I am broadly interested in the evolutionary ecology of ecological communities, and my background is in entomology and statistics. I use theoretical and empirical methods and try to combine the two as often as possible. My empirical research generally focuses on insect communities, but I have also worked on other systems through collaboration. Some of my research interests include:

How does coevolution alter the effects of climate change on ecological communities?

How do community structure and interactions alter ecosystem functions, such as natural pest control by insect predators?

How does climate change alter ecosystem functions provided by ecological communities?

How do land management regimes influence biodiversity conservation?

More information on me and my labgroup is available at northfieldlab.org

Teaching

• BZ3225: Field Ecology (Level 3; CNS)
• BZ3745: Tropical Entomology (Level 3; CNS)
• BZ5225: Field Ecology (Level 5; CNS)
• BZ5745: Tropical Entomology (Level 5; CNS)
• MB2080: Invertebrate Biology (Level 2; CNS)
• MB5380: Invertebrate Biology (Level 5; CNS)
• SC1102: Modelling Natural Systems (Level 1; CNS)
• SC1109: Modelling Natural Systems-Advanced (Level 1; CNS & TSV)

Interests

Research

• Community ecology
• Theoretical ecology
• Statistical ecology
• Biological control

Experience

• 2013 to present - Lecturer, James Cook University
• 2011 to 2013 - Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Wisconsin

Research Disciplines

• Ecology (0602)
• Ecological Applications (0501)
• Crop and Pasture Production (0703)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity (9608)
• Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species (9604)

Awards

• JCU Inclusive Practice Award
• JCU Early Career Researcher Rising Star

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

• Clarke D, York P, Rasheed M and Northfield T (2017) Does biodiversity–ecosystem function literature neglect tropical ecosystems? . Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 32 (5). pp. 320-323
• Forbes S and Northfield T (2017) Increased pollinator habitat enhances cacao fruit set and predator conservation. Ecological Applications, 27 (3). pp. 887-899
• Forbes S and Northfield T (2017) Oecophylla smaragdina ants provide pest control in Australian cacao. Biotropica, 49 (3). pp. 328-336
• Gangur A, Smout M, Liddell M, Seymour J, Wilson D and Northfield T (in press) Changes in predator exposure, but not diet induce phenotypic plasticity in scorpion venom. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B, Biological Sciences,
• Northfield T, Barton B and Schmitz O (in press) A spatial theory for emergent multiple predator-prey interactions in food webs. Ecology and Evolution,
• Sambhu H, Northfield T, Nankishore A, Ansari A and Turton S (in press) Tropical rainforest and human-modified landscapes support unique butterfly communities that differ in abundance and diversity. Environmental Entomology,
• Thurman J, Crowder D and Northfield T (in press) Biological control agents in the Anthropocene: current risks and future options. Current Opinion in Insect Science,
• Courtney R, Browning S, Northfield T and Seymour J (2016) Thermal and osmotic tolerance of 'Irukandji' polyps: Cubozoa; Carukia barnesi. PLoS ONE, 11 (7). pp. 1-14
• Sadeh A, Northfield T and Rosenheim J (2016) The epidemiology and evolution of parasite transmission through cannibalism. Ecology, 97 (8). pp. 2003-2011
• Northfield T, Crowder D, Takizawa T and Snyder W (2014) Pairwise interactions between functional groups improve biological control. Biological Control, 78. pp. 49-54
• Northfield T and Ives A (2013) Coevolution and the effects of climate change on interacting species. PLoS Biology, 11 (10). pp. 1-13
• Crowder D, Northfield T, Gomulkiewicz R and Snyder W (2012) Conserving and promoting evenness: organic farming and fire-based wildland management as case studies. Ecology, 93 (9). pp. 2001-2007

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 26+ research outputs authored by Dr Tobin Northfield from 2008 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

• Physiology and Ecology of Cubozoa (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Butterfly (nymphalidae) Diversity and Land Managment Practices Along the Coastline of Guyana and The Wet Tropics Bioregion of Queensland Australia. (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Fruit Development in Theobroma Cacao: Understanding the Limitations to Optimized Cacao Production (PhD , Primary Advisor)

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit the JCU Research Data Catalogue.

• Forbes, S. (2016) Increased pollinator habitat enhances cacao fruit set and predator conservation. James Cook University
• Forbes, S. (2016) Oecophylla smaragdina ants provide pest control in Australian cacao. James Cook University

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.