Dr Simone Blomberg
Dr

Simone Blomberg

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+61 7 336 52506

Background

Methods and applications of statistics in evolutionary biology and population ecology.

My research involves the application and development of statistical methods in ecology, evolutionary biology, and general whole-organism biology. My two particular research foci are phylogenetic comparative methods and other uses of statistics in ecology, evolution, and systematics. I also have a strong interest in the application of Bayesian methods, and the statistical philosophy of the nature of evidence in whole-organism biology. How and why do scientists agree that certain data are evidence for or against a particular hypothesis?

I also provide a statistical consultation service for staff and students within the School of Biological Sciences

I am interested in taking graduate students at any level who are interested in quantitative methods in biology. Students in my lab will be able to (or be willing to learn) program computers in S (http://www.r-project.org), a compiled language such as C or Fortran, and/or a scripting language such as Python or Scheme in a Unix environment. Students are also encouraged to extend or develop their mathematical skills. A background in biology, statistics, mathematics, or computer science would be valuable. I can also co-supervise students who are interested in using quantitative methods for their thesis work, but for whom such methods are not a primary focus of research.

Availability

Dr Simone Blomberg is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Ecology Environmental Sciences Zoology

Research interests

  • Models of Quantitative Trait Evolution

    Macroevolution lacks mathematical theory. I am trying to develop new models of evolution and apply them to real data sets in order to bring the study of macroevolution into the 21st century. I concentrate on the use of diffusion processes as evolutionary models. Diffusions are a broad class of processes that have applications in finance, physics, and other quantitative disciplines. Their use in evolutionary studies has been at a fairly basic level, mainly using Brownian motion and the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process. These two processes are simple but are not very realistic descriptions of how evolution occurs. I aim to provide more, better models together with methods to fit them to real data.

Search Professor Simone Blomberg’s works on UQ eSpace

112 works between 1991 and 2024
All (112) Journal Article (103) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (5) Other Outputs (2)

21 - 40 of 112 works

2020

Journal Article

Skin hydrophobicity as an adaptation for self-cleaning in geckos

Riedel, Jendrian, Vucko, Matthew John, Blomberg, Simone P. and Schwarzkopf, Lin (2020). Skin hydrophobicity as an adaptation for self-cleaning in geckos. Ecology and Evolution, 10 (11), 4640-4651. doi: 10.1002/ece3.6218

Skin hydrophobicity as an adaptation for self-cleaning in geckos

2020

Journal Article

Inclusive science: ditch archaic terms

Baeckens, Simon, Blomberg, Simone P. and Shine, Richard (2020). Inclusive science: ditch archaic terms. Nature, 580 (7802), 185-185. doi: 10.1038/d41586-020-01034-z

Inclusive science: ditch archaic terms

2020

Journal Article

Global gene flow releases invasive plants from environmental constraints on genetic diversity

Smith, Annabel L., Hodkinson, Trevor R., Villellas, Jesus, Catford, Jane A., Csergő, Anna Mária, Blomberg, Simone P., Crone, Elizabeth E., Ehrlén, Johan, Garcia, Maria B., Laine, Anna-Liisa, Roach, Deborah A., Salguero-Gómez, Roberto, Wardle, Glenda M., Childs, Dylan Z., Elderd, Bret D., Finn, Alain, Munné-Bosch, Sergi, Baudraz, Maude E. A., Bódis, Judit, Brearley, Francis Q., Bucharova, Anna, Caruso, Christina M., Duncan, Richard P., Dwyer, John M., Gooden, Ben, Groenteman, Ronny, Hamre, Liv Norunn, Helm, Aveliina, Kelly, Ruth ... Buckley, Yvonne M. (2020). Global gene flow releases invasive plants from environmental constraints on genetic diversity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117 (8), 201915848-4227. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1915848117

Global gene flow releases invasive plants from environmental constraints on genetic diversity

2020

Journal Article

Skull shape of a widely distributed, endangered marsupial reveals little evidence of local adaptation between fragmented populations

Viacava, Pietro, Blomberg, Simone P., Sansalone, Gabriele, Phillips, Matthew J., Guillerme, Thomas, Cameron, Skye F., Wilson, Robbie S. and Weisbecker, Vera (2020). Skull shape of a widely distributed, endangered marsupial reveals little evidence of local adaptation between fragmented populations. Ecology and Evolution, 10 (18) ece3.6593, 9707-9720. doi: 10.1002/ece3.6593

Skull shape of a widely distributed, endangered marsupial reveals little evidence of local adaptation between fragmented populations

2019

Other Outputs

Aquatic and terrestrial organisms display contrasting life history strategies as a result of environmental adaptations

Capdevila, Pol, Beger, Maria, Blomberg, Simone P., Hereu, Bernat, Linares, Cristina and Salguero-Gómez, Roberto (2019). Aquatic and terrestrial organisms display contrasting life history strategies as a result of environmental adaptations. doi: 10.1101/764464

Aquatic and terrestrial organisms display contrasting life history strategies as a result of environmental adaptations

2019

Journal Article

Changes in local free-living parasite populations in response to cleaner manipulation over 12 years

Grutter, A. S., Blomberg, S. P., Box, S., Bshary, R., Ho, O., Madin, E. M. P., McClure, E. C., Meekan, M. G., Murphy, J. M., Richardson, M. A., Sikkel, P. C., Sims, C. A., Sun, D. and Warner, R. R. (2019). Changes in local free-living parasite populations in response to cleaner manipulation over 12 years. Oecologia, 190 (4), 783-797. doi: 10.1007/s00442-019-04451-8

Changes in local free-living parasite populations in response to cleaner manipulation over 12 years

2019

Journal Article

Parasites of coral reef fish larvae: its role in the pelagic larval stage

Duong, B., Blomberg, S. P., Cribb, T. H., Cowman, P. F., Kuris, A. M., McCormick, M. I., Warner, R. R., Sun, D. and Grutter, A. S. (2019). Parasites of coral reef fish larvae: its role in the pelagic larval stage. Coral Reefs, 38 (2), 199-214. doi: 10.1007/s00338-019-01766-z

Parasites of coral reef fish larvae: its role in the pelagic larval stage

2019

Journal Article

Ecological associations among epidermal microstructure and scale characteristics of Australian geckos (Squamata: Carphodactylidae and Diplodactylidae)

Riedel, Jendrian, Vucko, Matthew J., Blomberg, Simone P., Robson, Simon K. A. and Schwarzkopf, Lin (2019). Ecological associations among epidermal microstructure and scale characteristics of Australian geckos (Squamata: Carphodactylidae and Diplodactylidae). Journal of Anatomy, 234 (6), 853-874. doi: 10.1111/joa.12969

Ecological associations among epidermal microstructure and scale characteristics of Australian geckos (Squamata: Carphodactylidae and Diplodactylidae)

2018

Journal Article

Transcending data gaps: a framework to reduce inferential errors in ecological analyses

Kim, Sun W., Blomberg, Simon P. and Pandolfi, John M. (2018). Transcending data gaps: a framework to reduce inferential errors in ecological analyses. Ecology Letters, 21 (8), 1200-1210. doi: 10.1111/ele.13089

Transcending data gaps: a framework to reduce inferential errors in ecological analyses

2018

Journal Article

Range extension and genetic structure of the narrowly-restricted slider skink, Lerista rochfordensis Amey and Couper, 2009 (Reptilia: Scincidae)

Amey, A. P., Worthington Wilmer, J., Blomberg, S. P. and Couper, P. J. (2018). Range extension and genetic structure of the narrowly-restricted slider skink, Lerista rochfordensis Amey and Couper, 2009 (Reptilia: Scincidae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 61, 29-41. doi: 10.17082/j.2204-1478.61.2018.2017-09

Range extension and genetic structure of the narrowly-restricted slider skink, Lerista rochfordensis Amey and Couper, 2009 (Reptilia: Scincidae)

2017

Journal Article

Genus-wide variation in foliar polyphenolics in eucalypts

Marsh, Karen J., Kulheim, Carsten, Blomberg, Simon P., Thornhill, Andrew H., Miller, Jospeh T., Wallis, Ian R., Nicolle, Dean, Salminen, Juha-Pekka and Foley, William J. (2017). Genus-wide variation in foliar polyphenolics in eucalypts. Phytochemistry, 144, 197-207. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2017.09.014

Genus-wide variation in foliar polyphenolics in eucalypts

2017

Journal Article

Fast-slow continuum and reproductive strategies structure plant life-history variation worldwide (vol 113, pg 230, 2015)

Salguero-Gomez, Roberto, Jones, Owen R., Jongejans, Eelke, Blomberg, Simon P., Hodgson, David J., Mbeau-Ache, Cyril, Zuidema, Pieter A., de Kroon, Hans and Buckley, Yvonne M. (2017). Fast-slow continuum and reproductive strategies structure plant life-history variation worldwide (vol 113, pg 230, 2015). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114 (45), E9753. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1717717114

Fast-slow continuum and reproductive strategies structure plant life-history variation worldwide (vol 113, pg 230, 2015)

2017

Journal Article

Manganese accumulates in the brain of northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) living near an active mine

Amir Abdul Nasir, Ami Fadhillah, Cameron, Skye F., von Hippel, Frank A., Postlethwait, John, Niehaus, Amanda C., Blomberg, Simon and Wilson, Robbie S. (2017). Manganese accumulates in the brain of northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) living near an active mine. Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 233, 377-386. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.10.088

Manganese accumulates in the brain of northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) living near an active mine

2017

Journal Article

Mule deer spatial association patterns and potential implications for transmission of an epizootic disease

Mejia-Salazar, Maria F., Goldizen, Anne W., Menz, Clementine S., Dwyer, Ross G., Blomberg, Simon P., Waldner, Cheryl L., Cullingham, Catherine I. and Bollinger, Trent K. (2017). Mule deer spatial association patterns and potential implications for transmission of an epizootic disease. PLoS ONE, 12 (4) e0175385, e0175385. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175385

Mule deer spatial association patterns and potential implications for transmission of an epizootic disease

2017

Journal Article

Understanding repeatability and plasticity in multiple dimensions of the sociability of wild female kangaroos

Menz, Clementine S., Goldizen, Anne W., Blomberg, Simon P., Freeman, Natalie J. and Best, Emily C. (2017). Understanding repeatability and plasticity in multiple dimensions of the sociability of wild female kangaroos. Animal Behaviour, 126, 3-16. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.01.012

Understanding repeatability and plasticity in multiple dimensions of the sociability of wild female kangaroos

2017

Journal Article

Factors driving the variability in diving and movement behavior of migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae): implications for anthropogenic disturbance studies

Kavanagh, Ailbhe S. , Noad, Michael J. , Blomberg, Simon P. , Goldizen, Anne W. , Kniest, Eric, Cato, Douglas H. and Dunlop, Rebecca A. (2017). Factors driving the variability in diving and movement behavior of migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae): implications for anthropogenic disturbance studies. Marine Mammal Science, 33 (2), 413-439. doi: 10.1111/mms.12375

Factors driving the variability in diving and movement behavior of migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae): implications for anthropogenic disturbance studies

2017

Journal Article

Extinct or still out there? Disentangling influences on extinction and rediscovery helps to clarify the fate of species on the edge

Lee, Tasmin E. , Fisher, Diana O. , Blomberg, Simon P. and Wintle, Brendan A. (2017). Extinct or still out there? Disentangling influences on extinction and rediscovery helps to clarify the fate of species on the edge. Global Change Biology, 23 (2), 621-634. doi: 10.1111/gcb.13421

Extinct or still out there? Disentangling influences on extinction and rediscovery helps to clarify the fate of species on the edge

2017

Journal Article

Evidence for the functions of surface-active behaviors in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Kavanagh, Ailbhe S., Owen, Kylie, Williamson, Michael J., Blomberg, Simon P., Noad, Michael J., Goldizen, Anne W., Kniest, Eric, Cato, Douglas H. and Dunlop, Rebecca A. (2017). Evidence for the functions of surface-active behaviors in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Marine Mammal Science, 33 (1), 313-334. doi: 10.1111/mms.12374

Evidence for the functions of surface-active behaviors in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

2017

Journal Article

Size-related mortality due to gnathiid isopod micropredation correlates with settlement size in coral reef fishes

Grutter, A. S., Blomberg, S. P., Fargher, B., Kuris, A. M., McCormick, M. I. and Warner, R. R. (2017). Size-related mortality due to gnathiid isopod micropredation correlates with settlement size in coral reef fishes. Coral Reefs, 36 (2), 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s00338-016-1537-6

Size-related mortality due to gnathiid isopod micropredation correlates with settlement size in coral reef fishes

2016

Journal Article

Estimating distribution and abundance of feral horses (Equus caballus) in a coniferous plantation in Australia, using line-transect surveys of dung

Zabek, Magdalena A., Berman, David M., Blomberg, Simon and Wright, John (2016). Estimating distribution and abundance of feral horses (Equus caballus) in a coniferous plantation in Australia, using line-transect surveys of dung. Wildlife Research, 43 (7), 604-614. doi: 10.1071/WR16015

Estimating distribution and abundance of feral horses (Equus caballus) in a coniferous plantation in Australia, using line-transect surveys of dung

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2025
    Ancestral state reconstruction and the evolution of Australian marsupials (ARC Discovery Project administered by Queensland University of Technology)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2020
    A new molecular/morphological view of animal evolution based on marsupials (ARC Discovery Project administered by Flinders University)
    Flinders University
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    A new molecular/morphological view of animal evolution based on marsupials
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    The ecology of trace metal contamination in native Australian mammals
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2019
    Fitting non-Gaussian diffusion models to evolutionary data: towards a generalized framework for phylogenetic comparative analyses.
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2017
    Population fluctuations: models, mechanisms and management
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Advances in Phylogenetic Comparative Methods.
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Simone Blomberg is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Models of Evolution and the Fossil Record

    Current theory suggests that including fossils in macroevolutionary studies greatly improves the identifiability of models. However, it is not known how many fossils are necessary, where they should be placed in the tree (near the tips or near the root?), and how this interacts with tree shape and tree size. Also, are the fossils more important for ancestral character recosntruction, hypothesis testing, or model selection? This project will examine these factors in detail using simulations, with the possibility of examining case studies of taxa with good fossil records.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr Simone Blomberg directly for media enquiries about:

  • Ecology - statistics
  • Evolution - statistics
  • Statistics - ecology, evolution

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