VMSC Postgraduate Award

Congratulations to BENJAMIN WEGENER - our winner in 2011

Benjamin commenced his PhD candidature in 2009 at Monash University. His project, entitled 'Male reproductive strategies in cephalopods: Sepiadarium austrinum, the Southern Bottletail Squid', focuses on animal behavioural evolution. Using this species as a model organism, Benjamin's research is focused on (a) how male investment decisions can be influenced by physical condition and the risk and intensity of sperm competition, and (b) what impact these investment decisions have on eventual reproductive success. Current experiments involve laboratory mating trials and paternity analysis with juveniles caught in the wild between the months of February and May and raised in the lab until sexually mature. Male reproductive effort during mating events is then assessed through the manipulation of male and female physical condition and mating history. This reproductive effort is then being correlated with eventual reproductive success when individuals employ alternative mating strategies. This research aims to further extend the developments made in current sexual selection theory exploring male mate choice and sperm competition. Benjamin's project is supervised by Dr. Bob Wong at Monash and co-supervised by Dr Devi Stuart-Fox at The University of Melbourne and Dr. Mark Norman at Museum Victoria.

Benjamin undertook a BSc in Zoology and Ecology at James Cook University in 2001, which included a 6-month exchange to Norway. In Norway he studied some social evolution subjects which greatly influenced his immediate studies and early career direction. On completion of his undergraduate degree, Benjamin undertook an Honours year supervised by Australia's most preeminent social insect biologist, the late Professor Ross Crozier. He studied the mating system and behavioural organisation of the weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, and received First Class results. In between Honours and his PhD, Benjamin worked as a Research Assistant at the Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research (CESAR - Melbourne and Monash Universities).

Benjamin received the Monash University Faculty of Science Dean's Postgraduate Award to commence his PhD. Other funding has been provided by Monash University, the Hermon Slade Foundation, and the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment.

Benjamin was presented with his award by The Hon. Ryan Smith, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, at the Victorian Coastal Awards 2011 on 14 April at the Melbourne Museum.

Congratulations Benjamin!