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Robert Poulin

Tel +64 3 479 7983
Email robert.poulin@otago.ac.nz

Teaching

Research interests

Ant affected by a parasite 186
Parasitic incursion on an ant.

Professor Poulin's research interests extend across parasitism, ecology, evolution and marine ecosystems:

  • Evolutionary ecology of parasites
  • Effect of parasites on communities and ecosystems
  • Manipulation of host phenotype by parasites

Learn more about this research:
Evolutionary and Ecological Parasitology research group website

Robert is also a member of the Coastal People: Southern Skies collaboration that connects communities with world-leading, cross-discipline research to rebuild coastal ecosystems.
Coastal People: Southern Skies

Postgraduate projects

Thaumamermis zealandica in its amphipod host 186
Thaumamermis zealandica in its amphipod host.

  • Parasitism of molluscs and community structure in marine intertidal ecosystems
  • Impact of parasitism on coastal crustacean species
  • Evolution of abbreviated life cycles in parasitic trematodes
  • Manipulation of invertebrate behaviour by parasites, including the physiological mechanisms involved
  • Molecular genetics of helminth parasite

Publications

Li, Q.-L., Poulin, R., & Li, C.-H. (2026). Impacts of artificial light at night on interactions between four trematode parasites and their marine invertebrate hosts: Species-specific effects? Science of the Total Environment, 1041, 181917. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181917 Journal - Research Article

Ruiz Torres, N. G., Martinez-Sánchez, S., de León-Lorenzana, A., Mercado-Juárez, R. A., Salloum, P. M., Poulin, R., … Rico-Chávez, O. (2026). Drivers of microbiome composition among helminth parasites Sharing the same insectivorous bat host. Molecular Ecology, 35(10), e70389. doi: 10.1111/mec.70389 Journal - Research Article

Kirangwa, J., Bednarski, V., Guiglielmoni, N., Poulin, R., Dowle, E., Schiffer, P., & Holovachov, O. (2026). Comparative genomics of parasitoid lifestyle as exemplified by Mermithidae and Nematomorpha. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 217, 108641. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2026.108641 Journal - Research Article

Poulin, R. (2026). Let's ask again: Are there general laws in parasite ecology? International Journal for Parasitology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2026.104870 Journal - Research Other

Poulin, R., Bennett, J., Blasco-Costa, I., de Angeli Dutra, D., Doherty, J.-F., Dowle, E., … Lagrue, C., … Li, C.-H., … Presswell, B., … Selbach, C. (2026). Scientists' warning on the rapid evolution of parasites in the anthropocene. Evolutionary Applications, 19, e70244. doi: 10.1111/eva.70244 Journal - Research Other

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