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

201 works between 1998 and 2025
All (201) Journal Article (142) Other Outputs (1) Conference Publication (54) Book Chapter (4)

21 - 40 of 201 works

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

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

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

Journal Article

Self-deception in nonhuman animals: weak crayfish escalated aggression as if they were strong

Angilletta, Michael J., Kubitz, Gregory and Wilson, Robbie S. (2019). Self-deception in nonhuman animals: weak crayfish escalated aggression as if they were strong. Behavioral Ecology, 30 (5), 1469-1476. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arz103

Self-deception in nonhuman animals: weak crayfish escalated aggression as if they were strong

2019

Journal Article

Rapid larval growth is costly for post-metamorphic thermal performance in a Great Barrier Reef fish

da Silva, Carmen Rose Burke, Wilson, Robbie Stuart and Riginos, Cynthia (2019). Rapid larval growth is costly for post-metamorphic thermal performance in a Great Barrier Reef fish. Coral Reefs, 38 (5), 895-907. doi: 10.1007/s00338-019-01815-7

Rapid larval growth is costly for post-metamorphic thermal performance in a Great Barrier Reef fish

2019

Journal Article

Moving in complex environments: a biomechanical analysis of locomotion on inclined and narrow substrates

Clemente, Christofer J., Dick, Taylor J. M., Wheatley, Rebecca, Gaschk, Joshua, Nasir, Ami Fadhillah Amir Abdul, Cameron, Skye F. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2019). Moving in complex environments: a biomechanical analysis of locomotion on inclined and narrow substrates. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 222 (6) jeb189654, jeb189654. doi: 10.1242/jeb.189654

Moving in complex environments: a biomechanical analysis of locomotion on inclined and narrow substrates

2019

Journal Article

An intertidal fish shows thermal acclimation despite living in a rapidly fluctuating environment

da Silva, Carmen Rose Burke, Riginos, Cynthia and Wilson, Robbie Stuart (2019). An intertidal fish shows thermal acclimation despite living in a rapidly fluctuating environment. Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 189 (3-4), 385-398. doi: 10.1007/s00360-019-01212-0

An intertidal fish shows thermal acclimation despite living in a rapidly fluctuating environment

2019

Conference Publication

Manganese contamination affects the motor performance of wild northern quolls

Wilson, R. S., Amir, Abdul Nasir A. F., Cameron, S. and Von Hippel, F. (2019). Manganese contamination affects the motor performance of wild northern quolls. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology (SICB), Tampa, FL, United States, 3-7 January 2019. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Manganese contamination affects the motor performance of wild northern quolls

2018

Journal Article

Predicting the defensive performance of individual players in one vs. one soccer games

Wilson, Robbie S., Smith, Nicholas M. A., Santiago, Paulo Roberto Pereira, Camata, Thiago, de Paula Ramos, Solange, Caetano, Fabio Giuliano, Cunha, Sergio Augusto, de Souza, Ana Paula Sandes and Moura, Felipe Arruda (2018). Predicting the defensive performance of individual players in one vs. one soccer games. PLoS ONE, 13 (12) e0209822, e0209822. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209822

Predicting the defensive performance of individual players in one vs. one soccer games

2018

Journal Article

Behaviors of shooter and goalkeeper interact to determine the outcome of soccer penalties

Hunter, Andrew H., Angilletta, Michael J. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2018). Behaviors of shooter and goalkeeper interact to determine the outcome of soccer penalties. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 28 (12), 2751-2759. doi: 10.1111/sms.13276

Behaviors of shooter and goalkeeper interact to determine the outcome of soccer penalties

2018

Journal Article

Legs of male fiddler crabs evolved to compensate for claw exaggeration and enhance claw functionality during waving displays

Bywater, Candice L., Wilson, Robbie S., Monro, Keyne and White, Craig R. (2018). Legs of male fiddler crabs evolved to compensate for claw exaggeration and enhance claw functionality during waving displays. Evolution, 72 (11), 2491-2502. doi: 10.1111/evo.13617

Legs of male fiddler crabs evolved to compensate for claw exaggeration and enhance claw functionality during waving displays

2018

Journal Article

Manganese contamination affects the motor performance of wild northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus)

Amir Abdul Nasir, Ami Fadhillah, Cameron, Skye F., Niehaus, Amanda C., Clemente, Christofer J., von Hippel, Frank A. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2018). Manganese contamination affects the motor performance of wild northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus). Environmental Pollution, 241, 55-62. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.087

Manganese contamination affects the motor performance of wild northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus)

2018

Journal Article

Anticipating the direction of soccer penalty shots depends on the speed and technique of the kick

Hunter, Andrew H., Murphy, Sean C., Angilletta, Michael J. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2018). Anticipating the direction of soccer penalty shots depends on the speed and technique of the kick. Sports, 6 (3) 73, 73. doi: 10.3390/sports6030073

Anticipating the direction of soccer penalty shots depends on the speed and technique of the kick

2018

Journal Article

Testing for short- and long-term thermal plasticity in corticosterone responses of an ectothermic vertebrate

Jessop, Tim S., Lane, Meagan, Wilson, Robbie S. and Narayan, Edward J. (2018). Testing for short- and long-term thermal plasticity in corticosterone responses of an ectothermic vertebrate. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 91 (4), 967-975. doi: 10.1086/698664

Testing for short- and long-term thermal plasticity in corticosterone responses of an ectothermic vertebrate

2018

Journal Article

Multidimensional analyses of physical performance reveal a size-dependent trade-off between suites of traits

Charters, Jordan E., Heiniger, Jaime, Clemente, Christofer J., Cameron, Skye F., Amir Abdul Nasir, Ami F., Niehaus, Amanda C. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2018). Multidimensional analyses of physical performance reveal a size-dependent trade-off between suites of traits. Functional Ecology, 32 (6), 1541-1553. doi: 10.1111/1365-2435.13115

Multidimensional analyses of physical performance reveal a size-dependent trade-off between suites of traits

2018

Journal Article

Ecological context and the probability of mistakes underlie speed choice

Wheatley, Rebecca, Niehaus, Amanda C., Fisher, Diana O. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2018). Ecological context and the probability of mistakes underlie speed choice. Functional Ecology, 32 (4), 990-1000. doi: 10.1111/1365-2435.13036

Ecological context and the probability of mistakes underlie speed choice

2018

Journal Article

Surface friction alters the agility of a small Australian marsupial

Wheatley, Rebecca, Clemente, Christofer J., Niehaus, Amanda C., Fisher, Diana O. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2018). Surface friction alters the agility of a small Australian marsupial. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 221 (Pt 8) jeb172544, jeb172544. doi: 10.1242/jeb.172544

Surface friction alters the agility of a small Australian marsupial

2018

Journal Article

Modeling the two-dimensional accuracy of soccer kicks

Hunter, Andrew H., Angilletta, Michael J., Pavlic, Theodore, Lichtwark, Glen and Wilson, Robbie S. (2018). Modeling the two-dimensional accuracy of soccer kicks. Journal of Biomechanics, 72, 159-166. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2018.03.003

Modeling the two-dimensional accuracy of soccer kicks

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    Conserving the Greater Bilby in Queensland
    Save the Bilby Fund Ltd
    Open grant
  • 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

  • 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

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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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