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)

101 - 120 of 201 works

2012

Journal Article

Predicting the physiological performance of ectotherms in fluctuating thermal environments

Niehaus, Amanda C., Angilletta, Michael J., Sears, Michael W., Franklin, Craig E. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2012). Predicting the physiological performance of ectotherms in fluctuating thermal environments. Journal of Experimental Biology, 215 (4), 694-701. doi: 10.1242/jeb.058032

Predicting the physiological performance of ectotherms in fluctuating thermal environments

2012

Journal Article

Fall field crickets did not acclimate to simulated seasonal changes in temperature

Niehaus, Amanda C., Wilson, Robbie S., Storm, Jonathan J. and Angilletta, Michael J. (2012). Fall field crickets did not acclimate to simulated seasonal changes in temperature. Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical Systemic And Environmental Physiology, 182 (2), 199-207. doi: 10.1007/s00360-011-0611-1

Fall field crickets did not acclimate to simulated seasonal changes in temperature

2012

Conference Publication

Fine tuning anti-predator responses: are the costs of inducible predator defences proportional to the magnitude of the responses?

Heiniger, J., Van Uitregt, V. and Wilson, R. S. (2012). Fine tuning anti-predator responses: are the costs of inducible predator defences proportional to the magnitude of the responses?. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative-Biology (SICB), Charleston, SC, United States, 3-7 January 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/ics078

Fine tuning anti-predator responses: are the costs of inducible predator defences proportional to the magnitude of the responses?

2012

Conference Publication

It's costly to be honest: the metabolic expense of maintaining a reliable signal of strength for crustaceans

Bywater, CL, White, C and Wilson, RS (2012). It's costly to be honest: the metabolic expense of maintaining a reliable signal of strength for crustaceans. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology (SICB), Charleston Sc, Jan 03-07, 2012.

It's costly to be honest: the metabolic expense of maintaining a reliable signal of strength for crustaceans

2012

Conference Publication

Bigger is better in all environments: Temperature-induced variation in phallus size is a reliable indicator of male physical performance and gamete quality

Wilson, R. S. (2012). Bigger is better in all environments: Temperature-induced variation in phallus size is a reliable indicator of male physical performance and gamete quality. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative-Biology (SICB), Charleston, SC, United States, 3-7 January 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/ics078

Bigger is better in all environments: Temperature-induced variation in phallus size is a reliable indicator of male physical performance and gamete quality

2012

Conference Publication

Trade-offs and compensatory traits: bite force and sprint speed pose conflicting demands on the design of male geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus)

Cameron, S. F., Wynn, M. L. and Wilson, R. S. (2012). Trade-offs and compensatory traits: bite force and sprint speed pose conflicting demands on the design of male geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus). Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative-Biology (SICB)iology, Charleston, SC, United States, 3-7 January 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/ics078

Trade-offs and compensatory traits: bite force and sprint speed pose conflicting demands on the design of male geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus)

2012

Conference Publication

Death after Sex in the Australian Bush: Determinants of survival and reproduction in males of the world's largest semelparous mammal

Heiniger, J., Van Uitregt, V. and Wilson, Robbie (2012). Death after Sex in the Australian Bush: Determinants of survival and reproduction in males of the world's largest semelparous mammal. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative-Biology (SICB), Charleston, SC, United States, 3-7 January 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/ics079

Death after Sex in the Australian Bush: Determinants of survival and reproduction in males of the world's largest semelparous mammal

2012

Journal Article

Reduced size and starvation resistance in adult mosquitoes, Aedes notoscriptus, exposed to predation cues as larvae

van Uitregt, Vincent O., Hurst, Timothy P. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2012). Reduced size and starvation resistance in adult mosquitoes, Aedes notoscriptus, exposed to predation cues as larvae. Journal of Animal Ecology, 81 (1), 108-115. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2011.01880.x

Reduced size and starvation resistance in adult mosquitoes, Aedes notoscriptus, exposed to predation cues as larvae

2011

Journal Article

Receivers limit the prevalence of deception in humans: Evidence from diving behaviour in humans

David, Gwendolyn K., Condon, Catriona H., Bywater, Candice L., Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel and Wilson, Robbie S. (2011). Receivers limit the prevalence of deception in humans: Evidence from diving behaviour in humans. PLoS One, 6 (10) e26017, e26017-1-e26017-5. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026017

Receivers limit the prevalence of deception in humans: Evidence from diving behaviour in humans

2011

Journal Article

Social control of unreliable signals of strength in male but not female crayfish, Cherax destructor

Walter, Gregory M., van Uitregt, Vincent O. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2011). Social control of unreliable signals of strength in male but not female crayfish, Cherax destructor. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 214 (19), 3294-3299. doi: 10.1242/jeb.056754

Social control of unreliable signals of strength in male but not female crayfish, Cherax destructor

2011

Journal Article

The behavioural ecology and population dynamics of a cryptic ground-dwelling mammal in an urban Australian landscape

Fitzgibbon, Sean I., Wilson, Robbie S. and Goldizen, Anne W. (2011). The behavioural ecology and population dynamics of a cryptic ground-dwelling mammal in an urban Australian landscape. Austral Ecology, 36 (6), 722-732. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2010.02209.x

The behavioural ecology and population dynamics of a cryptic ground-dwelling mammal in an urban Australian landscape

2011

Journal Article

A small increase in UV-B increases the susceptibility of tadpoles to predation

Alton, Lesley A., Wilson, Robbie S. and Franklin, Craig E. (2011). A small increase in UV-B increases the susceptibility of tadpoles to predation. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 278 (1718), 2575-2583. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2010.2368

A small increase in UV-B increases the susceptibility of tadpoles to predation

2011

Journal Article

Striped marsh frog (Limnodynastes peronii) tadpoles do not acclimate metabolic performance to thermal variability

Niehaus, Amanda C., Wilson, Robbie S., Seebacher, Frank and Franklin, Craig E. (2011). Striped marsh frog (Limnodynastes peronii) tadpoles do not acclimate metabolic performance to thermal variability. Journal of Experimental Biology, 214 (11), 1965-1970. doi: 10.1242/jeb.054478

Striped marsh frog (Limnodynastes peronii) tadpoles do not acclimate metabolic performance to thermal variability

2011

Journal Article

Quantitative genetic variation for thermal performance curves within and among natural populations of Drosophila serrata

Latimer, C. A. L., Wilson, R. S. and Chenoweth, S. F. (2011). Quantitative genetic variation for thermal performance curves within and among natural populations of Drosophila serrata. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 24 (5), 965-975. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02227.x

Quantitative genetic variation for thermal performance curves within and among natural populations of Drosophila serrata

2011

Conference Publication

The evolution of acclimation of thermal performance

Condon, C. H., Chenoweth, S. F. and Wilson, R. S. (2011). The evolution of acclimation of thermal performance. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology, Salt Lake City Ut, Jan 03-07, 2011. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.

The evolution of acclimation of thermal performance

2011

Journal Article

Koala bellows and their association with the spatial dynamics of free-ranging koalas

Ellis, W., Bercovitch, F., FitzGibbon, S. I., Roe, P., Wimmer, J., Melzer, A. and Wilson, R. (2011). Koala bellows and their association with the spatial dynamics of free-ranging koalas. Behavioral Ecology, 22 (2), 372-377. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arq216

Koala bellows and their association with the spatial dynamics of free-ranging koalas

2011

Conference Publication

Diving in soccer: When does it pay to be dishonest?

David, G. K., Wilson, R. S. and Ortiz-Barrientos, D. (2011). Diving in soccer: When does it pay to be dishonest?. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology, Salt Lake City Ut, Jan 03-07, 2011. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.

Diving in soccer: When does it pay to be dishonest?

2011

Conference Publication

The physiological basis of dishonest signals of strength in males of the fiddler crab Uca vomeris.

Bywater, C. L., White, C. and Wilson, R. S. (2011). The physiological basis of dishonest signals of strength in males of the fiddler crab Uca vomeris.. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology, Salt Lake City Ut, Jan 03-07, 2011. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.

The physiological basis of dishonest signals of strength in males of the fiddler crab Uca vomeris.

2010

Journal Article

Zebrafish take their cue from temperature but not photoperiod for the seasonal plasticity of thermal performance

Condon, Catriona H., Chenoweth, Stephen F. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2010). Zebrafish take their cue from temperature but not photoperiod for the seasonal plasticity of thermal performance. Journal of Experimental Biology, 213 (21), 3705-3709. doi: 10.1242/jeb.046979

Zebrafish take their cue from temperature but not photoperiod for the seasonal plasticity of thermal performance

2010

Journal Article

Evening up the score: Sexual selection favours both alternatives in the colour-polymorphic ornate rainbowfish

Hancox, Daniel, Hoskin, Conrad J. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2010). Evening up the score: Sexual selection favours both alternatives in the colour-polymorphic ornate rainbowfish. Animal Behaviour, 80 (5), 845-851. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.08.004

Evening up the score: Sexual selection favours both alternatives in the colour-polymorphic ornate rainbowfish

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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