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)

101 - 120 of 196 works

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

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 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.

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?

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

2010

Journal Article

Why do colder mothers produce larger eggs? An optimality approach

Bownds, C, Wilson, R and Marshall, DJ (2010). Why do colder mothers produce larger eggs? An optimality approach. Journal of Experimental Biology, 213 (22), 3796-3801. doi: 10.1242/jeb.043356

Why do colder mothers produce larger eggs? An optimality approach

2010

Conference Publication

Can temperature drive the intensity of male-male competition across a latitudinal cline?

Cameron, S. F. and Wilson, R. S. (2010). Can temperature drive the intensity of male-male competition across a latitudinal cline?. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology, Seattle Wa, Jan 03-07, 2010. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.

Can temperature drive the intensity of male-male competition across a latitudinal cline?

2010

Conference Publication

The evolution and thermal dependence of inducible defences in mosquito larvae

Van Uitregt, V. O., Hurst, T. P. and Wilson, R. S. (2010). The evolution and thermal dependence of inducible defences in mosquito larvae. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology, Seattle Wa, Jan 03-07, 2010. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.

The evolution and thermal dependence of inducible defences in mosquito larvae

2010

Conference Publication

Competition drives the reliability of signalling in the two-toned fiddler crab (Uca vomeris).

Bywater, C. L. and Wilson, R. S. (2010). Competition drives the reliability of signalling in the two-toned fiddler crab (Uca vomeris).. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology, Seattle Wa, Jan 03-07, 2010. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.

Competition drives the reliability of signalling in the two-toned fiddler crab (Uca vomeris).

2010

Conference Publication

What makes a great footballer? Trade-offs between athleticism and skill in human performance

Wilson, R. S. and Smith, M. D. (2010). What makes a great footballer? Trade-offs between athleticism and skill in human performance. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology, Seattle Wa, Jan 03-07, 2010. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.

What makes a great footballer? Trade-offs between athleticism and skill in human performance

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