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)

161 - 180 of 196 works

2006

Journal Article

Improving sneaky-sex in a low oxygen environment: reproductive and physiological responses of male mosquito fish to chronic hypoxia

Carter, Alecia J. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2006). Improving sneaky-sex in a low oxygen environment: reproductive and physiological responses of male mosquito fish to chronic hypoxia. Journal of Experimental Biology, 209 (24), 4878-4884. doi: 10.1242/jeb.02531

Improving sneaky-sex in a low oxygen environment: reproductive and physiological responses of male mosquito fish to chronic hypoxia

2006

Journal Article

Substantial changes in the genetic basis of tadpole morphology of Rana lessonae in the presence of predators

Kraft, P. G., Wilson, R. S., Franklin, C. E. and Blows, M. W. (2006). Substantial changes in the genetic basis of tadpole morphology of Rana lessonae in the presence of predators. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 19 (6), 1813-1818. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2006.01185.x

Substantial changes in the genetic basis of tadpole morphology of Rana lessonae in the presence of predators

2006

Conference Publication

Interindividual variation in the muscle physiology of vertebrate ectotherms: Consequences for behavioral and ecological performance

Navas, CA, James, RS and Wilson, RS (2006). Interindividual variation in the muscle physiology of vertebrate ectotherms: Consequences for behavioral and ecological performance. Symposium on Ecology and Biomechanics held at the Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Experimental-Biology, Edinburgh Scotland, Apr, 2004. BOCA RATON: CRC PRESS-TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP.

Interindividual variation in the muscle physiology of vertebrate ectotherms: Consequences for behavioral and ecological performance

2006

Book Chapter

Interindividual variation in the muscle physiology of vertebrate ectotherms: Consequences for behavioral and ecological performance

Navas, A., James, R. S. and Wilson, R. S. (2006). Interindividual variation in the muscle physiology of vertebrate ectotherms: Consequences for behavioral and ecological performance. Ecology and Biomechanics. (pp. 231-252) edited by Anthony Herrel; Thomas Speck; Nicholas P. Rowe. United States: CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group.

Interindividual variation in the muscle physiology of vertebrate ectotherms: Consequences for behavioral and ecological performance

2005

Journal Article

Temperature influences the coercive mating and swimming performance of male eastern mosquitofish

Wilson, Robbie S. (2005). Temperature influences the coercive mating and swimming performance of male eastern mosquitofish. Animal Behaviour, 70 (6), 1387-1394. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2004.12.024

Temperature influences the coercive mating and swimming performance of male eastern mosquitofish

2005

Journal Article

Consequences of metamorphosis for the locomotor performance and thermal physiology of the newt Triturus critatus

Wilson, R. S. (2005). Consequences of metamorphosis for the locomotor performance and thermal physiology of the newt Triturus critatus. Physiological And Biochemical Zoology, 78 (6), 967-975. doi: 10.1086/432923

Consequences of metamorphosis for the locomotor performance and thermal physiology of the newt Triturus critatus

2005

Journal Article

Interindividual Differences in Leg Muscle Mass and Pyruvate Kinase Activity Correlate with Interindividual Differences in Jumping Performance of Hyla multilineata

James, R. S., de Carvalho, J. E., Kohlsdorf, T., Gomes, F. R., Navas, C. A. and Wilson, R. S. (2005). Interindividual Differences in Leg Muscle Mass and Pyruvate Kinase Activity Correlate with Interindividual Differences in Jumping Performance of Hyla multilineata. Physiological And Biochemical Zoology, 78 (5), 857-867. doi: 10.1086/432149

Interindividual Differences in Leg Muscle Mass and Pyruvate Kinase Activity Correlate with Interindividual Differences in Jumping Performance of Hyla multilineata

2005

Conference Publication

The benefits of thermal acclimation to the sneaky-mating avoidance behaviour of female mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki)

Wilson, Robbie S. and Condon, Catriona H. L. (2005). The benefits of thermal acclimation to the sneaky-mating avoidance behaviour of female mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki). NEW YORK: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC.

The benefits of thermal acclimation to the sneaky-mating avoidance behaviour of female mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki)

2005

Journal Article

Predator-specific changes in the morphology and swimming performance of larval Rana lessonae

Wilson, R. S., Kraft, P. G. and Van Damme, R. (2005). Predator-specific changes in the morphology and swimming performance of larval Rana lessonae. Functional Ecology, 19 (2), 238-244. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2005.00958.x

Predator-specific changes in the morphology and swimming performance of larval Rana lessonae

2005

Journal Article

Predator-mediated phenotypic plasticity in tadpoles of the striped marsh frog, Limnodynastes peronii

Kraft, P. G., Wilson, R. S. and Franklin, C. E. (2005). Predator-mediated phenotypic plasticity in tadpoles of the striped marsh frog, Limnodynastes peronii. Austral Ecology, 30 (5), 558-563. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2005.01469.x

Predator-mediated phenotypic plasticity in tadpoles of the striped marsh frog, Limnodynastes peronii

2004

Journal Article

Morphological and physiological specialization for digging in amphisbaenians, an ancient lineage of fossorial vertebrates

Navas, Carlos A., Antoniazzi, Marta M., Carvalho, Jose Eduardo, Chaui-Berlink, Jose Guilherme, James, Rob S., Jared, Carlos, Kohlsdorf, Tiana, Dal Pai-Silva, Maeli and Wilson, Robbie S. (2004). Morphological and physiological specialization for digging in amphisbaenians, an ancient lineage of fossorial vertebrates. Journal of Experimental Biology, 207 (14), 2433-2441. doi: 10.1242/jeb.01041

Morphological and physiological specialization for digging in amphisbaenians, an ancient lineage of fossorial vertebrates

2004

Journal Article

Effects of caffeine on mouse skeletal muscle power output during recovery from fatigue

James, Rob. S., Wilson, Robbie S. and Askew, Graham N. (2004). Effects of caffeine on mouse skeletal muscle power output during recovery from fatigue. Journal of Applied Physiology, 96 (2), 545-552. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00696.2003

Effects of caffeine on mouse skeletal muscle power output during recovery from fatigue

2004

Journal Article

Sustained swimming performance and muscle structure are altered by thermal acclimation in male mosquitofish

Hammill, E., Wilson, R. S. and Johnston, I. A. (2004). Sustained swimming performance and muscle structure are altered by thermal acclimation in male mosquitofish. Journal of Thermal Biology, 29 (4-5), 251-257. doi: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2004.04.002

Sustained swimming performance and muscle structure are altered by thermal acclimation in male mosquitofish

2004

Journal Article

Constraints on muscular performance: trade-offs between power output and fatigue resistance

Wilson, R. S. and James, R. S. (2004). Constraints on muscular performance: trade-offs between power output and fatigue resistance. Proceedings of The Royal Society of London Series B-biological Sciences, 271 (Supp. 4), S222-S225. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2003.0143

Constraints on muscular performance: trade-offs between power output and fatigue resistance

2004

Journal Article

Locomotor performance of closely related Tropidurus species: relationships with physiological parameters and ecological divergence

Kohlsdorf, T., James, R. S., Carvalho, J. E., Wilson, R. S., Dal Pai-Silva, M. and Navas, C. A. (2004). Locomotor performance of closely related Tropidurus species: relationships with physiological parameters and ecological divergence. Journal of Experimental Biology, 207 (7), 1183-1192. doi: 10.1242/jeb.00870

Locomotor performance of closely related Tropidurus species: relationships with physiological parameters and ecological divergence

2004

Journal Article

Interindividual variation of isolated muscle performance and fibre-type composition in the toad Bufo viridus

Wilson, R. S., James, R. S., Kohlsdorf, T. and Cox, V. M. (2004). Interindividual variation of isolated muscle performance and fibre-type composition in the toad Bufo viridus. Journal of Comparative Physiology B-biochemical Systemic And Environmental Physiology, 174 (6), 453-459. doi: 10.1007/s00360-004-0431-7

Interindividual variation of isolated muscle performance and fibre-type composition in the toad Bufo viridus

2004

Journal Article

Combining studies of comparative physiology and behavioural ecology to test the adaptive benefits of thermal acclimation

Wilson, R. S. and Johnston, I. (2004). Combining studies of comparative physiology and behavioural ecology to test the adaptive benefits of thermal acclimation. International Congress Series, 1275, 201-208. doi: 10.1016/j.ics.2004.08.078

Combining studies of comparative physiology and behavioural ecology to test the adaptive benefits of thermal acclimation

2003

Conference Publication

Human athletes and the evolution of vertebrate locomotor performance

Van Damme, R and Wilson, RS (2003). Human athletes and the evolution of vertebrate locomotor performance. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology, New Orleans La, 2004. MCLEAN: SOC INTEGRATIVE COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY.

Human athletes and the evolution of vertebrate locomotor performance

2003

Journal Article

Tradeoffs and the evolution of thermal reaction norms

Angilletta Jr, Michael J., Wilson, Robbie S., Navas, Carlos A. and James, Rob S. (2003). Tradeoffs and the evolution of thermal reaction norms. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 18 (5), 234-240. doi: 10.1016/S0169-5347(03)00087-9

Tradeoffs and the evolution of thermal reaction norms

2003

Journal Article

Locomotion at-1.0 degrees C: burst swimming performance of five species of Antarctic fish

Franklin, C. E., Wilson, R. S. and Davison, W. (2003). Locomotion at-1.0 degrees C: burst swimming performance of five species of Antarctic fish. Journal of Thermal Biology, 28 (1), 59-65. doi: 10.1016/S0306-4565(02)00037-2

Locomotion at-1.0 degrees C: burst swimming performance of five species of Antarctic fish

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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