Research Interests

Reptiles. Well ok not just reptiles, but their thermal biology and also the adaptation they undergo when invadine new thermal environments. For my PhD I want to incorporate these interests with something that has potential for commercial application. This led me to looking at invasive species, specifically the Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus).

At this stage the exact questions are still in the planning process, but I hope to examine thermal plasticity in geckos to assess how phenotypic plasticity facilitates adaptation. Updates will be coming.

Honours Research

During my third year at uni I became interested in reptiles, and the dormancy periods they undergo in winter; even pet ones that have a stable thermal environment. These observations lead me to investigate the wintering thermal biology of sub-tropical ectotherms, using the Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesueurii) as my study species. I investigated whether P. lesueurii underwent periods of dormancy during the cooler winter months and whether any periods of dormancy were due to the thermal constraints of the environment or facultative changes in behaviour.

Skye marking an Eastern Water Dragon, Physignathus lesueurii for ID

 We found that in a sub-tropical environment these lizards have a choice in whether to go dormant. Specifically, dormancy periods were not due to body condition or size, but females went dormant generally twice as long as males, and dominant males remained active or had very short dormancy periods throughout winter. Interestingly I also found arousal periods (spikes in body temperature for the period of one day) in lizards that were dormant. These arousals were not linked to any environmental factor, leading us to question why these lizards have random periods of arousal during dormancy.

Personal Interests

When I am not chasing lizards for research I enjoy spending time with my pet reptiles and learning what makes them tick, having friends over for Buffy marathons, and just getting outside of the big smoke to do some travelling and hiking whenever I get the chance.