
Overview
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
Works
Search Professor Robbie Wilson’s works on UQ eSpace
2002
Conference Publication
Effects of caffeine on power output of isolated mouse extensor digitorum longus muscle during recovery from fatigue
James, RS, Wilson, RS and Askew, GN (2002). Effects of caffeine on power output of isolated mouse extensor digitorum longus muscle during recovery from fatigue. Meeting of the Physiological-Society, Leeds England, Sep 10-12, 2002. NEW YORK: CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS.
2002
Journal Article
The detrimental acclimation hypothesis
Wilson, Robbie S. and Franklin, Craig E. (2002). The detrimental acclimation hypothesis. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 17 (9), 408-408. doi: 10.1016/S0169-5347(02)02555-7
2002
Journal Article
Trade-offs between speed and endurance in the frog Xenopus laevis: a multi-level approach
Wilson, Robbie S., James, Rob S. and Van Damme, Raoul (2002). Trade-offs between speed and endurance in the frog Xenopus laevis: a multi-level approach. Journal of Experimental Biology, 205 (8), 1145-1152.
2002
Journal Article
Evolutionary biology - Performance constraints in decathletes
Van Damme, Raoul, Wilson, Robbie S., Vanhooydonck, Bieke and Aerts, Peter (2002). Evolutionary biology - Performance constraints in decathletes. Nature, 415 (6873), 755-756.
2002
Journal Article
Testing the beneficial acclimation hypothesis
Wilson, Robbie S. and Franklin, Craig E. (2002). Testing the beneficial acclimation hypothesis. Trends In Ecology & Evolution, 17 (2), 66-70. doi: 10.1016/S0169-5347(01)02384-9
2002
Journal Article
Turning up the heat on subzero fish: thermal dependence of sustained swimming in an Antarctic notothenioid
Wilson, R. S., Kuchel, L. J., Franklin, C. E. and Davison, W. (2002). Turning up the heat on subzero fish: thermal dependence of sustained swimming in an Antarctic notothenioid. Journal of Thermal Biology, 27 (5), 381-386. doi: 10.1016/S0306-4565(02)00006-2
2001
Journal Article
Geographic variation in thermal sensitivity of jumping performance in the frog Limnodynastes peronii
Wilson, Robbie S. (2001). Geographic variation in thermal sensitivity of jumping performance in the frog Limnodynastes peronii. Journal of Experimental Biology, 204 (24), 4227-4236.
2001
Journal Article
Stenotherms at sub-zero temperatures: thermal dependence of swimming performance in Antarctic fish
Wilson, R. S., Franklin, C. E., Davison, W. and Kraft, P. (2001). Stenotherms at sub-zero temperatures: thermal dependence of swimming performance in Antarctic fish. Journal of Comparative Physiology B-biochemical Systemic And Environmental Physiology, 171 (4), 263-269. doi: 10.1007/s003600000172
2000
Journal Article
Inability of adult Limnodynastes peronii (Amphibia : Anura) to thermally acclimate locomotor performance
Wilson, R. S. and Franklin, C. E. (2000). Inability of adult Limnodynastes peronii (Amphibia : Anura) to thermally acclimate locomotor performance. Comparative Biochemistry And Physiology A-molecular And Integrative Physiology, 127 (1), 21-28. doi: 10.1016/S1095-6433(00)00238-5
2000
Journal Article
Inability of adult Limnodynastes peronii (Amphibia:Anura) to thermally acclimate locomoter performance (Absence of thermal acclimatory capacity of locomotor performance in adults of the frog Limnodynastes peronii)
Wilson, Robbie S. and Franklin, Craig E. (2000). Inability of adult Limnodynastes peronii (Amphibia:Anura) to thermally acclimate locomoter performance (Absence of thermal acclimatory capacity of locomotor performance in adults of the frog Limnodynastes peronii). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 127 (1), 21-28. doi: 10.1016/S1095-6433(00)00238-5
2000
Journal Article
Thermal acclimation of locomotor performance in tadpoles and adults of the aquatic frog Xenopus laevis
Wilson, RS, James, RS and Johnston, IA (2000). Thermal acclimation of locomotor performance in tadpoles and adults of the aquatic frog Xenopus laevis. Journal of Comparative Physiology B-Biochemical Systemic and Environmental Physiology, 170 (2), 117-124. doi: 10.1007/s003600050266
2000
Other Outputs
Thermal acclimation and adaptation of locomotor performance in the striped marsh frog (Limnodynastes peronii) and African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)
Wilson, Robbie S (2000). Thermal acclimation and adaptation of locomotor performance in the striped marsh frog (Limnodynastes peronii) and African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis). PhD Thesis, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/365917
2000
Journal Article
Allometric scaling relationships of jumping performance in the striped marsh frog Limnodynastes peronii
Wilson, Robbie S., Franklin, Craig E. and James, Rob S. (2000). Allometric scaling relationships of jumping performance in the striped marsh frog Limnodynastes peronii. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 203 (12), 1937-1946. doi: 10.1242/jeb.203.12.1937
2000
Journal Article
Effect of ontogenetic increases in body size on burst swimming performance in tadpoles of the striped marsh frog, Limnodynastes peronii
Wilson, Robbie S. and Franklin, Craig E. (2000). Effect of ontogenetic increases in body size on burst swimming performance in tadpoles of the striped marsh frog, Limnodynastes peronii. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 73 (2), 142-152. doi: 10.1086/316730
1999
Journal Article
Thermal acclimation of locomotor performance in tadpoles of the frog Limnodynastes peronii
Wilson, R. S. and Franklin, C. E. (1999). Thermal acclimation of locomotor performance in tadpoles of the frog Limnodynastes peronii. Journal of Comparative Physiology B - Biochemical Systemic And Environmental Physiology, 169 (6), 445-451. doi: 10.1007/s003600050241
1998
Journal Article
Effect of tail loss on reproductive output and its ecological significance in the skink Eulamprus quoyii
Wilson, RS and Booth, DT (1998). Effect of tail loss on reproductive output and its ecological significance in the skink Eulamprus quoyii. Journal of Herpetology, 32 (1), 128-131. doi: 10.2307/1565493
Supervision
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
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Movement behaviour and locomotor performance in a small Australian marsupial, the northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Taylor Dick
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Using analyses of technical skill and small-sided games to improve talent identification in soccer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Behavioural and physiological traits of the endangered marsupial, the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Diana Fisher
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Ecology and reproduction of the world's largest semelparous mammal, the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus).
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos
-
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Thermal adaptation and acclimation in an intertidal goby (Bathygobius cocosensis)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Cynthia Riginos
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Predicting the movement speeds of animals in natural environments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Diana Fisher
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
How does environmental Manganese affect the health and performance of Northern Quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) on Groote Eylandt?
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Sex-specific variation in morphology and performance in the Asian house gecko
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Evolutionary perspectives on human cooperation in sport
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos
-
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
The effect of urbanisation on wildlife communities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sean FitzGibbon
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Temperature effects on the costs of inducible behavioural defences in prey
Principal Advisor
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Phenotypic and genetic constraints on the reversible acclimation of thermal performance curves in the zebrafish, Danio rerio.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Chenoweth
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
The extent, effects and dynamics of amphibian chytridiomycosis in Australia
Principal Advisor
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Consequences of ultraviolet-B exposure regime on physiological carryover effects in amphibians
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rebecca Cramp, Professor Craig Franklin
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Integrating 3D geometric morphometrics with taxonomy, evolution and ecology in two threatened marsupial taxa
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Simone Blomberg
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Conservation of Australian insectivorous marsupials: biogeography, macroecology and life history
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Diana Fisher
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
The role of sloughing on the pathophysiology of chytridiomycosis in amphibians
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rebecca Cramp, Professor Craig Franklin
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Phylogeography and population genetics of Australian freshwater rainbowfishes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Cynthia Riginos, Associate Professor Lyn Cook
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
The Genetic Architecture and Evolution of Continuous Reaction Norms: Dissecting the Thermal Performance Curve
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Chenoweth
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
The interactive effects of ultraviolet-B radiation and other environmental stressors on amphibians
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Franklin
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Metabolic rate, respiratory partitioning and the implications for dive duration in the bimodally respiring Arafura filesnake, Acrochordus arafurae
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Franklin
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Professor Robbie Wilson's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: