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)

141 - 160 of 196 works

2009

Conference Publication

Unreliable signals of strength in male slender crayfish (Cherax dispar): costs of enlarged claws and the importance of resources during disputes

Wilson, RS, Oliver, J, Goldizen, A and Blomberg, S (2009). Unreliable signals of strength in male slender crayfish (Cherax dispar): costs of enlarged claws and the importance of resources during disputes. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology, Boston Ma, Jan 03-07, 2009. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.

Unreliable signals of strength in male slender crayfish (Cherax dispar): costs of enlarged claws and the importance of resources during disputes

2009

Conference Publication

The use of multi-factorial experimental studies in determining the causes of amphibian declines

Alton, Lesley A., Wilson, Robbie S. and Franklin, Craig E. (2009). The use of multi-factorial experimental studies in determining the causes of amphibian declines. Annual Meeting of the Society for Experimental Biology, Glasgow Scotland, 28June-01 July 2009. Philadelphia, PA United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.04.521

The use of multi-factorial experimental studies in determining the causes of amphibian declines

2009

Conference Publication

Diving and digestion - the effect of an elevated metabolic rate on submergence in an aquatic ectotherm

Pratt, K. L., Wilson, R. S., Blomberg, S. P. and Franklin, C. E. (2009). Diving and digestion - the effect of an elevated metabolic rate on submergence in an aquatic ectotherm. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Boston, MA, 3-7 January, 2009. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icp002

Diving and digestion - the effect of an elevated metabolic rate on submergence in an aquatic ectotherm

2008

Journal Article

Weapon size is a reliable indicator of strength and social dominance in female slender crayfish (Cherax dispar)

Bywater, C.L., Angilletta Jr, M.J. and Wilson, R. S. (2008). Weapon size is a reliable indicator of strength and social dominance in female slender crayfish (Cherax dispar). Functional Ecology, 22 (2), 311-316. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01379.x

Weapon size is a reliable indicator of strength and social dominance in female slender crayfish (Cherax dispar)

2008

Journal Article

Explosive Jumping: Extreme Morphological and Physiological Specializations of Australian Rocket Frogs (Litoria nasuta)

James, R. S. and Wilson, R. S. (2008). Explosive Jumping: Extreme Morphological and Physiological Specializations of Australian Rocket Frogs (Litoria nasuta). Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 81 (2), 176-185. doi: 10.1086/525290

Explosive Jumping: Extreme Morphological and Physiological Specializations of Australian Rocket Frogs (Litoria nasuta)

2008

Journal Article

The fast and the fractalous: speed and tortuosity trade off in running ants

Angilletta Jr, M.J., Roth II, T.C., Wilson, R. S., Niehaus, A. and Ribeiro, P.L. (2008). The fast and the fractalous: speed and tortuosity trade off in running ants. Functional Ecology, 22 (1), 78-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2007.01348.x

The fast and the fractalous: speed and tortuosity trade off in running ants

2007

Conference Publication

Clawing your way to the top: Variation, repeatability, and social benefits of chela strength in slender crayfish

Angilletta, M. J., Jr., Bywater, C. L. and Wilson, R. S. (2007). Clawing your way to the top: Variation, repeatability, and social benefits of chela strength in slender crayfish. NEW YORK: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2007.06.043

Clawing your way to the top: Variation, repeatability, and social benefits of chela strength in slender crayfish

2007

Journal Article

Competition moderates the benefits of thermal acclimation to reproductive performance in male eastern mosquitofish

Wilson, Robbie S., Hammill, Edd and Johnston, Ian A. (2007). Competition moderates the benefits of thermal acclimation to reproductive performance in male eastern mosquitofish. Proceedings of The Royal Society B- Biological Sciences, 274 (1614), 1199-1204. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2006.0401

Competition moderates the benefits of thermal acclimation to reproductive performance in male eastern mosquitofish

2007

Journal Article

Consequences of thermal acclimation for the mating behaviour and swimming performance of female mosquito fish

Wilson, R. S., Condon, C. H. L. and Johnston, I. A. (2007). Consequences of thermal acclimation for the mating behaviour and swimming performance of female mosquito fish. Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 362 (1487), 2131-2139. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2007.2106

Consequences of thermal acclimation for the mating behaviour and swimming performance of female mosquito fish

2007

Journal Article

Explosive jumping: Extreme morphological and physiological specialisations of Australian Rocket frogs (Litoria nasuta)

James, R. and Wilson, R. (2007). Explosive jumping: Extreme morphological and physiological specialisations of Australian Rocket frogs (Litoria nasuta). Comparative Biochemistry And Physiology A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 146 (4 (Supplement)), S113-S113. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2007.01.195

Explosive jumping: Extreme morphological and physiological specialisations of Australian Rocket frogs (Litoria nasuta)

2007

Journal Article

Dishonest signals of strength in male slender crayfish (Cherax dispar) during agonistic encounters

Wilson, R. S., Angilletta, M. J., James, R. S., Navas, C. and Seebacher, F. (2007). Dishonest signals of strength in male slender crayfish (Cherax dispar) during agonistic encounters. American Naturalist, 170 (2), 284-291. doi: 10.1086/519399

Dishonest signals of strength in male slender crayfish (Cherax dispar) during agonistic encounters

2007

Conference Publication

Honest and dishonest signals of strength in Australian slender crayfish (Cherax dispar): Are male's liars and cheaters?

Wilson, R., Bywater, C., Angilletta, M., James, R. and Navas, C. (2007). Honest and dishonest signals of strength in Australian slender crayfish (Cherax dispar): Are male's liars and cheaters?. Annual Main Meeting of the Society for Experimental Biology, Glasgow, Scotland, 31 March - 4 April 2007. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2007.01.215

Honest and dishonest signals of strength in Australian slender crayfish (Cherax dispar): Are male's liars and cheaters?

2007

Journal Article

Individual recognition in crayfish (Cherax dispar): the roles of strength and experience in deciding aggressive encounters

Seebacher, F. and Wilson, R. S. (2007). Individual recognition in crayfish (Cherax dispar): the roles of strength and experience in deciding aggressive encounters. Biology Letters, 3 (5), 471-474. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0289

Individual recognition in crayfish (Cherax dispar): the roles of strength and experience in deciding aggressive encounters

2007

Journal Article

Cooler temperatures increase sensitivity to ultraviolet B radiation in embryos and larvae of the frog Limnodynastes peronii

van Uitregt, V. O., Wilson, R. S. and Franklin, C. E. (2007). Cooler temperatures increase sensitivity to ultraviolet B radiation in embryos and larvae of the frog Limnodynastes peronii. Global Change Biology, 13 (6), 1114-1121. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2007.01353.x

Cooler temperatures increase sensitivity to ultraviolet B radiation in embryos and larvae of the frog Limnodynastes peronii

2007

Journal Article

Urban Physiology: City ants possess high heat tolerance

Angilletta, Michael J., Wilson, Robbie S., Niehaus, Amanda C., Sears, Michael W., Navas, Carlos A. and Ribeiro, Pedro L. (2007). Urban Physiology: City ants possess high heat tolerance. PLoS One, 2 (2) e258, e258.1-e258.4. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000258

Urban Physiology: City ants possess high heat tolerance

2007

Journal Article

Testing the beneflts of acclimation to reproductive performance in male mosquitofish

Wilson, R. S. (2007). Testing the beneflts of acclimation to reproductive performance in male mosquitofish. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 146 (4), S205-S205. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2007.01.455

Testing the beneflts of acclimation to reproductive performance in male mosquitofish

2006

Journal Article

Effect of thermal acclimation on female resistance to forced matings in the eastern mosquitofish

Condon, Catriona H. L. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2006). Effect of thermal acclimation on female resistance to forced matings in the eastern mosquitofish. Animal Behaviour, 72 (3), 585-593. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.11.016

Effect of thermal acclimation on female resistance to forced matings in the eastern mosquitofish

2006

Journal Article

Coadaptation: A unifying principle in evolutionary thermal biology

Angilletta, M. J., Bennett, A. F., Guderley, H., Navas, C. A., Seebacher, F. and Wilson, R. S. (2006). Coadaptation: A unifying principle in evolutionary thermal biology. Physiological And Biochemical Zoology, 79 (2), 282-294. doi: 10.1086/499990

Coadaptation: A unifying principle in evolutionary thermal biology

2006

Journal Article

Fighting fit: thermal plasticity of metabolic function and fighting success in the crayfish Cherax destructor

Seebacher, F. and Wilson, R. S. (2006). Fighting fit: thermal plasticity of metabolic function and fighting success in the crayfish Cherax destructor. Functional Ecology, 20 (6), 1045-1053. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01194.x

Fighting fit: thermal plasticity of metabolic function and fighting success in the crayfish Cherax destructor

2006

Journal Article

Short- and long-term consequences of thermal variation in the larval environment of anurans

Niehaus, A. C., Wilson, R. S. and Franklin, C. E. (2006). Short- and long-term consequences of thermal variation in the larval environment of anurans. Journal of Animal Ecology, 75 (3), 686-692. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01089.x

Short- and long-term consequences of thermal variation in the larval environment of anurans

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

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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

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