Francisco Garcia-Gonzalez

Publications

My research aims to answer questions in evolutionary biology relating to the causes and consequences of female multiple mating (polyandry), post-copulatory sexual selection, sexual conflict and paternal care. For this purpose, I use several model systems, mainly insects (including the beetle Tenebrio molitor, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and the cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus), but recent investigations also utilize external fertilizers. My current projects focus on the following aspects:

• Material and genetic benefits of polyandry, with emphasis on post-copulatory avenues by which females may accrue genetic quality for their offspring (female paternity biases, sperm competition, bet hedging).
• Indirect genetic effects (paternal effects and interacting phenotypes) on offspring performance and their consequences for the evolution of female multiple mating.
• Male and female effects on fertilization and paternity success and their consequences for post-copulatory sexual selection. Determinants of paternity and their variation within and across species. Genetic variation of sperm competition traits. Phenotypic and genetic trade-offs among components of the ejaculate.
• Role of stochastic effects on estimations of additive genetic variance in fertilization success.
• The relationship between sperm precedence patterns, confidence of paternity and paternal care.
• Causes of variation in mating frequencies in natural populations, with emphasis on those arising from sexual conflict.
• Sources of genetic and phenotypic variation in sexual selection in external fertilizers (with Jon Evans)

Funding received

• 2009-2013 ARC: Discovery Project and Australian Research Fellowship (ARF)
• 2009-2013 NERC Advanced Fellowship (Declined)
• 2007-2009 ARC: Discovery Grant (with Jon Evans)
• 2006: UWA Research Grant
• 2005-2007 ARC: Discovery Grant and Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (APD)
• 2005 European Commission: Marie Curie Postdoctoral Outgoing International Fellowship (Declined)
• 2003-2004 Spanish Ministry of Science: Postdoctoral Fellowship
  
  Collaborators
  
  Jon Evans, Montserrat Gomendio, Jason Kennington, Scott Pitnick, Eduardo Roldan, Leigh Simmons

Publications