Professor Robbie Wilson
Professor

Robbie Wilson

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52773

Background

My research group studies animal performance in the laboratory and in the field. We focus on discovering the underlying mechanistic basis of physical performance and it's implications for an individual's survival and reproductive success. We’re particularly interested in how organisms respond to environmental variation, such as seasonal or long-term temperature change, and the costs of these responses to other traits. We examine interactions between behavioural, physiological and morphological traits to better understand how animal performance is optimised. Furthermore, we want to understand how an organism’s performance relates to population-level processes, enabling better conservation practices in urban and wild habitats. Our research is question-driven, and we use a variety of model systems in our studies, including freshwater fish, crayfish, reptiles, marsupials, and humans.

Current projects

  • Importance of performance, life history and behaviour to male mating success in the semelparous marsupial the northern quoll
  • Relative importance of athleticism, skill and balance to success in complex human activities - focus on soccer players
  • When and why do animals lie? Testing hypotheses of deceit and discovering its role in determining animal performance

Availability

Professor Robbie Wilson is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Ecology Zoology

Search Professor Robbie Wilson’s works on UQ eSpace

196 works between 1998 and 2024
All (196) Journal Article (137) Book Chapter (4) Conference Publication (54) Other Outputs (1)

1 - 20 of 196 works

2024

Journal Article

Manganese exacerbates seasonal health declines in a suicidally breeding mammal

Nasir, Ami F. Amir Abdul, Niehaus, Amanda C., Cameron, Skye F., Ujvari, Beata, Madsen, Thomas, von Hippel, Frank A., Gao, Sisi, Dillon, Danielle M., Buck, C. Loren, Charters, Jordan, Heiniger, Jaime, Blomberg, Simone and Wilson, Robbie S. (2024). Manganese exacerbates seasonal health declines in a suicidally breeding mammal. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 43 (1), 74-86. doi: 10.1002/etc.5753

Manganese exacerbates seasonal health declines in a suicidally breeding mammal

2023

Journal Article

Are soccer players born later in the year more technically skilled than those born earlier in the year

Hunter, Andrew H., Smith, Nicholas M. A., Camata, Thiago V., Crowther, Mathew S., Mather, Andrew, Moura, Felipe A., Santiago, Paulo Roberto Pereira and Wilson, Robbie S. (2023). Are soccer players born later in the year more technically skilled than those born earlier in the year. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 18 (6), 2015-2024. doi: 10.1177/17479541221117630

Are soccer players born later in the year more technically skilled than those born earlier in the year

2023

Journal Article

Pre-cleaning of hair is not beneficial in LA-ICP-MS studies of chronic metal exposure

David, Gwendolyn K., Hunter, Andrew H., Moromizato, Karine H., Allen, Charlotte M., Wheatley, Rebecca, von Hippel, Frank A., Niehaus, Amanda C. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2023). Pre-cleaning of hair is not beneficial in LA-ICP-MS studies of chronic metal exposure. PLoS One, 18 (8) e0289635, 1-11. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289635

Pre-cleaning of hair is not beneficial in LA-ICP-MS studies of chronic metal exposure

2023

Journal Article

Resting disparity in quoll semelparity: examining the sex-linked behaviours of wild roaming northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) during breeding season

Gaschk, Joshua L., Del Simone, Kaylah, Wilson, Robbie S. and Clemente, Christofer J. (2023). Resting disparity in quoll semelparity: examining the sex-linked behaviours of wild roaming northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) during breeding season. Royal Society Open Science, 10 (2) 221180, 1-12. doi: 10.1098/rsos.221180

Resting disparity in quoll semelparity: examining the sex-linked behaviours of wild roaming northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) during breeding season

2022

Journal Article

Identifying the best strategy for soccer penalty success: a predictive model for optimising behavioural and biomechanical trade-offs

Hunter, Andrew H., Pavlic, Theodore P., Angilletta, Michael J. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2022). Identifying the best strategy for soccer penalty success: a predictive model for optimising behavioural and biomechanical trade-offs. Journal of Biomechanics, 141 111208, 111208. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2022.111208

Identifying the best strategy for soccer penalty success: a predictive model for optimising behavioural and biomechanical trade-offs

2022

Journal Article

Machine learning accurately predicts the multivariate performance phenotype from morphology in lizards

Lailvaux, Simon P., Mishra, Avdesh, Pun, Pooja, Kabir, Md Wasi Ul, Wilson, Robbie S., Herrel, Anthony and Hoque, Md Tamjidul (2022). Machine learning accurately predicts the multivariate performance phenotype from morphology in lizards. PLoS ONE, 17 (1 January) e0261613, 1-15. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261613

Machine learning accurately predicts the multivariate performance phenotype from morphology in lizards

2021

Journal Article

Simple and reliable protocol for identifying talented junior players in team sports using small‐sided games

Wilson, Robbie S., Hunter, Andrew H., Camata, Thiago V., Foster, Charles S. P., Sparkes, Gabriella R., Moura, Felipe A., Santiago, Paulo R. P. and Smith, Nicholas M. A. (2021). Simple and reliable protocol for identifying talented junior players in team sports using small‐sided games. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 31 (8), 1647-1656. doi: 10.1111/sms.13969

Simple and reliable protocol for identifying talented junior players in team sports using small‐sided games

2021

Journal Article

Age- and size-corrected kicking speed and accuracy in elite junior soccer players: original Investigation

Hunter, Andrew H., Smith, Nicholas M. A., Camata, Thiago V., Crowther, Mathew S., Mather, Andrew, Souza, Nicolau Melo, Ramos-Silva, Luiz Fernando, Pazetto, Nerylson Ferraz, Moura, Felipe A. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2021). Age- and size-corrected kicking speed and accuracy in elite junior soccer players: original Investigation. Science and Medicine in Football, 6 (1), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2021.1899274

Age- and size-corrected kicking speed and accuracy in elite junior soccer players: original Investigation

2021

Journal Article

Rocky escarpment versus savanna woodlands: Comparing diet and body condition as indicators of habitat quality for the endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus)

Thomas, Hannah, Cameron, Skye F., Campbell, Hamish A., Micheli-Campbell, Mariana A., Kirke, Ellie C., Wheatley, Rebecca and Wilson, Robbie S. (2021). Rocky escarpment versus savanna woodlands: Comparing diet and body condition as indicators of habitat quality for the endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus). Wildlife Research, 48 (5), 434-443. doi: 10.1071/WR20032

Rocky escarpment versus savanna woodlands: Comparing diet and body condition as indicators of habitat quality for the endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus)

2020

Journal Article

Habitat features and performance interact to determine the outcomes of terrestrial predator–prey pursuits

Wheatley, Rebecca, Pavlic, Theodore P., Levy, Ofir and Wilson, Robbie S. (2020). Habitat features and performance interact to determine the outcomes of terrestrial predator–prey pursuits. Journal of Animal Ecology, 89 (12), 2958-2971. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.13353

Habitat features and performance interact to determine the outcomes of terrestrial predator–prey pursuits

2020

Journal Article

Technical skill not athleticism predicts an individual's ability to maintain possession in small-sided soccer games

Wilson, Robbie S., Smith, Nicholas M. A., Bedo, Bruno Luiz Souza, Aquino, Rodrigo, Moura, Felipe Arruda and Santiago, Paulo Roberto Pereira (2020). Technical skill not athleticism predicts an individual's ability to maintain possession in small-sided soccer games. Science and Medicine in Football, 4 (4), 305-313. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2020.1780468

Technical skill not athleticism predicts an individual's ability to maintain possession in small-sided soccer games

2020

Conference Publication

Modeling escape success in terrestrial predator-prey interactions

Wilson, Robbie S., Pavlic, Theodore P., Wheatley, Rebecca, Niehaus, Amanda C. and Levy, Ofir (2020). Modeling escape success in terrestrial predator-prey interactions. Annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Austin, TX United States, 3-7 January 2020. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icaa070

Modeling escape success in terrestrial predator-prey interactions

2020

Journal Article

Individual performance in passing tests predicts age‐independent success in small‐sided soccer possession games

Wilson, Robbie S., Sandes de Souza, Ana Paula, Santiago, Paulo, Ignacio, Daniele Leão and Smith, Nicholas M. A. (2020). Individual performance in passing tests predicts age‐independent success in small‐sided soccer possession games. Translational Sports Medicine, 3 (4), 353-363. doi: 10.1002/tsm2.142

Individual performance in passing tests predicts age‐independent success in small‐sided soccer possession games

2020

Journal Article

Greater agility increases probability of survival in the endangered northern quoll

Rew-Duffy, Miranda, Cameron, Skye F., Freeman, Natalie J., Wheatley, Rebecca, Latimer, Jessica M. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2020). Greater agility increases probability of survival in the endangered northern quoll. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 223 (15) jeb218503, jeb.218503. doi: 10.1242/jeb.218503

Greater agility increases probability of survival in the endangered northern quoll

2020

Journal Article

Demography and spatial requirements of the endangered northern quoll on Groote Eylandt

Heiniger, Jaime, Cameron, Skye F., Madsen, Thomas, Niehaus, Amanda C. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2020). Demography and spatial requirements of the endangered northern quoll on Groote Eylandt. Wildlife Research, 47 (3), 224-238. doi: 10.1071/wr19052

Demography and spatial requirements of the endangered northern quoll on Groote Eylandt

2020

Journal Article

Scattered paddock trees and roadside vegetation can provide important habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in an agricultural landscape

Barth, Benjamin J., Fitzgibbon, Sean I., Gillett, Amber, Wilson, Robbie S., Moffitt, Beth, Pye, Geoffrey W., Adam, Dalene, Preece, Harriet and Ellis, William A. (2020). Scattered paddock trees and roadside vegetation can provide important habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in an agricultural landscape. Australian Mammalogy, 42 (2), 194-203. doi: 10.1071/AM18031

Scattered paddock trees and roadside vegetation can provide important habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in an agricultural landscape

2020

Journal Article

Intertidal gobies acclimate rate of luminance change for background matching with shifts in seasonal temperature

da Silva, Carmen R. B., van den Berg, Cedric P., Condon, Nicholas D., Riginos, Cynthia, Wilson, Robbie S. and Cheney, Karen L. (2020). Intertidal gobies acclimate rate of luminance change for background matching with shifts in seasonal temperature. Journal of Animal Ecology, 89 (7), 1735-1746. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.13226

Intertidal gobies acclimate rate of luminance change for background matching with shifts in seasonal temperature

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

2020

Journal Article

Dribbling speed predicts goal-scoring success in a soccer training game

Wilson, Robbie S., Smith, Nicholas M. A., Melo de Souza, Nicolau and Moura, Felipe Arruda (2020). Dribbling speed predicts goal-scoring success in a soccer training game. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 30 (11) sms.13782, 2070-2077. doi: 10.1111/sms.13782

Dribbling speed predicts goal-scoring success in a soccer training game

2020

Journal Article

Relationships between running demands in soccer match-play, anthropometric, and physical fitness characteristics: a systematic review

Aquino, Rodrigo, Carling, Christopher, Maia, José, Vieira, Luiz H. Palucci, Wilson, Robbie S., Smith, Nicholas, Almeida, Rodrigo, Gonçalves, Luiz Guilherme C., Kalva-Filho, Carlos Augusto, Garganta, Júlio and Puggina, Enrico F. (2020). Relationships between running demands in soccer match-play, anthropometric, and physical fitness characteristics: a systematic review. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 20 (3), 1-22. doi: 10.1080/24748668.2020.1746555

Relationships between running demands in soccer match-play, anthropometric, and physical fitness characteristics: a systematic review

Current funding

  • 2017 - 2026
    How is exposure to manganese on Groote Eylandt associated with motor control and cognitive function in school-aged children?
    Anindilyakwa Royalties Aboriginal Corporation
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Conserving the Greater Bilby in Queensland
    Save the Bilby Fund Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Using detector dogs to improve survey and monitoring of the cryptic Condamine earless dragon (Tympanocryptis condaminensis) (Round 7 Threatened Species)
    Community Sustainability Action - Qld Dep Env Science
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Predicting the mortality risk of koalas moving on the ground
    Koala Applied Research
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Using performance to predict the survival of threatened mammals
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    The ecology of trace metal contamination in native Australian mammals
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Predicting the movement speeds of animals
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Predicting animal movement speeds and what affects movement decision in the wild
    Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    How is exposure to manganese on Groote Eylandt associated with motor control and cognitive function in school-aged children?
    Anindilyakwa Land Council
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    How does habitat complexity drive motor ageing and fitness in wild mammals?
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    The impact of manganese contamination on the health of wildlife on an Aboriginal Protected Island
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - Seed Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Quantifying the health benefits of on-country activities in the remote Indigenous community of Groote Eylandt
    National Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Limited
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    How does naturally occurring manganese affect the physiology, genetics and health of organisms on Groote Eylandt
    Anindilyakwa Land Council
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    How does naturally occurring manganese affect the physiology, genetics and health of organisms on Groote Eylandt?
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Does physiological plasticity of individuals render populations resilient to climate change? (ARC Discovery Project Administered by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Causes and consequences of disease in populations of Queensland koalas
    Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Cane toad research and monitoring
    Anindilyakwa Land Council
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Ecology of the northern spotten quoll
    Anindilyakwa Land Council
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Enhancing the research experience of first year science students through engagement with remote Indigenous communities
    UQ Teaching & Learning Strategic Grants
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Conservation biology in remote Indigenous communities: ecology of the northern tiger quoll on Groote Island
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Conserving koalas in urban landscapes
    Redland City Council
    Open grant
  • 2009
    UQTravel Awards Category 2, Dr Robbie Wilson
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Using Male Sexual Signals of Fish and Crustaceans for Rapid and Inexpensive Monitoring of Ecosystem Health
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Using YouTube technology as a vehicle for deep learning in biology
    UQ Teaching & Learning Strategic Grants
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2010
    Conserving native wildlife during urbanisation: the effectiveness of biodiversity-friendly urban design and construction practices
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2006
    Temperature Adaptation Of Fish Spermatozoa: An Integrative Approach
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 2006
    UQ_Travel Award_Cat2_2005
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Locomotor and Reproductive Consequences of Temperature-Induced Phenotypic Plasticity in the Threadfin Rainbowfish
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Evolution Of Ectotherm Thermal Physiology: Combining Studies Of Behaviour and Comparative Physiology
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Testing the Adaptive Benefit of Physiological Acclimation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Robbie Wilson is:
Available for supervision

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

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Optimal running speeds during predator-prey interactions

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Diana Fisher

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Modelling the fine-scale behaviour, movement, and habitat use of free-range Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in southeast Queensland to predict and prevent risk of mortality

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Diana Fisher

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Human impacts on wildlife sociality

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Matthew Luskin

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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