However, carrion succession has not previously been studied in Victoria, and this limits the extent to which forensic entomology can be used. I am therefore conducting a two year study of insect succession, which will enable me to identify the major invertebrate decomposers of carrion in Victoria, as well as how carrion insect succession varies seasonally. In addition, I am investigating aspects of blowfly reproduction such as colonisation of carcasses. Current reproductive technologies are inadequately suited to marsupial needs. There is an urgent need for reproductive techniques to manipulate marsupial reproduction for population control and endangered species conservation.
Contraceptive management is a preferred alternative to the culling of the larger kangaroo species.
Endangered marsupial species have different management needs, often requiring human intervention to conserve the species. Studies over the last decade in eutherian mammals have shown that the ovarian hormone inhibin can potentially be used to achieve both these aims, however, the role of inhibin in marsupial reproduction has largely been neglected. This project aims to understand the basic biology of inhibin in marsupial reproduction using the tammar wallaby as the model species. In this investigation conventional radioimmunoassays will be used to determine the profile of inhibin and other hormones in the circulation. Inhibin production by selected tissues will be examined using immunohistochemistry, and the development of mRNA probes for in situ hybridisation will enable us to study the inhibin isoforms produced by particular cells.