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Professor Robert Poulin

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

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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

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Publications

Hutson, K. S., Davidson, I. C., Bennett, J., Poulin, R., & Cahill, P. L. (2023). Assigning cause for emerging diseases of aquatic organisms. Trends in Microbiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.01.012

de Angeli Dutra, D., Pinheiro, R. B. P., Fecchio, A., & Poulin, R. (2023). Revealing the drivers of parasite community assembly: Using avian haemosporidians to model global dynamics of parasite species turnover. Ecography, e06634. doi: 10.1111/ecog.06634

Salloum, P. M., Jorge, F., Dheilly, N. M., & Poulin, R. (2023). Eco-evolutionary implications of helminth microbiomes [Invited Centenary Review]. Journal of Helminthology, 97, e22. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X23000056

Doherty, J.-F., Bhattarai, U. R., Ferreira, S., Poulin, R., Gemmell, N. J., & Dowle, E. J. (2023). The proof is in the poo: Non-invasive method to detect endoparasitic infection. Molecular Ecology Resources. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.13763

de Angeli Dutra, D., Salloum, P. M., & Poulin, R. (2023). Vector microbiome: Will global climate change affect vector competence and pathogen transmission? Parasitology Research, 122, 11-17. doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07734-x

Poulin, R. (2007). Evolutionary ecology of parasites (2nd ed.). Princeton University Press, 342p.

Authored Book - Research

Poulin, R., & Morand, S. (2004). Parasite biodiversity. Washington: Smithsonian Books, 216p.

Authored Book - Research

Poulin, R. (1998). Evolutionary ecology of parasites: from individuals to communities. London: Chapman and Hall, 212p.

Authored Book - Research

Morand, S., Krasnov, B. R., & Poulin, R. (Eds.). (2006). Micromammals and macroparasites: From evolutionary ecology to management. Tokyo, Japan: Springer, 647p.

Edited Book - Research

Poulin, R. (Ed.). (2002). Parasitology - Parasites in Marine Systems (Supplement, No. 124, Parasitology). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 207p.

Edited Book - Research

Poulin, R., Morand, S., & Skorping, A. (Eds.). (2000). Evolutionary Biology of Host-Parasite Relationships: Theory meets Reality. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 250p.

Edited Book - Research

Godfrey, S. S., & Poulin, R. (2022). Host manipulation by parasites: From individual to collective behavior. In V. Ezenwa, S. M. Altizer & R. Hall (Eds.), Animal behavior and parasitism. (pp. 207-222). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oso/9780192895561.003.0012

Chapter in Book - Research

Krkosek, M., & Poulin, R. (2016). Infectious disease and the conservation of freshwater fish. In G. P. Closs, M. Krkosek & J. D. Olden (Eds.), Conservation of freshwater fishes. (pp. 215-237). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Chapter in Book - Research

Bordes, F., Morand, S., Krasnov, B. R., & Poulin, R. (2010). Parasite diversity and latitudinal gradients in terrestrial mammals. In S. Morand & B. R. Krasnov (Eds.), The biogeography of host-parasite interactions. (pp. 89-98). Oxford University Press.

Chapter in Book - Research

Krasnov, B. R., & Poulin, R. (2010). Ecological properties of a parasite: Species-specific stability and geographical variation. In S. Morand & B. R. Krasnov (Eds.), The biogeography of host-parasite interactions. (pp. 99-113). Oxford University Press.

Chapter in Book - Research

Poulin, R. (2010). Parasite manipulation of host behavior: An update and frequently asked questions. In H. J. Brockmann, T. J. Roper, M. Naguib, K. E. Wynne-Edwards, J. C. Mitani & L. W. Simmons (Eds.), Advances in the Study of Behavior (Vol. 41). (pp. 151-186). London: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0065-3454(10)41005-0

Chapter in Book - Research

Poulin, R., & Krasnov, B. R. (2010). Similarity and variability of parasite assemblages across geographical space. In S. Morand & B. R. Krasnov (Eds.), The biogeography of host-parasite interactions. (pp. 115-127). Oxford University Press.

Chapter in Book - Research

Johns, P., Newman, L. J., Hollemann, J. J., Dawson, E. W., Sterrer, W., Allison, F. R., … Poulin, R. (2009). Phylum Platyhelminthes: Flatworms, tapeworms, flukes. In D. P. Gordon (Ed.), New Zealand inventory of biodiversity (Vol. 1) Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. (pp. 102-128). Christchurch, New Zealand: Canterbury University Press.

Chapter in Book - Research

Lebarbenchon, C., Poulin, R., & Thomas, F. (2009). Parasitism, biodiversity, and conservation biology. In F. Thomas, J.-F. Guégan & F. Renaud (Eds.), Ecology and evolution of parasitism. (pp. 149-160). Oxford University Press.

Chapter in Book - Research

Krasnov, B. R., Poulin, R., & Morand, S. (2006). Patterns of macroparasite diversity in small mammals. In S. Morand, B. R. Krasnov & R. Poulin (Eds.), Micromammals and macroparasites: From evolutionary ecology to management. (pp. 197-232). Tokyo, Japan: Springer.

Chapter in Book - Research

Poulin, R., Krasnov, B. R., & Morand, S. (2006). Patterns of host specificity in parasites exploiting small mammals. In S. Morand, B. R. Krasnov & R. Poulin (Eds.), Micromammals and macroparasites: From evolutionary ecology to management. (pp. 233-256). Tokyo, Japan: Springer.

Chapter in Book - Research

Tompkins, D. M., & Poulin, R. (2006). Parasites and biological invasions. In R. B. Allen & W. G. Lee (Eds.), Biological invasions in New Zealand: Ecological studies 186. (pp. 67-84). Berlin, Germany: Springer.

Chapter in Book - Research

Guégan, J.-F., Morand, S., & Poulin, R. (2005). Are there general laws in parasite community ecology? The emergence of spatial parasitology and epidemiology. In F. Thomas, F. Renaud & J.-F. Guégan (Eds.), Parasitism and Ecosystems. (pp. 22-42). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Chapter in Book - Research

Poulin, R. (2003). Helminth life cycles: Evolutionary increases and decreases in complexity (Vol. 2). In C. Combes & J. Jourdane (Eds.), Taxonomy, ecology and evolution of metazoan parasites. (pp. 167-183). France: Presses Universitaires de Perpignan.

Chapter in Book - Research

Barber, I., & Poulin, R. (2002). Interactions between fish, parasites and disease. In P. J. B. Hart & J. D. Reynolds (Eds.), Handbook of Fish Biology and Fisheries. (pp. 359-389). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.

Chapter in Book - Research

Poulin, R. (2002). Parasite manipulation of host behaviour. In E. E. Lewis, J. F. Campbell & M. V. K. Sukhdeo (Eds.), The behavioural ecology of parasites. (pp. 243-257). Wallingford, UK: CABI Publishing.

Chapter in Book - Research

Wharton, D. A., Poulin, R., & Tyrrell, C. L. (2001). Parasites of Anostostomatid insects. In L. H. Field (Ed.), The Biology of Wetas, King Crickets and their Allies. (pp. 259-267). Wallingford & New York: CABI Publishing.

Chapter in Book - Research

Lafferty, K. D., Thomas, F., & Poulin, R. (2000). Evolution of host phenotype manipulation by parasites and its consequences. In R. Poulin, S. Morand & A. Skorping (Eds.), Evolutionary Biology of Host-Parasite Relationships: Theory Meets Reality. (pp. 117-127). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Chapter in Book - Research

de Angeli Dutra, D., Pinheiro, R. B. P., Fecchio, A., & Poulin, R. (2023). Revealing the drivers of parasite community assembly: Using avian haemosporidians to model global dynamics of parasite species turnover. Ecography, e06634. doi: 10.1111/ecog.06634

Journal - Research Article

Doherty, J.-F., Bhattarai, U. R., Ferreira, S., Poulin, R., Gemmell, N. J., & Dowle, E. J. (2023). The proof is in the poo: Non-invasive method to detect endoparasitic infection. Molecular Ecology Resources. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.13763

Journal - Research Article

Hasik, A. Z., de Angeli Dutra, D., Doherty, J.-F., Duffy, M. A., Poulin, R., & Siepielski, A. M. (2023). Resetting our expectations for parasites and their effects on species interactions: A meta-analysis. Ecology Letters, 26, 184-199. doi: 10.1111/ele.14139

Journal - Research Article

Salloum, P. M., Jorge, F., Dheilly, N. M., & Poulin, R. (2023). Eco-evolutionary implications of helminth microbiomes [Invited Centenary Review]. Journal of Helminthology, 97, e22. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X23000056

Journal - Research Article

Bennett, J., Poulin, R., & Presswell, B. (2022). Annotated checklist and genetic data for parasitic helminths infecting New Zealand marine invertebrates. Invertebrate Biology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/ivb.12380

Journal - Research Article

Bennett, J., Poulin, R., & Presswell, B. (2022). Large-scale genetic investigation of nematode diversity and their phylogenetic patterns in New Zealand marine animals. Parasitology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1017/s003118202200138x

Journal - Research Article

Bhattarai, U. R., Katuwal, M., Poulin, R., Gemmell, N. J., & Dowle, E. (2022). Genome assembly and annotation of the European earwig Forficula auricularia (subspecies B). Genes Genomes Genetics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac199

Journal - Research Article

Chai, X., Bennett, J., & Poulin, R. (2022). Decay of parasite community similarity with host phylogenetic and geographic distances among deep-sea fish (grenadiers). Parasitology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1017/s0031182022001251

Journal - Research Article

de Angeli Dutra, D., Fecchio, A., Martins Braga, É., & Poulin, R. (2022). Migratory behaviour does not alter cophylogenetic congruence between avian hosts and their haemosporidian parasites. Parasitology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1017/s0031182022000154

Journal - Research Article

de Angeli Dutra, D., Poulin, R., & Ferreira, F. C. (2022). The evolutionary consequences of vector-borne transmission: How using vectors shapes host, vector, and pathogen evolution. Parasitology, 1-48. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1017/s0031182022001378

Journal - Research Article

Doherty, J.-F., & Poulin, R. (2022). Come with me if you want to live: Sympatric parasites follow different transmission routes through aquatic host communities. International Journal for Parasitology, 52, 293-303. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.11.009

Journal - Research Article

Doherty, J.-F., & Poulin, R. (2022). The return to land: Association between hairworm infection and aquatic insect development. Parasitology Research, 121(2), 667-673. doi: 10.1007/s00436-021-07410-6

Journal - Research Article

Doherty, J.-F., Filion, A., & Poulin, R. (2022). Infection patterns and new definitive host records for New Zealand gordiid hairworms (phylum Nematomorpha). Parasitology International, 90, 102598. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102598

Journal - Research Article

Felix, G. M., Pinheiro, R. B. P., Poulin, R., Krasnov, B. R., & Mello, M. A. R. (2022). The compound topology of host-parasite networks is explained by the integrative hypothesis of specialization. Oikos, 2022, e08462. doi: 10.1111/oik.08462

Journal - Research Article

Filion, A., Deschamps, L., Niebuhr, C. N., & Poulin, R. (2022). Anthropogenic landscape alteration promotes higher disease risk in wild New Zealand avian communities. PLoS ONE, 17(3), e0265568. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265568

Journal - Research Article

Henriksen, E. H., Frainer, A., Poulin, R., Knudsen, R., & Amundsen, P.-A. (2022). Ectoparasites population dynamics are affected by host body size but not host density or water temperature in a 32-year long time series. Oikos. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/oik.09328

Journal - Research Article

Jorge, F., Dheilly, N. M., Froissard, C., & Poulin, R. (2022). Association between parasite microbiomes and caste development and colony structure in a social trematode. Molecular Ecology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/mec.16671

Journal - Research Article

Jorge, F., Dheilly, N. M., Froissard, C., Wainwright, E., & Poulin, R. (2022). Consistency of bacterial communities in a parasitic worm: Variation throughout the life cycle and across geographic space. Microbial Ecology, 83, 724-738. doi: 10.1007/s00248-021-01774-z

Journal - Research Article

Jorge, F., Froissard, C., Dheilly, N. M., & Poulin, R. (2022). Bacterial community dynamics following antibiotic exposure in a trematode parasite. International Journal for Parasitology, 52, 265-274. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.11.006

Journal - Research Article

Nazarizadeh, M., Nováková, M., Loot, G., Gabagambi, N. P., Fatemizadeh, F., Osano, O., Presswell, B., Poulin, R., … Štefka, J. (2022). Historical dispersal and host-switching formed the evolutionary history of a globally distributed multi-host parasite: The Ligula intestinalis species complex. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution, 180, 107677. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107677

Journal - Research Article

Park, E., & Poulin, R. (2022). Extremely divergent COI sequences within an amphipod species complex: A possible role for endosymbionts? Ecology & Evolution, 12, e9448. doi: 10.1002/ece3.9448

Journal - Research Article

Poulin, R., & McDougall, C. (2022). Fish-parasite interaction networks reveal latitudinal and taxonomic trends in the structure of host-parasite associations. Parasitology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1017/s0031182022000944

Journal - Research Article

Poulin, R., & Presswell, B. (2022). Is parasite taxonomy really in trouble? A quantitative analysis. International Journal for Parasitology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.03.001

Journal - Research Article

Poulin, R., de Angeli Dutra, D., & Presswell, B. (2022). Short and sweet: An analysis of the length of parasite species names. Systematic Parasitology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s11230-022-10058-0

Journal - Research Article

Poulin, R., Jorge, F., & Salloum, P. M. (2022). Inter-individual variation in parasite manipulation of host phenotype: A role for parasite microbiomes? Journal of Animal Ecology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.13764

Journal - Research Article

da Silva, G. G., Poulin, R., & Guillermo-Ferreira, R. (2021). Do latitudinal and bioclimatic gradients drive parasitism in Odonata? International Journal for Parasitology, 51, 463-470. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.11.008

Journal - Research Article

de Angeli Dutra, D., Fecchio, A., Martins Braga, É., & Poulin, R. (2021). Haemosporidian taxonomic composition, network centrality and partner fidelity between resident and migratory avian hosts. Oecologia. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s00442-021-05031-5

Journal - Research Article

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