Robbie Wilson

My research group studies animal performance in the laboratory and in the field. We focus on discovering the underlying mechanistic basis of physical performance and it's implications for an individual's survival and reproductive success. We’re particularly interested in how organisms respond to environmental variation, such as seasonal or long-term temperature change, and the costs of these responses to other traits. We examine interactions between behavioural, physiological and morphological traits to better understand how animal performance is optimised. Furthermore, we want to understand how an organism’s performance relates to population-level processes, enabling better conservation practices in urban and wild habitats. Our research is question-driven, and we use a variety of model systems in our studies, including freshwater fish, crayfish, reptiles, marsupials, and humans. Current projects - Importance of performance, life history and behaviour to male mating success in the semelparous marsupial the northern quoll - Relative importance of athleticism, skill and balance to success in complex human activities - focus on soccer players - When and why do animals lie? Testing hypotheses of deceit and discovering its role in determining animal performance Ecology, Zoology

[2026] Rethinking penalty shootout strategies: how psychological leverage shapes performance and strategy [2026] Manganese exposure and histology of northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) and northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus) on Groote Eylandt, Australia [2026] Dribbling and passing performances predict individual success in small-sided soccer games [2026] Terrestrial cyborg insects for real-life applications [2026] Applied performance ecology: Testing strategies of talent identification in sports using ecological systems [2026] A Cyborg Crayfish Platform for Underwater Exploration [2025] Between the trees: quantifying koala ground movement for conservation action [2025] Honesty is costly in a deceptive system: locomotor costs of producing large and strong weapons for the crayfi