Supervisor

Bruno Buzatto
Buzatto, Bruno (Dr)
bruno.buzatto@flinders.edu.au
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Project description

Male dimorphism is usually associated with alternative reproductive tactics among males: the large male morphs typically guard females or reproductive territories and have more elaborate weaponry; the small male morphs sneak copulations and have reduced weaponry. In the bulb mite Rhizoglyphus echinopus, fighters have a thick and sharp pair of legs and kill rival males, whereas scramblers search for unguarded females. This is the only species where male-male fights for matings culminate in one male killing and consuming their rival! I have colonies of bulb mites that have been under artificial selection on the thickness of fighter legs for several generations. The aim of this honours project will be to assess whether selection for thicker legs in fighters generated correlated behavioural responses in the populations. The work will involve manipulating mites under the microscope, setting up and observing male fights, and measuring their legs with image software. The student will be able to observe male-male fights and interpret results in the context of experimental evolution.


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