Associate Professor Lyn Cook
Associate Professor

Lyn Cook

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52070

Background

I obtained my PhD from The Australian National University in 2001 and have been at UQ since August 2006

My research is primarily aimed at understanding the origins, diversification and distributions of organisms, especially plants and insects in Australia. I mostly take a comparative approach and use molecular phylogenies to test hypotheses about ecological and evolutionary processes. Recent and ongoing topics include: understanding how interactions among plants and insects affect the evolutionary radiation of each; teasing apart the effects of extinction and speciation to understand how past climate and environmental change has shaped our biota; and investigating the relative roles of continental drift and long distance dispersal in explaining the current distribution patterns of organisms in the southern hemisphere. Specific questions relate, but are not limited, to topics such as:

• how the diversification of the unique Australian flora has driven insect speciation

• whether specific insect-plant interactions are the result of long term co-radiation or more recent adaptive radiations of insects

• the relative roles of vicariance (such as that induced by continental drift) and dispersal in explaining the current distribution patterns of southern hemisphere organisms

• evolutionary patterns of host-use by herbivores

• how past climate change has shaped the current distributions of taxa

• assembly of the flora and fauna of current biomes, especially the arid zone, monsoon tropics and southern temperate biomes

• phylogeography of plants and insects, and what this reveals about contemporary and recent gene flow

• consequences of differential dispersal, such as that between male and female scale insects, different developmental stages, or seed and pollen

Availability

Associate Professor Lyn Cook is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Plant biology Zoology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), Australian National University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University

Research interests

  • Evolution of biodiversity

  • Scale insect systematics

  • Plant systematics

Search Professor Lyn Cook’s works on UQ eSpace

103 works between 1997 and 2024
All (103) Journal Article (97) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (4)

1 - 20 of 103 works

Featured

2015

Journal Article

Key innovation or adaptive change? A test of leaf traits using Triodiinae in Australia

Toon, A., Crisp, M. D., Gamage, H., Mant, J., Morris, D. C., Schmidt, S. and Cook, L. G. (2015). Key innovation or adaptive change? A test of leaf traits using Triodiinae in Australia. Scientific Reports, 5 (1) 12398, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/srep12398

Key innovation or adaptive change? A test of leaf traits using Triodiinae in Australia

Featured

2015

Journal Article

Three explanations for biodiversity hotspots: small range size, geographical overlap and time for species accumulation. An Australian case study

Cook, Lyn G., Hardy, Nate B. and Crisp, Michael D. (2015). Three explanations for biodiversity hotspots: small range size, geographical overlap and time for species accumulation. An Australian case study. New Phytologist, 207 (2), 390-400. doi: 10.1111/nph.13199

Three explanations for biodiversity hotspots: small range size, geographical overlap and time for species accumulation. An Australian case study

Featured

2013

Journal Article

How was the Australian flora assembled over the last 65 million years? A molecular phylogenetic perspective

Crisp, Michael D. and Cook, Lyn G. (2013). How was the Australian flora assembled over the last 65 million years? A molecular phylogenetic perspective. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 44, 303-324. doi: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110512-135910

How was the Australian flora assembled over the last 65 million years? A molecular phylogenetic perspective

2024

Journal Article

East rarely meets West: A revised delimitation for Pultenaea (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae) with reinstatement of Euchilus and three new genera from south-west Western Australia

Barrett, Russell L., Clugston, James A. R., Orthia, Lindy A., Cook, Lyn G., Crisp, Michael D., Lepschi, Brendan J., Macfarlane, Terry D., Weston, Peter H. and Wilkins, Carolyn F. (2024). East rarely meets West: A revised delimitation for Pultenaea (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae) with reinstatement of Euchilus and three new genera from south-west Western Australia. Australian Systematic Botany, 37 (5) SB23029. doi: 10.1071/SB23029

East rarely meets West: A revised delimitation for Pultenaea (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae) with reinstatement of Euchilus and three new genera from south-west Western Australia

2024

Journal Article

Evolutionary Relationships of Omani Macrotermes subhyalinus, Macrotermitinae

AlShamakhi, Hilal S., Al-Sadi, Abdullah M. and Cook, Lyn G. (2024). Evolutionary Relationships of Omani Macrotermes subhyalinus, Macrotermitinae. Insects, 15 (9) 648, 648. doi: 10.3390/insects15090648

Evolutionary Relationships of Omani Macrotermes subhyalinus, Macrotermitinae

2024

Journal Article

Host specificity of two co‐occurring nesting‐forms of the bag‐shelter moth <i>Ochrogaster lunifer</i> (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) is congruent with there being cryptic species

Perkins, Lynda E., Uemura, Mizuki, Zalucki, Myron P. and Cook, Lyn G. (2024). Host specificity of two co‐occurring nesting‐forms of the bag‐shelter moth Ochrogaster lunifer (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) is congruent with there being cryptic species. Austral Entomology, 63 (3), 406-412. doi: 10.1111/aen.12707

Host specificity of two co‐occurring nesting‐forms of the bag‐shelter moth <i>Ochrogaster lunifer</i> (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) is congruent with there being cryptic species

2024

Journal Article

Phylogeny, envenomation syndrome, and membrane permeabilising venom produced by Australia’s electric caterpillar Comana monomorpha

Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh H., Robinson, Samuel D., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Mitchell, Michela L., Cook, Lyn G., King, Glenn F. and Walker, Andrew A. (2024). Phylogeny, envenomation syndrome, and membrane permeabilising venom produced by Australia’s electric caterpillar Comana monomorpha. Scientific Reports, 14 (1) 14172, 14172. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-65078-1

Phylogeny, envenomation syndrome, and membrane permeabilising venom produced by Australia’s electric caterpillar Comana monomorpha

2024

Journal Article

Perianth evolution and implications for generic delimitation in the eucalypts (Myrtaceae), including the description of the new genus, <i>Blakella</i>

Crisp, Michael D., Minh, Bui Q., Choi, Bokyung, Edwards, Robert D., Hereward, James, Kulheim, Carsten, Lin, Yen Po, Meusemann, Karen, Thornhill, Andrew H., Toon, Alicia and Cook, Lyn G. (2024). Perianth evolution and implications for generic delimitation in the eucalypts (Myrtaceae), including the description of the new genus, Blakella. Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 62 (5), 942-962. doi: 10.1111/jse.13047

Perianth evolution and implications for generic delimitation in the eucalypts (Myrtaceae), including the description of the new genus, <i>Blakella</i>

2024

Journal Article

Genomic data resolve phylogenetic relationships of Australian mat-rushes, Lomandra (Asparagaceae: Lomandroideae)

Gunn, Bee F., Murphy, Daniel J., Walsh, Neville G., Conran, John G., Pires, J. Chris, Macfarlane, Terry D., Crisp, Michael D., Cook, Lyn G. and Birch, Joanne L. (2024). Genomic data resolve phylogenetic relationships of Australian mat-rushes, Lomandra (Asparagaceae: Lomandroideae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 204 (1), 1-22. doi: 10.1093/botlinnean/boad034

Genomic data resolve phylogenetic relationships of Australian mat-rushes, Lomandra (Asparagaceae: Lomandroideae)

2023

Journal Article

Phylogenetic relationships of the mutualistic fungi associated with Macrotermes subhyalinus in Oman

Alshamakhi, Hilal S., Al-Sadi, Abdullah M. and Cook, Lyn G. (2023). Phylogenetic relationships of the mutualistic fungi associated with Macrotermes subhyalinus in Oman. Mycobiology, 51 (5), 281-287. doi: 10.1080/12298093.2023.2258623

Phylogenetic relationships of the mutualistic fungi associated with Macrotermes subhyalinus in Oman

2023

Journal Article

Assessing the diversity of Australian tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae) using DNA barcoding and iterative species delimitation

Briggs, Ethan J., Santana, Renan C., Raven, Robert J. and Cook, Lyn G. (2023). Assessing the diversity of Australian tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae) using DNA barcoding and iterative species delimitation. Austral Entomology, 62 (4), 464-478. doi: 10.1111/aen.12666

Assessing the diversity of Australian tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae) using DNA barcoding and iterative species delimitation

2023

Journal Article

Are asymmetric inheritance systems an evolutionary trap? Transitions in the mechanism of paternal genome loss in the scale insect family Eriococcidae

Hodson, Christina N, Toon, Alicia, Cook, Lyn and Ross, Laura (2023). Are asymmetric inheritance systems an evolutionary trap? Transitions in the mechanism of paternal genome loss in the scale insect family Eriococcidae. Genetics, 224 (3) iyad090. doi: 10.1093/genetics/iyad090

Are asymmetric inheritance systems an evolutionary trap? Transitions in the mechanism of paternal genome loss in the scale insect family Eriococcidae

2023

Journal Article

Host phylogeny and ecological associations best explain Wolbachia host shifts in scale insects

Sanaei, Ehsan, Albery, Gregory F., Yeoh, Yun Kit, Lin, Yen‐Po, Cook, Lyn G. and Engelstädter, Jan (2023). Host phylogeny and ecological associations best explain Wolbachia host shifts in scale insects. Molecular Ecology, 32 (9), 2351-2363. doi: 10.1111/mec.16883

Host phylogeny and ecological associations best explain Wolbachia host shifts in scale insects

2021

Journal Article

Wolbachia in scale insects: a distinct pattern of infection frequencies and potential transfer routes via ant associates

Sanaei, Ehsan, Lin, Yen‐Po, Cook, Lyn G. and Engelstädter, Jan (2021). Wolbachia in scale insects: a distinct pattern of infection frequencies and potential transfer routes via ant associates. Environmental Microbiology, 24 (3), 1326-1339. doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.15833

Wolbachia in scale insects: a distinct pattern of infection frequencies and potential transfer routes via ant associates

2021

Journal Article

Understanding diversity and systematics in Australian Fabaceae Tribe Mirbelieae

Barrett, Russell L., Clugston, James A. R., Cook, Lyn G., Crisp, Michael D., Jobson, Peter C., Lepschi, Brendan J., Renner, Matthew A. M. and Weston, Peter H. (2021). Understanding diversity and systematics in Australian Fabaceae Tribe Mirbelieae. Diversity, 13 (8) 391, 1-38. doi: 10.3390/d13080391

Understanding diversity and systematics in Australian Fabaceae Tribe Mirbelieae

2021

Journal Article

Cycad killer, qu'est-ce que c'est? Dieback of Macrozamia communis on the south coast of New South Wales

McDougall, Keith L., Gullan, Penelope J., Craven, Phil, Wright, Genevieve T. and Cook, Lyn G. (2021). Cycad killer, qu'est-ce que c'est? Dieback of Macrozamia communis on the south coast of New South Wales. Australian Journal of Botany, 69 (2), 102-109. doi: 10.1071/BT20071

Cycad killer, qu'est-ce que c'est? Dieback of Macrozamia communis on the south coast of New South Wales

2020

Journal Article

Insect pollination of cycads

Toon, Alicia, Terry, L. Irene, Tang, William, Walter, Gimme H. and Cook, Lyn G. (2020). Insect pollination of cycads. Austral Ecology, 45 (8), 1033-1058. doi: 10.1111/aec.12925

Insect pollination of cycads

2019

Journal Article

Australian processionary caterpillars, Ochrogaster lunifer Herrich‐Schäffer (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae), comprise cryptic species

Mather, Andrew, Zalucki, Myron P., Farrell, Julianne, Perkins, Lynda E. and Cook, Lyn G. (2019). Australian processionary caterpillars, Ochrogaster lunifer Herrich‐Schäffer (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae), comprise cryptic species. Austral Entomology, 58 (4) aen.12410, 816-825. doi: 10.1111/aen.12410

Australian processionary caterpillars, Ochrogaster lunifer Herrich‐Schäffer (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae), comprise cryptic species

2019

Journal Article

Identifying genetic markers for a range of phylogenetic utility–From species to family level

Choi, Bokyung, Crisp, Michael D., Cook, Lyn G., Meusemann, Karen, Edwards, Robert D., Toon, Alicia and Külheim, Carsten (2019). Identifying genetic markers for a range of phylogenetic utility–From species to family level. PLoS One, 14 (8) e0218995, 1-19. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218995

Identifying genetic markers for a range of phylogenetic utility–From species to family level

2019

Journal Article

Chloris circumfontinalis (Poaceae): A recently discovered species from the saline scalds surrounding artesian springs in north-eastern Australia

Fahey, Patrick S., Fensham, Roderick J., Laffineur, Boris and Cook, Lyn G. (2019). Chloris circumfontinalis (Poaceae): A recently discovered species from the saline scalds surrounding artesian springs in north-eastern Australia. Australian Systematic Botany, 32 (1), 228-242. doi: 10.1071/SB18017

Chloris circumfontinalis (Poaceae): A recently discovered species from the saline scalds surrounding artesian springs in north-eastern Australia

Current funding

  • 2021 - 2025
    A perimeter defence in Australian processionary caterpillars
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2024
    Population genetics and demography of Macrozamia conferta
    Acciona Energy Australia Global Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer (CF-IRMS) and ancillary preparation systems for carbon, nitrogen and sulfur isotope microanalysis for archaeology, biology, earth and environmental scie
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Sibling rivalry or chivalry: why do male bush coconuts carry their little sisters?
    Australia & Pacific Science Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Why are Australian cycads endangered: pollinators, climate or humans?
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Morphological and molecular variation in Gynaikothrips on fig trees in Australia and generic revisions of Lissothrips
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Beyond genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes: high throughput analysis of gene and protein expression and function
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Evolution of Australia's globally unique hotspot of floral diversity (ARC Discovery administered by ANU)
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Species discovery and evolution of scale insect gallers of Melaleuceae
    Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2012
    Species discovery and revision of scale insect gallers of Leptospermeae and Chamelauceae
    Australian Biological Resources Study
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Building Capacity in Quantitative Genomics
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Distinguishing among patterns of extinction & speciation through geological and climatic change: a molecular modelling approach. (ARC Discovery Project administered by Australian National University).
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Genomics on a different scale: towards understanding chromosomal evolution, speciation, gall-induction and host-specificity.
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Controlled Environment Facilities for the Challenges of the 21st Century
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Development of markers to study dispersal of a wind-borne plant parasite group
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    The role of ecological specialisation in insect-plant macroevolutionary processes: a molecular phylogenetic approach across three kingdoms
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Lyn Cook is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Evolution of Australia's globally unique biodiversity hotspot

    Australia has a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot, the southwest of Western Australia, but this unique flora is highly threatened. We are contrasting this hotspot with the climatically and latitudinally comparable southeastern Australia to determine the processes responsible for species generation and biodiversity maintenance. Study groups include the iconic eucalypts, Melaleuca, legumes and other plants, as well as gall-inducing scale insects that are associated with the plants, and other animals.

  • Taxonomy and evolution of scale insect gallers of Melaleuceae

    We have recently discovered a large radiation of scale insects that induce galls on species of Melaleuceae. This project involves the taxonomy and systematics of the group, and examines the evolutionary relationships bewteen the insects and their hosts. There is scope for describing and naming 30 or more species.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Master Philosophy

    Systematics of the processionally caterpillar Ochrogaster lunifer

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Myron Zalucki

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Transcriptomics of insect-induced galls on eucalypts

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Peter Crisp

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Systematics and evolution of Melaleuca

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Rod Fensham

  • Master Philosophy

    Systematics of the processionally caterpillar Ochrogaster lunifer

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Myron Zalucki

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Applications of novel models of multivariate trait evolution in marsupials

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Katrina McGuigan, Dr Simone Blomberg

  • Doctor Philosophy

    A perimeter defence in Australian processionary caterpillars

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Myron Zalucki

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Microneurae group of the genus Acacia Mill. (Fabaceae Lindl., A. sect. Plurinerves): phylogenetics and species delimitation

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Rod Fensham

  • Doctor Philosophy

    A perimeter defence in Australian processionary caterpillars

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Myron Zalucki

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Systematics of Eriocaulon L. (Eriocaulaceae Martinov.) in Australasia - phylogenomics, historical biogeography, and landscape genomics

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Rod Fensham

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Applications of novel models of multivariate trait evolution in marsupials

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Katrina McGuigan, Dr Simone Blomberg

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Lyn Cook directly for media enquiries about:

  • Biogeography
  • Phylogenetics

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