Analysing the Roles of Cospeciation and Host Shifting I the Evolution of Behaviour and Ecology of Thrips associated with Australian Acacia

The relationships and interactions between phytophagous thrips and their host Acacia species provide a system well suited to investigating mechanisms of macroevolution in the Australian arid-zone biota. In this project we will determine the relative importance of mechanisms such as cospeciation and host-shifting within this model system, and examine the influence of these mechanisms on the evolution of both the insects and the host-plants. It is expected that the results of this study will provide insights into the evolution of arid-zone biodiversity in Australia and the nature of insect/host-plant interactions.