Dr Simone Blomberg
Dr

Simone Blomberg

Email: 
Phone: 
+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)

41 - 60 of 112 works

2016

Journal Article

Population dynamics of feral horses (Equus caballus) in an exotic coniferous plantation in Australia

Zabek, Magdalena A., Berman, David M., Blomberg, Simon P., Collins, Christina W. and Wright, John (2016). Population dynamics of feral horses (Equus caballus) in an exotic coniferous plantation in Australia. Wildlife Research, 43 (4), 358-367. doi: 10.1071/WR15209

Population dynamics of feral horses (Equus caballus) in an exotic coniferous plantation in Australia

2016

Journal Article

Factors affecting the reliability and validity of behavioural datasets: Assessing the impact of observers' experience and native language on studies of wild animals

Kavanagh, Ailbhe S., Goldizen, Anne W., Blomberg Simon P., Noad, Michael J. and Dunlop, Rebecca A. (2016). Factors affecting the reliability and validity of behavioural datasets: Assessing the impact of observers' experience and native language on studies of wild animals. Aquatic Mammals, 42 (1), 1-11. doi: 10.1578/AM.42.1.2016.1

Factors affecting the reliability and validity of behavioural datasets: Assessing the impact of observers' experience and native language on studies of wild animals

2016

Journal Article

Fast-slow continuum and reproductive strategies structure plant life-history variation worldwide

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. (2016). Fast-slow continuum and reproductive strategies structure plant life-history variation worldwide. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113 (1), 230-235. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1506215112

Fast-slow continuum and reproductive strategies structure plant life-history variation worldwide

2015

Journal Article

Dengue virus infection alters posttranscriptional modification of microRNAs in the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti

Etebari, Kayvan, Osei-Amo, Solomon, Blomberg, Simon Phillip and Asgari, Sassan (2015). Dengue virus infection alters posttranscriptional modification of microRNAs in the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. Scientific Reports, 5 (1) 15968, 15968.1-15968.14. doi: 10.1038/srep15968

Dengue virus infection alters posttranscriptional modification of microRNAs in the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti

2015

Journal Article

Population genetic diversity in the Australian 'seascape': a bioregion approach

Pope, Lisa C., Riginos, Cynthia, Ovenden, Jennifer, Keyse, Jude and Blomberg, Simon P. (2015). Population genetic diversity in the Australian 'seascape': a bioregion approach. PLoS One, 10 (9) e0136275, 1-19. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136275

Population genetic diversity in the Australian 'seascape': a bioregion approach

2015

Journal Article

Correlates of recent declines of rodents in northern and southern Australia: habitat structure is critical

Lawes, Michael J., Fisher, Diana O., Johnson, Chris N., Blomberg, Simon P., Frank, Anke S. K., Fritz, Susanne A., McCallum, Hamish, VanDerWal, Jeremy, Abbott, Brett N., Legge, Sarah, Letnic, Mike, Thomas, Colette R., Thurgate, Nikki, Fisher, Alaric, Gordon, Iain J. and Kutt, Alex (2015). Correlates of recent declines of rodents in northern and southern Australia: habitat structure is critical. PloS One, 10 (6) e0130626, 1-17. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130626

Correlates of recent declines of rodents in northern and southern Australia: habitat structure is critical

2015

Journal Article

The Evolution of Relative Brain Size in Marsupials Is Energetically Constrained but Not Driven by Behavioral Complexity

Weisbecker, Vera, Blomberg, Simon, Goldizen, Anne W, Brown, Meredeth and Fisher, Diana (2015). The Evolution of Relative Brain Size in Marsupials Is Energetically Constrained but Not Driven by Behavioral Complexity. Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 85 (2), 125-135. doi: 10.1159/000377666

The Evolution of Relative Brain Size in Marsupials Is Energetically Constrained but Not Driven by Behavioral Complexity

2015

Journal Article

Shy female kangaroos seek safety in numbers and have fewer preferred friendships

Best, Emily C., Blomberg, Simon P. and Goldizen, Anne W. (2015). Shy female kangaroos seek safety in numbers and have fewer preferred friendships. Behavioral Ecology, 26 (2), 639-646. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arv003

Shy female kangaroos seek safety in numbers and have fewer preferred friendships

2015

Journal Article

Response to commentary by Woinarski (Critical-weight-range marsupials in northern Australia are declining: a commentary on Fisher et al. (2014) ‘The current decline of tropical marsupials in Australia: is history repeating?’)

Fisher, Diana O., Johnson,Chris N., Lawes, Michael J., Fritz, Susanne A., McCallum, Hamish, Blomberg, Simon P., VanDerWal, Jeremy, Abbott, Brett, Frank, Anke, Legge, Sarah, Letnic, Mike, Thomas, Colette R., Fisher, Alaric, Gordon, Iain J. and Kutt, Alex (2015). Response to commentary by Woinarski (Critical-weight-range marsupials in northern Australia are declining: a commentary on Fisher et al. (2014) ‘The current decline of tropical marsupials in Australia: is history repeating?’). Global Ecology and Biogeography, 24 (1), 123-125. doi: 10.1111/geb.12252

Response to commentary by Woinarski (Critical-weight-range marsupials in northern Australia are declining: a commentary on Fisher et al. (2014) ‘The current decline of tropical marsupials in Australia: is history repeating?’)

2014

Journal Article

The biology of an isolated population of the American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber in the Galapagos Islands

Tindle, Robert W., Tupiza, Arnaldo, Blomberg, Simon P. and Tindle, L. Elizabeth (2014). The biology of an isolated population of the American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber in the Galapagos Islands. Galapagos Research, 68.

The biology of an isolated population of the American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber in the Galapagos Islands

2014

Journal Article

Genetic and phenotypic evidence supports evolutionary divergence of the American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) population in the Galápagos Islands

Frias-Soler, Roberto, Tindle, Elizabeth, Lopez, Georgina Espinosa, Blomberg, Simon, Studer-Thiersch, Adelheid, Wink, Michael and Tindle, Robert (2014). Genetic and phenotypic evidence supports evolutionary divergence of the American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) population in the Galápagos Islands. Waterbirds, 37 (4), 349-361. doi: 10.1675/063.037.0402

Genetic and phenotypic evidence supports evolutionary divergence of the American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) population in the Galápagos Islands

2014

Journal Article

Within-population differences in personality and plasticity in the trade-off between vigilance and foraging in kangaroos

Favreau, Francois-Rene, Goldizen, Anne W., Fritz, Herve, Blomberg, Simon P., Best, Emily C. and Pays, Olivier (2014). Within-population differences in personality and plasticity in the trade-off between vigilance and foraging in kangaroos. Animal Behaviour, 92, 175-184. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.04.003

Within-population differences in personality and plasticity in the trade-off between vigilance and foraging in kangaroos

2014

Journal Article

Cleaning up the biogeography of Labroides dimidiatus using phylogenetics and morphometrics

Sims, C. A., Riginos, C., Blomberg, S. P., Huelsken, T., Drew, J. and Grutter, A. S. (2014). Cleaning up the biogeography of Labroides dimidiatus using phylogenetics and morphometrics. Coral Reefs, 33 (1), 223-233. doi: 10.1007/s00338-013-1093-2

Cleaning up the biogeography of Labroides dimidiatus using phylogenetics and morphometrics

2014

Journal Article

Dispersal capacity predicts both population genetic structure and species richness in reef fishes

Riginos, Cynthia, Buckley, Yvonne M., Blomberg, Simon P. and Treml, Eric A. (2014). Dispersal capacity predicts both population genetic structure and species richness in reef fishes. American Naturalist, 184 (1), 52-64. doi: 10.1086/676505

Dispersal capacity predicts both population genetic structure and species richness in reef fishes

2014

Journal Article

Conspicuous visual signals do not coevolve with increased body size in marine sea slugs

Cheney, K. L., Cortesi, F., How, M. J., Wilson, N. G., Blomberg, S. P., Winters, A. E., Umanzor, S. and Marshall, N. J. (2014). Conspicuous visual signals do not coevolve with increased body size in marine sea slugs. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 27 (4), 676-687. doi: 10.1111/jeb.12348

Conspicuous visual signals do not coevolve with increased body size in marine sea slugs

2014

Journal Article

Maternal effects and warning signal honesty in eggs and offspring of an aposematic ladybird beetle

Winters, Anne E., Stevens, Martin, Mitchell, Chris, Blomberg, Simon P. and Blount, Jonathan D. (2014). Maternal effects and warning signal honesty in eggs and offspring of an aposematic ladybird beetle. Functional Ecology, 28 (5), 1187-1196. doi: 10.1111/1365-2435.12266

Maternal effects and warning signal honesty in eggs and offspring of an aposematic ladybird beetle

2014

Journal Article

The current decline of tropical marsupials in Australia: Is history repeating?

Fisher, Diana O., Johnson, Chris N., Lawes, Michael J., Fritz, Susanne A., Mccallum, Hamish, Blomberg, Simon P., Vanderwal, Jeremy, Abbott, Brett, Frank, Anke, Legge, Sarah, Letnic, Mike, Thomas, Colette R., Fisher, Alaric, Gordon, Iain J. and Kutt, Alex (2014). The current decline of tropical marsupials in Australia: Is history repeating?. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 23 (2), 181-190. doi: 10.1111/geb.12088

The current decline of tropical marsupials in Australia: Is history repeating?

2013

Journal Article

Sperm competition drives the evolution of suicidal reproduction in mammals

Fisher, Diana O., Dickman, Christopher R., Jones, Menna E. and Blomberg, Simon P. (2013). Sperm competition drives the evolution of suicidal reproduction in mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110 (44), 17910-17914. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1310691110

Sperm competition drives the evolution of suicidal reproduction in mammals

2013

Journal Article

Individual traits influence vigilance in wild eastern grey kangaroos

Edwards, A. E., Best, E. C., Blomberg, S. P. and Goldizen, A. W. (2013). Individual traits influence vigilance in wild eastern grey kangaroos. Australian Journal of Zoology, 61 (4), 332-341. doi: 10.1071/ZO13025

Individual traits influence vigilance in wild eastern grey kangaroos

2013

Journal Article

Phylogenetic correlates of extinction risk in mammals: species in older lineages are not at greater risk

Arregoitia, Luis Darcy Verde, Blomberg, Simon P. and Fisher, Diana O. (2013). Phylogenetic correlates of extinction risk in mammals: species in older lineages are not at greater risk. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 280 (1765) 20131092, 20131092.1-20131092 .7. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2013.1092

Phylogenetic correlates of extinction risk in mammals: species in older lineages are not at greater risk

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

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

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

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au