Stories from the Understorey: A Journey Inspired by Natural History

ABSTRACT

Insects and other invertebrates provide an endless source of opportunities to study the diversity of the natural world and test hypotheses about the adaptive significance of their features and behaviours. I will share some findings from research my students and I have enjoyed on terrestrial invertebrates in Australia, Malaysia and Aotearoa. Much of our research is low-tech and low-budget, but strongly hypothesis-driven, leading to fascinating findings and impacts in the field of behavioural ecology. I will lead you through some of the fascinating stories invertebrates have told me: from exaggerated weapons and complex reproductive structures, to spectacular camouflage and aggressive mimicry; from orchid mantises to lichen moths, giraffe weevils to cave wētā. I hope these stories will fascinate you as much as they have me. I also hope to demonstrate how some great science can start with simple observations of natural history.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Greg grew up in Stawell, Australia, surrounded by the mountains, lakes and bush of the Wimmera. Supported by his family, he developed a fascination with animals and the natural world. He followed this passion to study zoology at the University of Melbourne and then conduct research on kangaroos and platypus. After then studying education and teaching high school science in Sydney, he returned to complete his PhD. During this time at Macquarie University, Greg discovered the endless fascination of the insect and invertebrate world, focusing his research on praying mantises, and spending much of his time in the rainforests of far north queensland. After a postdoc he moved to Aotearoa, to take up a position at Waipapa Taumata Rau | UoA. Here, Greg has continued his research on terrestrial invertebrates, spending time in nature, and supported by his whanau. Greg loves teaching zoology, behavioural ecology and entomology and supporting his postgraduate students in their own career journeys. Greg is a strong advocate for making connections with nature, the importance of natural history, and how research into the most unstudied and poorly known animals can enrich our lives, through uncovering the fascinating stories they tell.