In the past I have worked on sex allocation in marsupials, and particularly in Antechinus . Senescence and semelparity. Dasyuridae and Didelphidae suffer from an unexplained evolutionary predisposition to post-reproductive senescence, that in its extreme form leads to semelparity, or reproducing only once in their life. The simple 'minimalist' population structure of semelparous species also allows us unusual insights into many questions that are difficult to dissect in species with complex overlapping generations. Cooperative breeding in birds.
Cooperative breeding occurs where more than two individuals combine to rear a single brood of young.
It is extraordinarily prevalent in the Australian avifauna, for both phylogenetic and ecological reasons, and we are conducting a number of studies to understand this prevalent. Some of the tools we have developed for analysis of the genetics of populations have applications to conservation programs. We have recently completed work on North Island kokako, and have work underway on shy albatross and palm cockatoos. Deception by helpers in cooperatively breeding white-winged choughs and its experimental manipulation. Experimental manipulation of brood reduction and parental care in cooperatively breeding white-winged choughs.