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

204 works between 1998 and 2025
All (204) Journal Article (145) Other Outputs (1) Conference Publication (54) Book Chapter (4)

81 - 100 of 204 works

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

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

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

2013

Journal Article

Koala habitat use and population density: using field data to test the assumptions of ecological models

Ellis, William, FitzGibbon, Sean, Melzer, Alistair, Wilson, Robbie, Johnston, Steve, Berkovitch, Fred, Dique, David and Carrick, Frank (2013). Koala habitat use and population density: using field data to test the assumptions of ecological models. Australian Mammalogy, 35 (2), 160-165. doi: 10.1071/AM12023

Koala habitat use and population density: using field data to test the assumptions of ecological models

2013

Conference Publication

Power, accuracy & deception: using evolutionary theory to improve scoring success in soccer penalties

Hunter, A. and Wilson, R. S. (2013). Power, accuracy & deception: using evolutionary theory to improve scoring success in soccer penalties. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), San Francisco Ca, 03-07 January 2013. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Power, accuracy & deception: using evolutionary theory to improve scoring success in soccer penalties

2013

Conference Publication

The frenetic sex life of male northern quolls: does performance degrade when the sex becomes too demanding?

Heiniger, J., Dickman, C. and Wilson, R. S. (2013). The frenetic sex life of male northern quolls: does performance degrade when the sex becomes too demanding?. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), San Francisco Ca, 03-07 January 2013. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

The frenetic sex life of male northern quolls: does performance degrade when the sex becomes too demanding?

2013

Journal Article

Greater costs of inducible behavioural defences at cooler temperatures in larvae of the mosquito, Aedes notoscriptus

van Uitregt, Vincent O., Hurst, Timothy P. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2013). Greater costs of inducible behavioural defences at cooler temperatures in larvae of the mosquito, Aedes notoscriptus. Evolutionary Ecology, 27 (1), 13-26. doi: 10.1007/s10682-012-9576-0

Greater costs of inducible behavioural defences at cooler temperatures in larvae of the mosquito, Aedes notoscriptus

2013

Conference Publication

Can we improve a footballer s kicking performance using optimisation theory?

Hunter, A. and Wilson, R. S. (2013). Can we improve a footballer s kicking performance using optimisation theory?. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), San Francisco Ca, 03-07 January 2013. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Can we improve a footballer s kicking performance using optimisation theory?

2013

Journal Article

Extravagant ornaments of male threadfin rainbowfish (Iriatherina werneri) are not costly for swimming

Trappett, Andrew, Condon, Catriona H., White, Craig, Matthews, Phil and Wilson, Robbie S. (2013). Extravagant ornaments of male threadfin rainbowfish (Iriatherina werneri) are not costly for swimming. Functional Ecology, 27 (4), 1034-1041. doi: 10.1111/1365-2435.12097

Extravagant ornaments of male threadfin rainbowfish (Iriatherina werneri) are not costly for swimming

2013

Conference Publication

The life and times of a sex addict in northern Australia: understanding the breeding dynamics of the world s largest semelparous mammal

Heiniger, J., Dickman, C. and Wilson, R. S. (2013). The life and times of a sex addict in northern Australia: understanding the breeding dynamics of the world s largest semelparous mammal. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), San Francisco Ca, 03-07 January 2013. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

The life and times of a sex addict in northern Australia: understanding the breeding dynamics of the world s largest semelparous mammal

2013

Conference Publication

Optimal Performance Theory: developing a framework for understanding whole-animal performance in the wild

Wilson, R. S. and Carter, A. J. (2013). Optimal Performance Theory: developing a framework for understanding whole-animal performance in the wild. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), San Francisco Ca, 03-07 January 2013. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

Optimal Performance Theory: developing a framework for understanding whole-animal performance in the wild

2013

Conference Publication

Sex-specific aging of performance in male and female professional basketball players

Lailvaux, S. P., Wilson, R. and Kasumovic, M. M. (2013). Sex-specific aging of performance in male and female professional basketball players. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), San Francisco CA USA, 3-7 Jan 2013. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/ict013

Sex-specific aging of performance in male and female professional basketball players

2012

Journal Article

Capacity for thermal acclimation differs between populations and phylogenetic lineages within a species

Seebacher, Frank, Holmes, Sebastian, Roosen, Nicholas J., Nouvian, Morgane, Wilson, Robbie S. and Ward, Ashley J. W. (2012). Capacity for thermal acclimation differs between populations and phylogenetic lineages within a species. Functional Ecology, 26 (6), 1418-1428. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2012.02052.x

Capacity for thermal acclimation differs between populations and phylogenetic lineages within a species

2012

Journal Article

Is honesty the best policy? Testing signal reliability in fiddler crabs when receiver-dependent costs are high

Bywater, Candice L. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2012). Is honesty the best policy? Testing signal reliability in fiddler crabs when receiver-dependent costs are high. Functional Ecology, 26 (4), 804-811. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2012.02002.x

Is honesty the best policy? Testing signal reliability in fiddler crabs when receiver-dependent costs are high

2012

Journal Article

Cryptic asymmetry: Unreliable signals mask asymmetric performance of crayfish weapons

Angilletta, Michael J. Jr. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2012). Cryptic asymmetry: Unreliable signals mask asymmetric performance of crayfish weapons. Biology Letters, 8 (4), 551-553. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2012.0029

Cryptic asymmetry: Unreliable signals mask asymmetric performance of crayfish weapons

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

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose 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

    Optimal running speeds during predator-prey interactions

    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