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)

61 - 80 of 196 works

2015

Journal Article

Cameras, competition and creativity: assessing 1st year ecology in the field

Kuchel, Louise, Wilson, Robbie S. and Ellis, William H. (2015). Cameras, competition and creativity: assessing 1st year ecology in the field. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 23 (2), 34-45.

Cameras, competition and creativity: assessing 1st year ecology in the field

2015

Conference Publication

Introduction to the symposium: towards a general framework for predicting animal movement speeds in nature

Wilson, Robbie S. and Husak, Jerry F. (2015). Introduction to the symposium: towards a general framework for predicting animal movement speeds in nature. Towards a General Framework for Predicting Animal Movement Speeds in Nature, West Palm Beach, Florida, 3-7 January 2015. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icv107

Introduction to the symposium: towards a general framework for predicting animal movement speeds in nature

2015

Conference Publication

Can we predict how fast animals will move in their environment?

Wilson, R. S. (2015). Can we predict how fast animals will move in their environment?. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), West Palm Beach, Fl United States, 03-07 January 2015. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icv011

Can we predict how fast animals will move in their environment?

2015

Conference Publication

Performing when it's hot - does increased oxygen help buffer the loss of performance?

Rusch, T. W., Cameron, S. F., Borchert, J. D. and Wilson, R. S. (2015). Performing when it's hot - does increased oxygen help buffer the loss of performance?. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), West Palm Beach, Fl United States, 03-07 January 2015. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icv012

Performing when it's hot - does increased oxygen help buffer the loss of performance?

2015

Conference Publication

Predicting the movement speeds of animals in natural environments

Wilson, Robbie S., Husak, Jerry F., Halsey, Lewis G. and Clemente, Christofer J. (2015). Predicting the movement speeds of animals in natural environments. Towards a General Framework for Predicting Animal Movement Speeds in Nature, West Palm Beach, Florida, 3-7 January 2015. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icv106

Predicting the movement speeds of animals in natural environments

2015

Conference Publication

How fast should an animal run when escaping? An optimality model based on the trade-off between speed and accuracy

Wheatley, Rebecca, Angilletta Jr., Michael J., Niehaus, Amanda C. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2015). How fast should an animal run when escaping? An optimality model based on the trade-off between speed and accuracy. Towards a General Framework for Predicting Animal Movement Speeds in Nature, West Palm Beach, Florida, 3-7 January 2015. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icv091

How fast should an animal run when escaping? An optimality model based on the trade-off between speed and accuracy

2015

Conference Publication

Balancing biomechanical constraints when selecting movement speeds in natural environments.

Clemente, C. J., Wynn, M. L., Amir, Abdul Nasir A. F., Hudson, M. G. and Wilson, R. S. (2015). Balancing biomechanical constraints when selecting movement speeds in natural environments.. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), West Palm Beach, Fl United States, 03-07 January 2015. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icv011

Balancing biomechanical constraints when selecting movement speeds in natural environments.

2015

Conference Publication

Building the best sex addict: what are the morphological and performance bases of individual quality?

Charters, J., Clemente, C., Heiniger, J., Abdul Nasir, Amir A., Cameron, S. F., Niehaus, A. C. and Wilson, R. S. (2015). Building the best sex addict: what are the morphological and performance bases of individual quality?. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), West Palm Beach, Fl United States, 03-07 January 2015. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icv012

Building the best sex addict: what are the morphological and performance bases of individual quality?

2015

Conference Publication

Balancing biomechanical constraints: optimal escape speeds when there is a trade-off between speed and maneuverability

Clemente, C. J. and Wilson, R. S. (2015). Balancing biomechanical constraints: optimal escape speeds when there is a trade-off between speed and maneuverability. Towards a General Framework for Predicting Animal Movement Speeds in Nature, West Palm Beach, Florida, 3-7 January 2015. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icv103

Balancing biomechanical constraints: optimal escape speeds when there is a trade-off between speed and maneuverability

2014

Journal Article

Metabolic incentives for dishonest signals of strength in the fiddler crab Uca vomeris

Bywater, Candice L., White, Craig R. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2014). Metabolic incentives for dishonest signals of strength in the fiddler crab Uca vomeris. Journal of Experimental Biology, 217 (16), 2848-2850. doi: 10.1242/jeb.099390

Metabolic incentives for dishonest signals of strength in the fiddler crab Uca vomeris

2014

Journal Article

Trait compensation and sex-specific aging of performance in male and female professional basketball players

Lailvaux, Simon P., Wilson, Robbie and Kasumovic, Michael M. (2014). Trait compensation and sex-specific aging of performance in male and female professional basketball players. Evolution, 68 (5), 1523-1532. doi: 10.1111/evo.12375

Trait compensation and sex-specific aging of performance in male and female professional basketball players

2014

Journal Article

A comparative study of single-leg ground reaction forces in running lizards

McElroy, Eric J., Wilson, Robbie, Biknevicius, Audrone R. and Reilly, Stephen M. (2014). A comparative study of single-leg ground reaction forces in running lizards. Journal of Experimental Biology, 217 (5), 735-742. doi: 10.1242/jeb.095620

A comparative study of single-leg ground reaction forces in running lizards

2014

Journal Article

A Documentary video assignment to enhance learning in large first-year science classes

Kuchel, Louise J., Stevens, Sarah K., Wilson, Robbie and Cokley, John (2014). A Documentary video assignment to enhance learning in large first-year science classes. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 22 (4), 48-64.

A Documentary video assignment to enhance learning in large first-year science classes

2014

Conference Publication

Surviving in the slow lane: speed and maneuverability jointly determine escape success

Clemente, C. J. and Wilson, R. S. (2014). Surviving in the slow lane: speed and maneuverability jointly determine escape success. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Austin, TX United States, 03 - 07 January 2014. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icu009

Surviving in the slow lane: speed and maneuverability jointly determine escape success

2014

Journal Article

Does individual quality mask the detection of performance tradeoffs? A test using analyses of human physical performance

Wilson, Robbie S., Niehaus, Amanda C., David, Gwendolyn, Hunter, Andrew and Smith, Michelle (2014). Does individual quality mask the detection of performance tradeoffs? A test using analyses of human physical performance. Journal of Experimental Biology, 217 (4), 545-551. doi: 10.1242/jeb.092056

Does individual quality mask the detection of performance tradeoffs? A test using analyses of human physical performance

2014

Journal Article

The contribution of spontaneous mutations to thermal sensitivity curve variation in drosophila serrata

Latimer, Camille A. L., McGuigan, Katrina, Wilson, Robbie S., Blows, Mark W. and Chenoweth, Stephen F. (2014). The contribution of spontaneous mutations to thermal sensitivity curve variation in drosophila serrata. Evolution, 68 (6), 1824-1837. doi: 10.1111/evo.12392

The contribution of spontaneous mutations to thermal sensitivity curve variation in drosophila serrata

2013

Journal Article

Sex-specific trade-offs and compensatory mechanisms: bite force and sprint speed pose conflicting demands on the design of geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus)

Cameron, S. F., Wynn, M. L. and Wilson, R. S. (2013). Sex-specific trade-offs and compensatory mechanisms: bite force and sprint speed pose conflicting demands on the design of geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus). Journal of Experimental Biology, 216 (20), 3781-3789. doi: 10.1242/jeb.083063

Sex-specific trade-offs and compensatory mechanisms: bite force and sprint speed pose conflicting demands on the design of geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus)

2013

Journal Article

Dehydration hardly slows hopping toads (Rhinella granulosa) from xeric and mesic environments

Prates, Ivan, Angilleta, Michael J., Jr., Wilson, Robbie S., Niehaus, Amanda C. and Navas, Carlos A. (2013). Dehydration hardly slows hopping toads (Rhinella granulosa) from xeric and mesic environments. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 86 (4), 451-457. doi: 10.1086/671191

Dehydration hardly slows hopping toads (Rhinella granulosa) from xeric and mesic environments

2013

Journal Article

Increased aggression during pregnancy comes at a higher metabolic cost

Seebacher, F., Ward, A. J. W. and Wilson, R. S. (2013). Increased aggression during pregnancy comes at a higher metabolic cost. Journal of Experimental Biology, 216 (5), 771-776. doi: 10.1242/jeb.079756

Increased aggression during pregnancy comes at a higher metabolic cost

2013

Journal Article

Visual habitat geometry predicts relative morph abundance in the colour-polymorphic ornate rainbowfish

Hancox, Daniel, Wilson, Robbie S. and White, Craig R. (2013). Visual habitat geometry predicts relative morph abundance in the colour-polymorphic ornate rainbowfish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 280 (1752) 20122377, 20122377. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2012.2377

Visual habitat geometry predicts relative morph abundance in the colour-polymorphic ornate rainbowfish

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Conserving the Greater Bilby in Queensland
    Save the Bilby Fund Ltd
    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
  • 2016 - 2019
    The ecology of trace metal contamination in native Australian mammals
    ARC Linkage 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

    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

    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

    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

For media enquiries about Professor Robbie Wilson's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au