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Melissa Thomas
Publications
My research encompasses a range of evolutionary and ecological topics relating to chemical communication. I currently work with insect models, but some of my past research has encompassed arachnids. Current and recent projects are outlined briefly below: Photo by Alex Wild
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- Sperm competition is an important selective force that shapes male traits designed to enhance paternity. Using the Australian field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus, I am currently investigating a number of ways in which males use chemical signals to detect sperm competition and subsequently maximize their inclusive fitness by adjusting their copulatory investment in females to enhance paternity outcomes.
- Biological invasions are a serious threat to global biodiversity, and determining the mechanisms underlying their success will have implications for controlling infestations. Populations of Argentine ants, Linepithema humile, are unicolonial, forming massive "supercolonies" in their introduced ranges that can extend for thousands of kilometers. The lack of aggression and territoriality within these supercolonies, allows introduced populations to thrive and dominate invaded habitats. Using behavioural and molecular techniques, my research has focussed on determining the origins of unicoliniality in this highly invasive ant.
- The yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes, is another damaging invasive ant that is most famous for its negative impact on the endemic red land crab, Gecarcoidea natalis, of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Using microsatellites, we are currently characterising the population genetic structure of the yellow crazy ants on Christmas Island. The number of introductions and how they have become established will have implications for quarantine measures, as well as understanding the spread of the current infestations and how to best control them.
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