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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

de Angeli Dutra, D., & Poulin, R. (2024). Network specificity decreases community stability and competition among avian haemosporidian parasites and their hosts. Global Ecology & Biogeography. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/geb.13831

Bhattarai, U. R., Poulin, R., Gemmell, N. J., & Dowle, E. (2024). Genome assembly and annotation of the mermithid nematode Mermis nigrescens. Genes Genomes Genetics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae023

Bennett, J., Presswell, B., & Poulin, R. (2024). Expanding on a marine food web using parasitological data. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 727, 19-33. doi: 10.3354/meps14492

Tortosa, P., McInnes, K., O'Donnell, C. F. J., Pryde, M. A., Gomard, Y., Lebarbenchon, C., & Poulin, R. (2023). Coronavirus shedding in New Zealand bats: Insights and future perspectives. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 47(1), 3556. doi: 10.20417/nzjecol.47.3556

da Silva, G. G., Lopez, V. M., Vilarinho, A. C., Datto-Liberato, F. H., Oliveira, C. F., Poulin, R., & Guillermo-Ferreira, R. (2023). Vector species richness predicts local mortality rates from Chagas disease. International Journal for Parasitology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.10.002

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