Project description
Arthropod exoskeletons are extraordinary natural materials—dynamic, multifunctional armour that not only protects and supports the body, but also encodes a hidden chemical record of life and environment. Built from chitin and proteins, these structures are further enhanced by an array of elements such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and trace metals, which fine-tune their strength, flexibility, and even colour. Intriguingly, this elemental signature can shift across species, life stages, and environmental settings, offering a powerful and largely untapped window into arthropod biology, evolution, and ecology. This project will explore the elemental architecture of modern arthropod exoskeletons--scorpions, spiders, even insects--using cutting-edge techniques such as electron microscopy. The student (Honours or Masters) will investigate how elemental variation relates to functional performance, evolutionary history, and preservation processes. Outcomes will shed new light on the evolution of arthropod biomaterials and may open exciting avenues for reconstructing arthropod biochemistry.
Note: You need to register interest in projects from different supervisors (not a number of projects with the one supervisor).
You must also contact each supervisor directly to discuss both the project details and your suitability to undertake the project.