Project description
Arthropod cuticle is one of the most versatile biological materials in nature, providing protection, structural support, sensory function, and mechanical performance across an extraordinary diversity of forms and environments. From the hardened exoskeletons of beetles and crustaceans to the flexible yet resilient cuticle of spiders and scorpions, arthropod cuticle exhibits remarkable variation in structure, composition, and function. Despite its evolutionary and ecological importance, many aspects of how cuticle architecture varies across arthropod groups—and how these differences relate to biomechanics, ecology, and evolution—remain poorly understood. This project will investigate the structure and composition of cuticle across a broad range of arthropods using advanced imaging techniques such as electron microscopy, elemental mapping, and possibly three-dimensional visualisation approaches. The student (Honours or Masters) will compare cuticular organisation, reinforcement patterns, and material properties across taxa with differing lifestyles and ecological roles, integrating these findings with functional and evolutionary perspectives. Outcomes will provide new insights into the evolution of arthropod biomaterials, the origins of specialised exoskeletal adaptations, and the broader principles governing biological armour systems across deep time and modern ecosystems.
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.