University of Tasmania, Australia

Description

The Comparative Endocrinology and Ecophysiology group (CERG) considers evolutionary and ecological questions from a physiological perspective.

Our work primarily focuses on the reproductive biology, endocrinology and thermal physiology of Tasmania's reptiles and mammals. We are particularly interested in the evolution of the endocrine regulation of physiology and behaviour. We enjoy field work but like to keep our feet dry, so we primarily study terrestrial vertebrates!

Special research areas include

• Endocrinology and placental physiology of viviparous lizards (Sue Jones and Ashley Edwards)
• Echidnas : Hibernation and reproduction (Stewart Nicol)

Reptiles provide a special research focus for Dr Ashley Edwards, Prof. Susan (Sue) Jones (Leader of the Comparative Endocrinology Research Group (CERG), and their students. Most of the Tasmanian herpetofauna is readily accessible from Hobart, often at superbly beautiful field sites, and the School of Zoology has excellent, dedicated facilities for captive husbandry of reptiles. Sue and Ashley run the only endocrinology lab. in Australia specialising in the hormones of viviparous lizards. Their work focuses on steroids and their physiological roles in reproductive and stress physiology, not only in reptiles, but also in other vertebrates. Sue Jones has active collaborations with Dr Erik Wapstra with whom she co-supervises several students.

Monotremes are the major research interest for Assoc.Prof.Stewart Nicol. Most of this work is done in the field, and Stewart has a study population of echidnas in the southern midlands, an hour's drive from the University. The current thrust of this study is in exploring the relationship between hibernation and reproduction, as well as investigating diet, habitat use, and population genetics.

Work on platypus is carried out in association with Dr Sarah Munks (Forest Practices Authority) who is particularly interested in the effects of habitat disturbance on platypus.

Contact Sue Jones

Projects

• Chemistry, function and evolution of chemical signals in Australian mammals

• Do oestrogenic chemical compounds have endocrine disrupting effects in lizards

• Dynamics of ovarian development in temperate climate skinks

• Echidnas - Behavioural thermoregulation during hibernation

• Endocrine control of reproductive behaviours in Tasmanian lizards

• Endocrine regulation of energy storage and metabolism in metallic skinks Niveoscincus metallicus (Honours)

• Impacts of urban living on lizard physiology

• Influence of maternal synthetic glucocorticoid levels on sex ratios in mice (Mus musculus)

• Interactions between adrenal and reproductive physiology in viviparous reptiles

• Kin recognition in viviparous lizards

• Maternal investment strategies, delayed parturition, and the evolution of viviparity in snow skinks

• Optimising conditions for holding lizards in captivity

• Physiological and molecular basis of marsupial thermogenesis

• Physiological monitoring of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) under aquaculture conditions

• Physiology and behavioural aspects of feeding in omnivorous skinks

• Platypus - Behavioural ecology and diet of platypus in the Plenty River catchment

• Reproductive biology of the oviparous skink Lampropholis in Tasmania

• Roles for testosterone in reproduction in female lizards

• Roles for estrogen in reproduction in male lizards

• Spermatogenesis in lizards: temperature and endocrine influences

• The relationship between placental complexity and uptake of electrolytes and organic substrates into embryonic compartments

• Thermal flexibility in lizards: coping with different climates