model for
investigating the biogeographic history of Australia. Considerable research is still required to
document the diversity and understand the evolutionary history of this fauna, information that
is crucial for the sustainable management of these ecosystems. Honours projects are
available in the fields of systematics and taxonomy, phylogeography and molecular evolution
(see project below on regressive evolution).
The systematics and evolution of insect parasitoids
Supervisors: Prof Andy Austin and Prof Steve Cooper
Contact:
andy.austin@adelaide.edu.au
Parasitic wasps are extremely diverse in most terrestrial ecosystems and are often used as
biocontrol agents of insect pests. An international research program focussing on the
sytematics of parasitic wasps is exploring their taxonomic diversity, phylogenetic
relationships, and evolution of hosts associations. There are several possible honours
projects that combine comparative morphological studies and molecular techniques to
examine the systematics of specific groups.
Evolution of endemic groundwater spring invertebrates in the Great Artesian Basin
Supervisors: Prof Andy Austin, Dr Michelle Guzik, Prof Steve Cooper
Contact:
andy.austin@adelaide.edu.au
The mound springs represent one of Australia’s most significant environments and their
conservation is a national priority. Despite being surrounded by desert, these springs are
home to a diverse array of unique aquatic invertebrates. However, there is a lack of
knowledge about the evolution and ecology of spring communities and specific organisms.
Preliminary work has uncovered significant cryptic diversity in the aquatic species of these
springs, which leads to a number of interesting project possibilities. A study of the
population genetics of the northern Neales spring complex, which has a distinct evolutionary
history with a view to examine the possible dispersal mechanisms of spring endemics
amongst spring groups in detail; this project provides an opportunity to examine
phylogeography and also possible modes of geneflow/ dispersal among a range of springs
within the Neales spring complex with amphipods as a possible focus group.
Phylogeography and biology of the Naracoorte cave cricket, Novotettix naracoortensis
Supervisors: Prof Andy Austin, Prof Phil Weinstein and Dr Simon Tierney
Contact:
andy.austin@adelaide.edu.au, or phil.weinstein@adelaide.edu.au
The cricket family Rhaphidophoridae are troglophiles inhabiting the dark part of cave
entrances. They display obvious adaptations to life in the dark such as long delicate legs
and extremely long antennae, but they have functional eyes. Their general dependence on
caves as a place to live indicates they may be poor dispersers. One species, Novotettix
naracoortensis, is endemic to the Naracoorte Caves and surrounding cave systems – This
project will take a molecular genetics and phylogeographic approach to test whether
populations among caves are genetically isolated and interbreeding is rare, indicative of poor
dispersal. The project will require extensive fieldwork to determine the distribution of the
species as well as provide an opportunity to document its general biology.
The evolution and biology of insects associated with galls
Supervisors: Dr Gary Taylor and Prof Andy Austin,
Contact:
andy.austin@adelaide.edu.au, or gary.taylor@adelaide.edu.au,or,
Plant galls that are initiated by specific groups of insects provide food and shelter for other
insects including herbivores, predators, inquilines and parasitoids. These communities are
usually highly diverse, and coevolved in that the members utilising the gall are often
dependent on each other in either beneficial or antagonistic ways. The Myrtaceae in
Australia harbour many gall-forming insects, and these systems provide ideal models for
research in the systematics of co-dependent groups, the evolution of insect-plant-parasitoid
tritrophic interactions. An honours project in this area would inevitably include both extensive
field work and laboratory-based research.
Functional genomics of subterranean water beetles: the devolution of vision
Supervisors: Prof Steve Cooper, Prof Andy Austin and Dr Simon Tierney
Contact:
Steve.Cooper@samuseum.sa.gov.au or andy.austin@adelaide.edu.au or
simon.tierney@adelaide.edu.au
An animal’s ability to visually perceive the external environment has long been postulated as
a catalyst for the early diversification of animal forms during the Cambrian explosion. But
what happens when highly evolved and visually acute organisms colonise novel habitats
devoid of light? The formation of aquifers in subterranean limestone caves has created just
such a scenario for diving water beetles that have invaded this niche from surface water
habitats; a so-called ‘natural experiment’ because there are multiple independent invasions
of aquifers (parallel evolution) by predatory beetles that are completely blind. This project
will use cutting edge genomic tools (next-generation sequencing) to track the regressive
evolution of genes responsible for eye development and the physiology of vision, and will
ultimately test big-picture concepts relating to how evolutionary processes operate.
Evolution and systematics of marine and freshwater invertebrates of southern
Australia
Supervisors: Dr Rachael King, Prof Steve Cooper and Prof Andy Austin
Contact: Rachael.King@samuseum.sa.gov.au or andy.austin@adelaide.edu.au
Honours projects are available that will involve molecular and morphological examination of
marine and freshwater invertebrates in southern Australia. Students will use molecular data
to guide morphological studies and will explore biodiversity, hypothesise evolutionary
relationships, examine cryptic species complexes, revise classifications and describe new
species. Current projects involve crustaceans (Amphipoda and Isopoda), however students
with additional ideas for aquatic invertebrate studies are encouraged to contact Rachael
King.