Velvet ants (mutillids) are a diverse and charismatic family of parasitoid wasps, characterised by extreme sexual dimorphism and a striking array of anti-predator adaptations.

This thesis examines the effect of climate change on a high-elevation ecosystem of Australia. It is expected that increases in temperature and changes in rainfall patterns will strongly influence both plant communities and the soil environments that support them.

Toxoplasma gondii belongs to the apicomplexan phylum, a group of medically and economically important parasites worldwide. T. gondii causes toxoplasmosis which can result in severe disease in immunocompromised people, neonates, and livestock.

I will talk about how deep geological and climatic history has shaped the genetic architecture of Australian fauna, with a focus on two contrasting systems: the arid zone and the Australian alps.

Climate change is quickly reshaping the environments in which wheat is cultivated, challenging global food security through increasing temperatures, heat stress, and unpredictable climatic variability.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease, with its most severe form caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The rapid emergence and spread of drug‑resistant parasites demand new therapeutic strategies.