JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Tasmin Rymer

About

I am a passionate animal behaviourist with a fondness for rodents. I studied a BSc majoring in Zoology and Ecology, Environment and Conservation at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburg, South Africa, and followed this with a BSc Honours in Zoology, focusing on the behavioural ecology of Kalahari tree skinks Mabyua spilogaster. I then moved to the University of Pretoria, South Africa, to study an MSc with specialisation in Mammalogy. I returned to Wits to study my PhD under the supervision of Prof. Neville Pillay. My project focused on the ontogeny and function of paternal care behaviour in the African striped mouse Rhabdomys pumilio. I moved to James Cook University in 2012, where I am currently employed in the College of Science and Engineering. My current research focuses on the behaviour of Australian mammals, specifically the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes, although I have some students favouring marine gastropods.

Teaching

BS1007: Introduction to Biodiversity (Level 1; CNS)
BS2470: Evolution (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
BS5470: Evolution (Level 5; CNS & TSV)
BZ3061: Behavioural Ecology (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
BZ5061: Behavioural Ecology (Level 5; CNS)
SC1101: Science, Technology and Truth (Level 1; CNS)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

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

Delarue E, Kerr S and Rymer T (2021) Habitat and sex effects on behaviour in fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rats (Melomys cervinipes). Australian Mammalogy, 43 (3). pp. 319-329
Hernandez Duran L, Wilson D, Briffa M and Rymer T (2021) Beyond spider personality: the relationships between behavioral, physiological, and environmental factors. Ecology and Evolution, 11 (7). pp. 2974-2989
Maxwell S, Rymer T and Watt J (2021) Field Notes on Sex-Bias in Gibberulus dekkersi Maxwell, Hernandez Duran, Rowell & Rymer, 2021 (Gastropoda: Neostromboidae: Strombidae) on the Great Barrier Reef. Pacific Science, 75 (4). pp. 525-530
Maxwell S, Rymer T and Congdon B (2021) A theoretical composite model for population sex-specific shell size dynamics in Strombidae (Gastropoda, Neostromboidae). Journal of Natural History, 55 (41-42). pp. 2661-2672
Maxwell S, Hernandez Duran L, Rowell M and Rymer T (2021) An iconography of extant Gibberulus Jousseaume, 1888 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Strombidae), and the introduction of a new species from the southwestern Paciﬁc. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 134 (1). pp. 89-115
Maxwell S, Watt J, Rymer T and Congdon B (2021) A checklist of near-shore Strombidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Neostromboidae) on Green Island, Queensland. Biogeographia, 36.
Maxwell S, Rymer T and Congdon B (2021) Resolving phylogenetic and classical nomenclature: a revision of Seraphsidae Jung, 1974 (Gastropoda: Neostromboidae). Zootaxa, 4990 (3). pp. 401-453
Pillay N and Rymer T (2021) Sons benefit from paternal care in African striped mice. Developmental Psychobiology, 63 (4). pp. 662-675
Rowell M, Santymire R and Rymer T (2021) Corticosterone metabolite concentration is not related to problem solving in the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes. Animals, 12 (1).
Rowell M and Rymer T (in press) Memory enhances problem solving in the fawn‑footed mosaic‑tailed rat Melomys cervinipes. Animal Cognition,
Rowell M and Rymer T (2021) Exploration influences problem solving in the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes). Ethology, 127 (7). pp. 592-604
Rowell M, Pillay N and Rymer T (2021) Problem solving in animals: proposal for an ontogenetic perspective. Animals, 11 (3). pp. 866-866

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 57+ research outputs authored by Dr Tasmin Rymer from 2007 onwards.

Current Funding

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

North Queensland Wildlife Trust - Grant - Research Support

Fluorescent fur remote camera field experiment

Indicative Funding: $3,696 over 1 year
Summary: Aims: To determine if fur fluorescence can be excited by natural light and detected by nocturnal vertebrates. Outcomes: If wild animals interact consistently more often with one fur type during full moons, it will change the way we think about how nocturnal animals use light. If animals cannot detect fluorescence, the outcome will negate the need for further testing of a visual function. Significance: Using real fluorescent fur pelts in natural lighting is a world-first in discovering if nocturnal vertebrates use fluorescence as a visual cue. The result will determine if fluorescence becomes visible in different terrestrial lighting conditions
Investigators: Linda Reinhold, Tasmin Rymer, David Wilson and Kristopher Helgen (College of Science & Engineering, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and Australian Museum Research Institute)
Keywords: Mammals; Fluorescence; Camera trapping

Pozible.com - Crowdfunding - CrowdFunding

Coping with change: personality, hormones and bacteria

Indicative Funding: $4,693 over 1 year
Summary: Environmental change is going to have a significant impact on animals. However, we have little understanding of how individuals will cope with these changes. I aim to study the characteristics (personality, physiology, microbial community) of animals that may help them cope, using the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat as a model. Personality is assessed using behaviour. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is used to assess hormone concentrations while gut microbial diversity is assessed via DNA extraction and 16s amplicon sequencing. I will be able to provide a resilience guideline that can then be applied to other species.
Investigators: Tasmin Rymer (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Crowdfunding; Environmental Change; Microbiome; Personality; Hormones; Stress; fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat; Melomys Cervinipes (muridae); ELISA

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

A revision of Canarium urceus Linnaeus 1758 (s.l.) contrasting classical and phylogenetic taxonomy (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
From factors to contexts: analysing changes in funnel-web spider personality based on venom profile, body state and condition (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Ontogeny of problem solving in a native Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Fluorescence in mammals: prevalence and causes (Masters , Primary Advisor)

Completed

A classical taxonomic revision of Seraphsidae Jung 1974 (Gastropoda) using a pluralist approach to species assessment (2019, Masters , Secondary 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.