JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Conrad Hoskin

About

My research program consists of two broad, overlapping components: 1. evolution, ecology and conservation, and 2. systematics and taxonomy. Needless to say my interests are broad and I incorporate a variety of field, lab and experimental techniques in my research. I am particularly interested in processes of population divergence (particularly in mating traits) and the formation of new species. My main study system is hybrid zones between lineages of Green-eyed Treefrogs (Litoria serrata and L. myola) in rainforests of the Wet Tropics region of north-east Australia. These hybrid zones are fascinating and current projects revolve around determining the importance of reinforcement (increased premating isolation due to selection against maladaptive hybridisation) in speciation. Other projects I am currently working on include: targeted surveys for ‘missing’ and declined frogs; ecology and systematics of dipteran parasites of frogs; conservation of highly localised Queensland frogs and reptiles; and the invasion and impact of the Asian House Gecko in Australia.

Much of my research has involved frogs and reptiles but this has been largely a product of their suitability for the research questions to date. My interests are taxonomically broad.

Teaching

BZ2450: Biodiversity of Tropical Australia (Level 2; TSV)
BZ2725: Australian Terrestrial Diversity (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
BZ3220: Population and Community Ecology (Level 3; TSV)
BZ3740: Wildlife Ecology and Management (Level 3; TSV)
BZ5220: Population and Community Ecology (Level 5; TSV)
BZ5740: Wildlife Ecology and Management (Level 5; TSV)
BZ5925: Australian Terrestrial Diversity (Level 5; CNS & TSV)
SC1101: Science: Nature, Knowledge and Understanding (Level 1; TSV)
SC5820: Field Studies of Evolution in the Galapagos (Level 5; TSV)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2009 - Eureka Prize - ABRS Early Career Species Discovery
2003 - Henry Seibert Award - Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (International)

Fellowships

2011 to 2014 - ABRS BushBlitz Research Fellowship (2011-2014)
2007 to 2010 - ARC Australian Postdoctoral (APD) Research Fellowship (2007-2010)

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Barnett L, Phillips B and Hoskin C (2017) Going feral: time and propagule pressure determine range expansion of Asian house geckos into natural environments. Austral Ecology, 42 (2). pp. 165-175
Coates A, Barnett L, Hoskin C and Phillips B (2017) Living on the edge: parasite prevalence changes dramatically across a range edge in an invasive gecko. American Naturalist, 189 (2). pp. 178-183
Scheele B, Skerratt L, Grogan L, Hunter D, Clemann N, McFadden M, Newell D, Hoskin C, Gillespie G, Heard G, Brannelly L, Roberts A and Berger L (2017) After the epidemic: ongoing declines, stabilizations and recoveries inamphibians afflicted by chytridiomycosis. Biological Conservation, 206. pp. 37-46
Fordham D, Brook B, Hoskin C, Pressey R, VanDerWal J and Williams S (2016) Extinction debt from climate change for frogs in the wet tropics. Biology Letters, 12. pp. 1-5
Hoskin C and Couper P (2015) A new skink (Scincidae: Liburnascincus) from rocky habitat on Cape York, northeast Australia. Zootaxa, 3994 (2). pp. 222-234
Scott M, Llewelyn J, Higgie M, Hoskin C, Pike K and Phillips B (2015) Chemoreception and mating behaviour of a tropical Australian skink. Acta Ethologica, 18 (3). pp. 283-293
Hoskin C (2014) A new skink (Scincidae: Carlia) from the rainforest uplands of Cape Melville, north-east Australia. Zootaxa, 3869 (3). pp. 224-236
Couper P and Hoskin C (2013) Two new subspecies of the leaf-tailed gecko Phyllurus ossa (Lacertilia: Carphodactylidae) from mid-eastern Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa, 3664 (4). pp. 537-553
Hoskin C (2013) A new skink (Scincidae: Saproscincus) from rocky rainforest habitat on Cape Melville, north-east Australia. Zootaxa, 3722 (3). pp. 385-395
Hoskin C (2013) A new frog species (Microhylidae: Cophixalus) from boulder-pile habitat of Cape Melville, north-east Australia. Zootaxa, 3722 (1). pp. 61-72

Book Chapters

Hero J, Roberts J, Hoskin C, Lowe K, Narayan E and Bishop P (2015) Austral amphibians: Gondwanan relicts in peril. In: Austral Ark: the state of wildlife in Australia and New Zealand. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 440-466
Reside A, Ceccarelli D, Isaac J, Hilbert D, Moran C, Llewelyn J, Macdonald S, Hoskin C, Pert P and Parsons J (2014) Biodiversity: adaptation pathways and opportunities. In: Adaptation Pathways and Opportunities for the Wet Tropics NRM Cluster Region: volume 1: introduction, biodiversity and ecosystem services. James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia, pp. 11-74

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 70+ research outputs authored by Dr Conrad Hoskin from 1999 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Wet Tropics Management Authority - Student Research Grant Scheme

Can species interactions cause rapid adaptation?

Indicative Funding: $2,250
Summary: Under environmental change, the persistence of a species centers on its ability to disperse from or adapt to changing conditions. Dispersal is limited in the Australian Wet Tropics due to restricted environmental space and mountain-top edges, so adaptation is necessary. This includes adaption to the changing conditions (e.g., temperature) and changing species interactions. This project will use experimental evolution in two Australian rainforest Drosophila species to test if novel competition can drive adaptation to warming temperatures and enable coexistence. Results will then be used with field data to create a comprehensive niche model aimed at predicting effects of climate change to a Wet Tropics species.
Investigators: Jennifer Cocciardi, Megan Higgie and Conrad Hoskin (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Fundamental niche; Realized niche; Interspecific competition; Climate Change; Rapid adaptation; Niche shift

Wet Tropics Management Authority - Student Research Grant Scheme

Conservation of the Spotted?tailed Quoll across the Wet Tropics mountaintops

Indicative Funding: $1,200
Summary: The northern subspecies of Spotted?tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus gracilis) is genetically divergent, highly isolated, and restricted to high elevation rainforest of the Wet Tropics. It is listed as Endangered at both the Federal (EPBC) and State (NCA) level. Dasyurus m. gracilis has declined substantially due to a number of possible threats and only appears to survive in five small, disjunct areas across the central and northern Wet Tropics mountains. For effective management, it is vital that we understand the decline and genetic structuring of Spotted?tailed Quoll populations across the Wet Tropics. This project aims to: 1) Use distribution modelling to identify areas of quoll loss/persistence and assess possible reasons for the decline, in order to identify threats and key areas for conservation management, and 2) Use genomics to determine genetic structuring between subpopulations, in order to understand isolation and connectivity between populations and direct conservation actions
Investigators: Adriana Uzqueda, Conrad Hoskin and Scott Burnett (College of Science & Engineering and Sunshine Coast University)
Keywords: Dasyurus maculatus gracilis; Dasyuridae; Genomics; Spotted?tailed Quoll; Modelling

Wet Tropics Management Authority - Student Research Grant Scheme

The impact of yellow crazy ants on key invertebrates, skinks and frogs of the Wet Tropics

Indicative Funding: $1,300
Summary: This project aims to increase the understanding of the effects of the invasive yellow crazy ant. This will be achieved by conducting surveys of skinks, frogs and invertebrate across a number of sites. Certain sites will have crazy ant infestations, while others will be in similar, uninvaded habitats. Data from the invaded and uninvaded sites will be compared to examine the direct and indirect effects on biodiversity and community structure that yellow crazy ants have. This will allow us to better understand the risk they pose to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
Investigators: Dylan Case, Lori Lach and Conrad Hoskin (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Yellow Crazy Ant (Formicidae); Wet Tropics World Heritage Area; Litoria myola (Hylidae); Invasive species; Community structure; Skinks (Scincidae)

Natural Resource Assessments Pty Ltd - Contract Research

Threatened frog surveys Kuranda

Indicative Funding: $22,715
Summary: Perform frog surveys on the KUR-World site and provide a report on threatened stream-associated frogs to NRA Environmental Consultants. Surveys will target threatened stream-breeding frogs after wet weather. The report will outline frog presence and abundance and recommendations on required habitat, stream buffers and ways to minimise ecological impacts.
Investigators: Conrad Hoskin (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: threatened frog; Biodiversity survey; Impact Assessment

Plant Biosecurity CRC Ltd - Contract Research

Asian House Gecko Research

Indicative Funding: $53,468
Summary: Research o the calling behaviour and movements of Asian House Geckos. This project will use experiments and field data to assess the determinants of calling behaviour in the Asian House Geckos. The results will be used to refine methods for detecting this invasive species. The research will also include a mark-recapture field study to understand the scalel of movements of Asian House Geckos in urban and bushland areas.
Investigators: Conrad Hoskin in collaboration with Jessica Waugh and Megan Higgie (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Calling; Movements; Invasive Species; Gecko; Asian House Gecko; Wildlife Management

Reever & Ocean Pty Ltd - Contract Research

Endangered Frog Surveys Kuranda

Indicative Funding: $35,192
Summary: This project is to survey wildlife at a site in the Kuranda region, with particular focus on endangered frog species.
Investigators: Conrad Hoskin (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Impact Assessment; Endangered Species; Frogs

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Species Interations and the Evolution of Mating Traits (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Can Species Interactions Cause Rapid Niche Adaptation? (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Biogeography, Speciation, and Systematics of a Tree Frog Species Complex in the Amazon Basin (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Cane Toads in Wet Tropics Upland Rainforest and thier Current and Potential Impact on Native Fauna (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Pheromones as a Mating Trait in Australian lizards: Understanding Diversity in Morphologically Conservative Taxa (PhD , Primary Advisor)

Completed

Understanding range expansion of Asian house geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) in natural environments (2017, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Locating adaptive diversity in the face of climate change (2016, PhD , Associate Advisor)

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.