Project description
The project will focus on the ecology of Australian burrowing scorpions (genus Urodacus), and is part of a larger project that is studying invertebrates vulnerable to climate change, via identifying adaptations for persistence and resilience and diversity hotspots across the continent. The larger project will (1) generate a continental-scale phylogeny of burrowing scorpions, describe at least ~40 candidate new species, and identify biodiversity hotspots; (2) characterise adaptations that enabled scorpions to transition into arid zones (revealing species at greater risk from aridification); and (3) measure the resilience of species to fire impacts, as well as their flexibility in burrowing behaviour. The honours project associated with the larger project can focus on any of the above aims, although early discussions will be necessary to scale the project for feasibility within an honours year.
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.