My research is both field- and laboratory-based, covering the broad areas of evolution and ecology, with a focus on animal adaptation, natural and sexual selection, and speciation.

In particular, I am interested in how new species arise, and how species interactions and selection on mate choice may contribute. Who animals choose to mate with is a central feature of what defines a species, so any changes in mate choice can potentially result in speciation. If species interactions cause the interacting parties to change who they chose as mates this can result in the formation of new species.

I have potential Honours, Masters, and PhD research projects on a broad range of evolutionary-based questions in the general areas of speciation, selection (natural, sexual, or artificial), mating behaviour, and species interactions. I also strongly encourage potential DECRA applicants to get in touch if you are interested in similar research questions and/or biological systems. Please see 'Interests' below for the biological systems I am currently researching.

Teaching

• BS2470: Evolution (Level 2; TSV)
• BS5470: Evolution (Level 5; TSV)
• BZ3450: Ecological and Conservation Genetics (Level 3; TSV)
• BZ5450: Ecological and Conservation Genetics (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Reproductive isolation in the Green-eyed Tree frog complex: Two deeply-divergent genetic lineages of Green-eyed tree frog meet in two places in the Wet Tropics behind Cairns. At one contact there has been rapid and strong evolution of prezygotic isolation between the two lineages. One question we are answering is - what were the genomic changes that allowed the rapid evolution of prezygotic isolation at this contact? On the other, at the other contact the two lineages still mate freely, with no hint of prezygotic isolation between the lineages. However, these hybrid matings leave almost no offspring - so why doesn't prezygotic isolation evolve? This is another of the questions we are working on in this system.
• Evolution of female preference and male mating signals (pheromones) due to species interactions in a native rainforest Drosophila community: Along the east coast of Australia is a species of fly, Drosophila serrata, which overlaps over some of its geographic distribution with the closely-related species D. birchii and D. bunnanda. We have direct experimental evidence that co-existence with D. birchii causes the evolution of D. serrata male mating signals (pheromones). There is also some evidence that co-existence with D. birchii causes the evolution of female preferences. This makes the D. serrata species complex perfectly placed to study how male signals and female preferences are expressed and evolve in the presence of closely-related species. To do this, the following questions will be answered in the D. serrata system: Does co-existence with other species change the phenotypic expression and evolution of male mating pheromones? Does co-existence with other species cause evolution of female preferences for male pheromones? Are female preferences expressed differently depending on presence/absence of other species? To answer these questions we are using a combination of wild flies and lab-based experimental evolution to measure the evolution of male pheromones and female preferences for those pheromones in different combinations of Drosophila communities.
• Species interactions between Frog-biting flies and their frog hosts: In humans and birds, the major vectors of disease-causing parasites are blood-feeding flies; therefore it stands to reason that these may also be a major vector of parasites in frogs. Australian frogs are known to host a diversity of blood parasites, including protozoans, nematodes, and trematodes. However, the diversity of species and habits of frog-biting flies in the tropical rainforest of north Queensland, which has had major declines in frog populations in the recent past, is poorly known. We have recently carried out surveys of stream frogs of the Wet Tropics and found a diverse community of at least 12 species of frog-biting flies. We are currently investigating the host specificity of these frog-biting flies, and whether they are vectors for protozoan (e.g., Trypanosomes), nematode, and trematode parasites in Wet Tropics frog communities.
• Pheromones as a mating trait in cryptic skinks and geckos: Australia has a number of lizard groups in which genetics shows there is high cryptic diversity. Traditional morphology (body size, shape, and colour) cannot distinguish these groups, and we do not yet know their mating traits (e.g., male mating calls in frogs). The mating traits in these cryptic lizard groups are likely to be pheromones. We are focussing on two cryptic lizard groups in north-eastern Queensland: Lampropholis skinks and Heteronotia geckoes. In both these lizard groups genetics has revealed many highly divergent genetic lineages (often species level divergence). These lineages appear morphologically indistinguishable, but in the few cases where hybrid zones are known, there appears to be little interbreeding. Finding and characterizing these pheromones will help us understand the evolution of these groups and resolve their taxonomy.

Experience

• 2011 to present - Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2013 to 2016 - ARC DECRA Fellow, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2011 to 2012 - ARC Australian Postdoctoral (APD) Fellow, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2009 to 2011 - ARC Australian Postdoctoral (APD) Fellow, The Australian National University (Canberra, Australia)

Research Disciplines

• Evolutionary Biology (0603)
• Ecology (0602)
• Ecological Applications (0501)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Expanding Knowledge (9701)
• Climate and Climate Change (9603)
• Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity (9608)

Awards

• 2012 - Young Tall Poppy Science Award (Queensland)
• 2009 - R. A. Fisher Award (Society for the Study of Evolution)

Fellowships

• 2013 to 2016 - ARC DECRA Research Fellowship (2013-2016)
• 2009 to 2012 - ARC Australian Postdoctoral (APD) Research Fellowship (2009-2012)

Memberships

• 2003 - American Society of Naturalists (2003-present)
• 2001 - Australasian Evolution Society (2001-present)

Other

• 2009 - OzReader - Australian Research Council (2009-present)
• 2012 to 2014 - Reviewing Editor - Journal of Evolutionary Biology (2012-2016)
• 2011 to 2013 - Vice-President - Australasian Evolution Society
• 2009 to 2011 - Treasurer - Australasian Evolution Society

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

• Bertola L, Higgie M and Hoskin C (2018) Resolving distribution and population fragmentation in two leaf-tailed gecko species of north-east Australia: key steps in the conservation of microendemic species. Australian Journal of Zoology, 66 (2). pp. 152-166
• O'Brien E, Higgie M, Reynolds A, Hoffmann A and Bridle J (2017) Testing for local adaptation and evolutionary potential along altitudinal gradients in rainforest Drosophila: beyond laboratory estimates. Global Change Biology, 23 (5). pp. 1847-1860
• 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
• Jones T, Fanson K, Lanfear R, Symonds M and Higgie M (2014) Gender differences in conference presentations: a consequence of self-selection? PeerJ, 2. pp. 1-15
• Hoskin C, Tonione M, Higgie M, Mackenzie J, Williams S, Vanderwal J and Moritz C (2011) Persistence in peripheral refugia promotes phenotypic divergence and speciation in a rainforest frog. American Naturalist, 178 (5). pp. 561-578
• McGraw E, Ye Y, Foley B, Chenoweth S, Higgie M, Hine E and Blows M (2011) High-dimensional variance partitioning reveals the modular genetic basis of adaptive divergence in gene expression during reproductive character displacement. Evolution, 65 (11). pp. 3126-3137
• Hoskin C and Higgie M (2010) Speciation via species interactions: the divergence of mating traits within species. Ecology Letters, 13 (4). pp. 409-420
• Higgie M and Blows M (2008) The evolution of reproductive character displacement conflicts with how sexual selection operates within a species. Evolution, 62 (5). pp. 1192-1203
• Hoskin C and Higgie M (2008) A new species of velvet gecko (Diplodactylidae: Oedura) from north-east Queensland, Australia. Zootaxa, 1788. pp. 21-36
• Higgie M and Blows M (2007) Are traits that experience reinforcement also under sexual selection? American Naturalist, 170 (3). pp. 409-420
• Van Homrigh A, Higgie M, McGuigan K and Blows M (2007) The depletion of genetic variance by sexual selection. Current Biology, 17 (6). pp. 528-532
• Hoskin C, Higgie M, McDonald K and Moritz C (2005) Reinforcement drives rapid allopatric speciation. Nature, 437. pp. 1353-1356

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 18+ research outputs authored by Dr Megan Higgie from 2000 onwards.

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

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

• Pheromones as a Mating Trait in Australian lizards: Understanding Diversity in Morphologically Conservative Taxa (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Pheromones as a Mating Barrier for Geckos within the Species Complex Amalosia Rhombifer (Masters , Primary Advisor)
• Can Species Interactions Cause Rapid Niche Adaptation? (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Species Interations and the Evolution of Mating Traits (PhD , Primary Advisor)

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.