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ProfessorMatthew Symonds

Associate Head of School, Burwood

Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment/School of Life and Environmental Sciences

Orcid identifier0000-0002-9785-6045 (opens in a new tab)⁠
  • Associate Head of School, Burwood
    Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment/School of Life and Environmental Sciences
  • +61 3 925 17437 (Work)
  • Melbourne Burwood Campus, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Phylogenetic comparative analyses of behaviour (including signalling),
morphology and physiology in animals.

Bird macroecology and explaining geographic and temporal variation in
morphology.

The role of ecology and evolution in shaping escape responses in birds

Using phylogenies to explain patterns of chemical diversity in insects
(pheromones) and plants (medicinal compounds)

Evolution of elaborate antennal structures in insects

Insect behavioural ecology

Statistical methods in evolutionary ecology

Knowledge Areas
Evolutionary ecology

Bird Macroecology

Morphological responses to climate change

Chemical communication

Evolution of visual and chemical signals

Insect behavioural ecology

Projects
Shape-shifting birds: a novel response to climate change

The evolutionary ecology of escape responses in birds

The evolution of pheromones and antennal diversity in insects

Using phylogeny to predict medicinal utility of basal angiosperms (the ancient
spice clades) in Australasia

Harem polygyny in insects

GRANTS

  • GRANT
    Evolving escape - anti-predator adaptations in threatened bird species
    5 May 2025 - 20 May 2028
    People funded by this grant:
    ARC - Discovery Projects - DP250103036 - $683,000.00
  • GRANT
    Fear, flight, and fitness: The adaptive significance of escape response in Hooded Plovers Thinornis rubricollis.
    14 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    Australian Bird Study Association - $1,000.00
  • GRANT
    STUDENT APPLICATION - Fear, flight, and fitness: The adaptive significance of escape response in Hooded Plovers, Thinornis cucullatus cucullatas.
    1 Sep 2022 - 31 Dec 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795 - $12,890.00
  • GRANT
    Shape-shifting birds: a novel consequence of climate change
    19 Jun 2019 - 18 Jun 2022
    People funded by this grant:
    ARC - Discovery Projects - DP190101244 - $330,674.20
  • GRANT
    Effects of climate change on morphology of Australian whistlers and shrikethrushes (Pachycephalidae)
    11 Jul 2017 - 28 Feb 2018
    People funded by this grant:
    • Symonds M,
    • Onley IR
    BirdLife Australia Research Awards - 75 149 124 774 - $1,898.00
  • GRANT
    The evolution of harem polygyny in the Auckland tree weta (Hemideina thoracica)
    1 Jun 2017 - 31 Dec 2017
    People funded by this grant:
    • Symonds M,
    • Griffin M
    Royal Society Te Aparangi NZ - Hutton Fund - $950.13
  • GRANT
    The evolution of harem polygyny in Hemideina thoracica
    22 Mar 2016 - 30 Apr 2018
    People funded by this grant:
    • Symonds M,
    • Griffin M
    The Entomological Society of New Zealand - $876.60
  • GRANT
    Rapidly shifting landscapes: How does rural land-use change in the Western Strzelecki Ranges influence bird communities?
    23 Sep 2014 - 1 Sep 2015
    People funded by this grant:
    • Symonds M,
    • Brammar C,
    • Bennett A
    ANZCT Grant - Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund - closed - $5,500.00