Centre for Evolutionary Biology - Francisco Garcia-Gonzalez

Publications

My main interests in evolutionary biology relate broadly to the evolutionary ecology of the interactions between the sexes, and includes the study of the causes and consequences of female multiple mating (polyandry), the study of sexual conflict and sexual selection, and the estimation of genetic variation in life-history traits. My research is question driven and I predominantly follow empirical approaches using several model systems (mainly insects and other invertebrates), but I am also interested in theoretical developments. My current projects focus on the following questions:

* The origin and maintenance of polyandrous behaviour and causes of variation in mating frequencies, with an emphasis on post-copulatory avenues by which females may accrue genetic quality for their offspring (female paternity biases, sperm competition, bet-hedging mechanisms, etc.).

* The analysis of trans-generational effects in the form of indirect genetic effects (paternal effects and interacting phenotypes) on offspring performance and their evolutionary implications for sexual selection and for the evolution of female multiple mating.

* The development/refinement/application of modified quantitative genetic designs to separate sources of genetic and phenotypic variation in competitive fertilization success, embryo viability, and paternity success.

* Factors underlying the maintenance of genetic variation in reproductive characters and other traits tightly linked to fitness.

* Conflicts of interests between males and females over mating and paternity outcomes. Resolution of trade-offs between direct costs and indirect benefits of mating in determining mating frequencies.

* Experimental evolution approaches to the study of sexual selection.

Editorial duties

Behavioral Ecology, Editor (2012-present).
Journal of Ethology, Editorial Board Member (2011-present).
TheScientificWorldJournal, Editorial Board Member (2011-present).

Fellowships and funding received

2012-2016: Ramon y Cajal contract (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation).
2012-2014: Discovery Project (Australian Research Council). With Damian Dowling and Magdalena Nystrand.
2009-2013: Discovery Project (Australian Research Council).
2009-2013: Australian Research Fellowship (Australian Research Council).
2011: Research Collaboration Award (University of Western Australia). With Damian Dowling.
2007-2009: Discovery Project (Australian Research Council). With Jon Evans.
2006: Research Grant (University of Western Australia).
2005-2007: Discovery Project (Australian Research Council).
2005-2007: Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (Australian Research Council).
2003-2004: Postdoctoral Fellowship (Spanish Ministry of Science).

Collaborators

Boris Baer, Susanne den Boer, Damian Dowling, Jon Evans, John Fitzpatrick, Montserrat Gomendio, Rodolfo Jaffe, Jason Kennington, Janne Kotiaho, Magdalena Nystrand, Scott Pitnick, Dale Roberts, Eduardo Roldan, Leigh Simmons, Joseph Tomkins, Yukio Yasui

Opportunities

I welcome applications from suitable and highly motivated local or international undergraduate/postgraduate students and postdocs wishing to engage in research at my lab. For information about the different possibilities check these web pages (A, B, C, D, E) and email me.