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; TSV)
• BS2470: Evolution (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
• BS5470: Evolution (Level 5; CNS)
• BZ3061: Behavioural Ecology (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
• BZ5061: Behavioural Ecology (Level 5; CNS)
• BZ5990: Toolkit for the Field Biologist (Level 5; CNS)
• SC1101: Science, Technology and Truth (Level 1; CNS & TSV)

Research Disciplines

• Zoology (3109)
• Evolutionary biology (3104)
• Ecology (3103)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Expanding knowledge (2801)

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, DOI:10.1071/AM19065.
• 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, DOI:10.1002/ece3.7243.
• 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, Article: a004, DOI:10.21426/B636050688.
• 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, DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.4990.3.1.
• Pillay N and Rymer T (in press) Sons benefit from paternal care in African striped mice. Developmental Psychobiology, , DOI:10.1002/dev.22050.
• Rowell M and Rymer T (in press) Exploration influences problem solving in the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes). Ethology, 127 (7), pp. 592-604, DOI:10.1111/eth.13166.
• Rowell M, Pillay N and Rymer T (2021) Problem solving in animals: proposal for an ontogenetic perspective. Animals, 11 (3), Article: 866, pp. 866-866, DOI:10.3390/ani11030866.
• Rowell M and Rymer T (in press) Growth and behavioural development of the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes). Australian Mammalogy, , DOI:10.1071/AM20037.
• Rymer T, Cruise M and Pillay N (in press) Decision-making by bushveld gerbils (Gerbilliscus leucogaster). Journal of Comparative Psychology, , DOI:10.1037/com0000266.supp.
• Hernández Duran L, Rymer T and Wilson D (2020) Variation in venom composition in the Australian funnel-web spiders Hadronyche valida. Toxicon: X, 8, Article: 100063, DOI:10.1016/j.toxcx.2020.100063.
• Maxwell S, Rymer T, Congdon B and Dekkers A (2020) Studies in Canarium urceus (Linné, 1758) Part 2: Strombus anatellus Duclos, 1844, Strombus crassilabrum Anton, 1839, Strombus incisus Wood, 1828 and Strombus ustulatus form laevis Dodge, 1946 (Neostromboidae: Strombidae). The Festivus, 52 (4), pp. 335-344.
• Maxwell S, Rowell M, Hernandez Duran L and Rymer T (2020) Population structure of Canarium labiatum (Röding, 1798) (Mollusca: Neostromboidae: Strombidae) on Green Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland, 128, pp. 13-20.

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 50+ research outputs authored by Dr Tasmin Rymer from 2007 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

• 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)
• The Ontogeny of Problem Solving in an Australian Rodent 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)

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.