School of Animal Biology

Janine Wojcieszek

Thesis

Investigating the role of sexual selection in a Western Australian millipede

Summary

This study will investigate the role of sexual selection in a native Western Australian millipede (Antichiropus variabilis).

I will focus on establishing the degree to which male-male competition, in the form of sperm competition, is acting within this species. My research will involve the development of novel microsatellite markers which - for the first time in a millipede - will be used to assess the paternity of offspring.

By comparing mating behaviour to offspring paternity, I will establish whether sperm competition exists between males of this species and what traits may be involved. I will also test how sexual selection has influenced the evolution of natural populations through cross-population mating experiments.

Why my research is important

Sexual selection has been implicated in explaining high levels of species diversity and the diversity and complexity of genitalia in many animal taxa. These conclusions are based, for the most part, on insect and vertebrate case studies.

My Ph.D. research will test many of the assumptions of sexual selection theory in a new animal group - the millipedes. Little is known about the role of sexual selection in millipedes, despite the fact that this class is extremely diverse and males possess diverse and complex genitalia.

I anticipate that intense sexual selection will help to explain why millipedes of the genus Antichiropus have diversified so spectacularly in south-western Western Australia.

Funding

• Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment
• Australian Postgraduate Award
• The University of Western Australia
• UWA Graduate Research School - Grant in aid of Student Training