Maternal nesting behaviour in city dragons with Nicola Kent, USC

Increasing urbanisation poses a global threat to biodiversity and minimising its impact will require a greater understanding of how organisms adapt to life in cities. Mounting evidence has shown that urbanisation is driving the evolution of the species that reside within. What we are yet to understand is how. As an iconic urban adapted species, the Eastern water dragon presents the perfect opportunity to study just this.

Nicola Kent from the University of the Sunshine Coast will present some of the research she and team members at the Frere lab have worked on to better understand how urbanisation shapes the evolution of these dragons across a range of traits.

Dr Frere established the long-term study of eastern water dragons in sites around Brisbane’s CBD in 2010. These dragons are bigger and bolder than their non-urban counterparts. They are also diversifying at rates that allows for the study of evolution in action.

Register to attend

The forum will be live at the Environment Centre for limited numbers owing to COVID restrictions, starting at 10.30am. To come to the event, it is essential to pre- register.  Remember numbers are limited, so please register as soon as you can and then cancel if you are unable to attend. This is important so someone else can take your place. If you are having problems, call 0405 360 549 for help.