Research interests
The interaction between sensory systems, signals, and the environment, and using these interactions to predict the direction of evolution under known environmental conditions.
My two main projects involve Bowerbirds and Guppies and involve a mixture of field work, field experiments, lab experiments, and modelling.
I am always happy to have PhD students with similar interests, but they do not have to work with one of these three systems. I've also had students working with various kinds of insects and spiders.
Here is a little more detail on my projects:
Signal design and its relationship to the environment and geometry in Bowerbirds. Just how does the complex geometry and resulting multiple visual tricks and illusions created by great bowerbirds effect mating success and how and why do they repair problems in their bower geometry so quickly? What insights can these birds and their bowers give us about how animals perceive the world and act upon sensory information--true or misleading?
Experimental evolution under known changed conditions in laboratory mesocosms (very large tanks) and wild guppy populations. How do changed visual environments (mimicking changes in the forest canopy as a result of climate change) affect visibility of mates to females hence the direction of evolution of male displays, and how does this affect the evolution of female mating preferences and the visual system. How does artificial selection for chasing particular colours affect female preferences, male traits and the visual system? What are the effects in the field of canopy thinning on wild guppy populations? Multiple minor projects resulting from these main questions.
Units taught
current: Evolutionary Ecology (SLE372)
Knowledge areas
Evolutionary Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Sensory Ecology, Behavioural Ecology. The interaction between sensory systems, signals, the environment, and how this can be used to predict the direction of evolution.
Expertise
- Behaviour
- Biology
- Computers
- Ecology
Professional activities
I do science whenever I can and however I can! Science for it's own sake, formally (e.g. international meetings and collaborations) and informally (discussions, natural history).
Research groups
Centre for Integrative Ecology
Sensory Ecology and Behaviour (within the School of Life & Environmental Sciences)
Awards
Fellow, Australian Academy of Sciences
Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Exemplar, Animal Behaviour Society (their highest honour to a non-retired scientist).
Alfred Deakin Professor (Deakin University's highest academic honour).
Publications
Cedric van den Berg, Jolyon Troscianko, John Endler, N Marshall, Karen Cheney
(2020), Vol. 11, pp. 316-332, Methods in ecology and evolution, Chichester, Eng., C1
Niche construction affects the variability and strength of natural selection
A Clark, D Deffner, K Laland, J Odling-Smee, J Endler
(2020), Vol. 195, pp. 16-30, American naturalist, Chicago, Ill., C1
An Ishihara-style test of animal colour vision
Karen Cheney, Naomi Green, Alexander Vibert, Misha Vorobyev, N Marshall, Daniel Osorio, John Endler
(2019), Vol. 222, pp. 1-8, Journal of experimental biology, Cambridge, Eng., C1
Plumage coloration follows Gloger's rule in a ring species
R Ribot, M Berg, E Schubert, J Endler, A Bennett
(2019), Vol. 46, pp. 584-596, Journal of biogeography, Chichester, Eng., C1
Adélaïde Sibeaux, Madison Keser, Gemma Cole, Alexandrea Kranz, John Endler
(2019), Vol. 158, pp. 78-89, Vision research, Amsterdam, The Nethelands, C1
Colour-based foraging diverges after multiple generations under different light environments
G Cole, J Lynn, A Kranz, J Endler
(2019), Vol. 125, pp. 212-221, Ethology, Chichester, Eng., C1
Adélaïde Sibeaux, Gemma Cole, John Endler
(2019), Vol. 159, pp. 86-95, Vision research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
PAVO2: new tools for the spectral and spatial analysis of colour in R
R Maia, H Gruson, J Endler, T White
(2019), Vol. 10, pp. 1097-1107, Methods in ecology and evolution, Chichester, Eng., C1
A dynamic optical signal in a nocturnal moth
Jennifer Kelley, Nikolai Tatarnic, Gerd Schröder-Turk, John Endler, Bodo Wilts
(2019), Vol. 29, pp. 2919-2925, Current biology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
The relative importance of local and global visual contrast in mate choice
Adelaide Sibeaux, Gemma Cole, John Endler
(2019), Vol. 154, pp. 143-159, Animal behaviour, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
F Santostefano, K Fanson, J Endler, P Biro
(2019), Vol. 30, pp. 1539-1547, Behavioral ecology, Oxford, Eng., C1
Temperature-induced colour change varies seasonally in bearded dragon lizards
V Cadena, K Rankin, K Smith, J Endler, D Stuart-Fox
(2018), Vol. 123, pp. 422-430, Biological journal of the Linnean Society, Oxford, Eng., C1
Individuals among the pots: how do traditional ceramic shapes vary between potters?
E Gandon, T Coyle, R Bootsma, V Roux, J Endler
(2018), Vol. 30, pp. 299-313, Ecological psychology, Abingdon, Eng., C1
Effects of female preference intensity on the permissiveness of sexual trait polymorphisms
A Ponkshe, J Endler
(2018), Vol. 8, pp. 4518-4524, Ecology and evolution, Chichester, Eng., C1
Female receptivity affects subsequent mating effort and mate choice in male guppies
P Guevara-Fiore, J Endler
(2018), Vol. 140, pp. 73-79, Animal behaviour, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Change in male coloration associated with artificial selection on foraging colour preference
Gemma Cole, John Endler
(2018), Vol. 31, pp. 1227-1238, Journal of evolutionary biology, London, Eng., C1
Toxicity and taste: unequal chemical defences in a mimicry ring
Anne Winters, Nerida Wilson, Cedric van den Berg, Martin How, John Endler, N Marshall, Andrew White, Mary Garson, Karen Cheney
(2018), Vol. 285, Proceedings of the royal society b: biological sciences, London, Eng., C1
Alexandrea Kranz, Leonard Forgan, Gemma Cole, John Endler
(2018), Vol. 72, pp. 1656-1676, Evolution, London, Eng., C1
Colour pattern component phenotypic divergence can be predicted by the light environment
Alexandrea Kranz, Gemma Cole, Priti Singh, John Endler
(2018), Vol. 31, pp. 1459-1476, Journal of evolutionary biology, London, Eng., C1
25 years of sensory drive: the evidence and its watery bias
Molly Cummings, John Endler
(2018), Vol. 64, pp. 471-484, Current zoology, Oxford, Eng., C1
Courtship diverges with foraging behaviour in artificially selected populations
G Cole, J Endler
(2018), Vol. 144, pp. 9-15, Animal behaviour, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
J Endler, G Cole, A Kranz
(2018), Vol. 9, pp. 2334-2348, Methods in ecology and evolution, Chichester, Eng., C1
A Gaskett, J Endler, R Phillips
(2017), Vol. 31, pp. 205-227, Evolutionary ecology, Berlin, Germany, C1
Sexual selection predicts brain structure in dragon lizards
D Hoops, J Ullmann, A Janke, M Vidal-Garcia, T Stait-Gardner, Y Dwihapsari, T Merkling, W Price, J Endler, M Whiting, J Keogh
(2017), Vol. 30, pp. 244-256, Journal of evolutionary biology, Chichester, Eng., C1
B Knott, M Berg, R Ribot, J Endler, A Bennett
(2017), Vol. 7, pp. 1-8, Scientific reports, London, Eng., C1
How do great bowerbirds construct perspective illusions?
L Kelley, J Endler
(2017), Vol. 4, pp. 1-10, Royal society open science, London, Eng., C1
Neutral and selective drivers of colour evolution in a widespread Australian passerine
H Morales, A Pavlova, P Sunnucks, R Major, N Amos, L Joseph, B Wang, A Lemmon, J Endler, K Delhey
(2017), Vol. 44, pp. 522-536, Journal of Biogeography, C1
V Cadena, K Smith, J Endler, D Stuart-Fox
(2017), Vol. 220, pp. 1048-1055, Journal of experimental biology, Cambridge, Eng., C1
S Waldron, J Endler, J Valkonen, A Honma, S Dobler, J Mappes
(2017), Vol. 7, pp. 1-10, Scientific reports, London, Eng., C1
Deimatism: a neglected component of antipredator defence
K Umbers, S De Bona, T White, J Lehtonen, J Mappes, J Endler
(2017), Vol. 13, pp. 1-5, Biology letters, London, Eng., C1
The current and future state of animal coloration research
J Endler, J Mappes
(2017), Vol. 372, pp. 1-8, Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society B: biological sciences, London, Eng., C1
Early social experience shapes female mate choice in guppies
A Macario, D Croft, J Endler, S Darden
(2017), Vol. 28, pp. 833-843, Behavioral ecology, Oxford, England, C1
Improved color constancy in honey bees enabled by parallel visual projections from dorsal ocelli
J Garcia, Y-S Hung, A Greentree, M Rosa, J Endler, A Dyer
(2017), Vol. 114, pp. 7713-7718, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Washington, D.C., C1
Tool-assisted rhythmic drumming in palm cockatoos shares key elements of human instrumental music
R Heinsohn, C Zdenek, R Cunningham, J Endler, N Langmore
(2017), Vol. 3, pp. 1-6, Science advances, Washington, D.C., C1
Niche construction, sources of selection and trait coevolution
K Laland, J Odling-Smee, J Endler
(2017), Vol. 7, pp. 1-9, Interface Focus, London, Eng., C1
I van Hazel, S Dungan, F Hauser, J Morrow, J Endler, B Chang
(2016), Vol. 25, pp. 1308-1318, Protein science, Hoboken, N.J., C1
K Smith, V Cadena, J Endler, W Porter, M Kearney, D Stuart-Fox
(2016), Vol. 283, pp. 1-9, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: biological sciences, London, Eng., C1
Male courtship decisions are influenced by light environment and female receptivity.
G Cole, J Endler
(2016), Vol. 283, pp. 1-9, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: biological sciences, London, Eng., C1
Color change for Thermoregulation versus camouflage in free-ranging lizards
K Smith, V Cadena, J Endler, M Kearney, W Porter, D Stuart-Fox
(2016), Vol. 188, pp. 668-678, American naturalist, Chicago, Ill., C1
N Doerr, J Endler
(2015), Vol. 99, pp. 73-82, Animal behaviour, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Variable environmental effects on a multicomponent sexually selected trait
G Cole, J Endler
(2015), Vol. 185, pp. 452-468, American Naturalist, Chicago, Ill., C1
Artificial selection for food colour preferences
G Cole, J Endler
(2015), Vol. 282, pp. 1-9, Proceedings of the royal society of London: biological sciences, London, Eng., C1
White sharks exploit the sun during predatory approaches
C Huveneers, D Holman, R Robbins, A Fox, J Endler, A Taylor
(2015), Vol. 185, pp. 562-570, American Naturalist, Chicago, Ill., C1
K Ekanayake, M Weston, D Nimmo, G Maguire, J Endler, C Küpper
(2015), Vol. 282, pp. 1-8, Proceedings of the royal society of London: biological sciences, London, Eng., C1
An integrative framework for the appraisal of coloration in nature
D Kemp, M Herberstein, L Fleishman, J Endler, A Bennett, A Dyer, N Hart, J Marshall, M Whiting
(2015), Vol. 185, pp. 705-724, American naturalist, Chicago, Ill., C1
Visual effects in great bowerbird sexual displays and their implications for signal design
J Endler, J Gaburro, L Kelley
(2014), Vol. 281, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, C1
Red-green-blue electrogenerated chemiluminescence utilizing a digital camera as detector
E Doeven, G Barbante, E Kerr, C Hogan, J Endler, P Francis
(2014), Vol. 86, pp. 2727-2732, Analytical chemistry, Washington, D.C., C1
B Rojas, J Devillechabrolle, J Endler
(2014), Vol. 10, Biology Letters, C1
P Guevara-Fiore, J Endler
(2014), Vol. 8, pp. 234-236, Fly, Abingdon, Eng., C1-1
B Rojas, J Endler
(2013), Vol. 27, pp. 739-753, Evolutionary Ecology, C1
E Gandon, R Bootsma, J Endler, L Grosman
(2013), Vol. 8, PLoS ONE, C1
I Van Hazel, A Sabouhanian, L Day, J Endler, B Chang
(2013), Vol. 13, BMC Evolutionary Biology, C1
A framework for analysing colour pattern geometry: Adjacent colours
J Endler
(2012), Vol. 107, pp. 233-253, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, C1
How the ladybird got its spots: Effects of resource limitation on the honesty of aposematic signals
J Blount, H Rowland, F Drijfhout, J Endler, R Inger, J Sloggett, G Hurst, D Hodgson, M Speed
(2012), Vol. 26, pp. 334-342, Functional Ecology, C1
Male spotted bowerbirds propagate fruit for use in their sexual display
J Madden, C Dingle, J Isden, J Sparfeld, A Goldizen, J Endler
(2012), Vol. 22, Current Biology, C1
Illusions promote mating success in great bowerbirds
L Kelley, J Endler
(2012), Vol. 335, pp. 335-338, Science, C1
P Guevara-Fiore, P Svensson, J Endler
(2012), Vol. 84, pp. 1023-1029, Animal Behaviour, C1
Learned Vocal Variation Is Associated with Abrupt Cryptic Genetic Change in a Parrot Species Complex
R Ribot, K Buchanan, J Endler, L Joseph, A Bennett, M Berg
(2012), Vol. 7, PLoS ONE, C1
L Kelley, J Endler
(2012), Vol. 109, pp. 20980-20985, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, C1
Integrative commentary on ecology and evolution of poeciliid fishes
J Endler
(2011), pp. 301-310, Ecology and evolution of poeciliid fishes, Chicago, Ill., B1
Geographical variation in allometry in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata)
C Egset, G Bolstad, G Rosenqvist, J Endler, C Pélabon
(2011), Vol. 24, pp. 2631-2638, Journal of Evolutionary Biology, C1
Great bowerbirds create theaters with forced perspective when seen by their audience
J Endler, L Endler, N Doerr
(2010), Vol. 20, pp. 1679-1684, Current Biology, C1
The spatial pattern of natural selection when selection depends on experience
J Endler, B Rojas
(2009), Vol. 173, American Naturalist, C1-1
Predicting the direction of ornament evolution in Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata)
D Kemp, D Reznick, G Grether, J Endler
(2009), Vol. 276, pp. 4335-4343, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, C1-1
The adaptive significance of ontogenetic colour change in a tropical python
D Wilson, R Heinsohn, J Endler
(2007), Vol. 3, pp. 40-43, Biology Letters, C1-1
Disruptive and cryptic coloration
J Endler
(2006), Vol. 273, pp. 2425-2426, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, C1-1
J Endler, L Day
(2006), Vol. 72, pp. 1405-1416, Animal Behaviour, C1-1
Comparing entire colour patterns as birds see them
J Endler, P Mielke
(2005), Vol. 86, pp. 405-431, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, C1-1
J Endler, D Westcott, J Madden, T Robson
(2005), Vol. 59, pp. 1795-1818, Evolution, C1-1
Evolution: Extreme reversed sexual dichromatism in a bird without sex role reversal
R Heinsohn, S Legge, J Endler
(2005), Vol. 309, pp. 617-619, Science, C1-1
The complex business of survival by aposematism
J Mappes, N Marples, J Endler
(2005), Vol. 20, pp. 598-603, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, C1-1
Predator Mixes and the Conspicuousness of Aposematic Signals
J Endler, J Mappes
(2004), Vol. 163, pp. 532-547, American Naturalist, C1-1
Morphological signals of sex and status in Spotted Bowerbirds
J Madden, J Endler, F Jury
(2004), Vol. 104, pp. 21-30, Emu, C1-1
J Uy, J Endler
(2004), Vol. 15, pp. 1003-1010, Behavioral Ecology, C1-1
S Gamble, A Lindholm, J Endler, R Brooks
(2003), Vol. 6, pp. 463-472, Ecology Letters, C1-1
G Grether, J Hudon, J Endler
(2001), Vol. 268, pp. 1245-1253, Royal Society of London : proceedings B : biological sciences, London, Eng., C1-1
Variation in response to artificial selection for light sensitivity in guppies (Poecilia reticulata)
J Endler, A Basolo, S Glowacki, J Zerr
(2001), Vol. 158, pp. 36-48, American naturalist, Chicago, Ill., C1-1
R Brooks, J Endler
(2001), Vol. 55, pp. 1644-1655, Evolution, Chichester, Eng., C1-1
R Brooks, J Endler
(2001), Vol. 55, pp. 1002-1015, Evolution, Chichester, Eng., C1-1
Some comments on visual perception and the use of video playback in animal behavior studies
L Fleishman, J Endler
(2000), Vol. 3, pp. 15-27, Acta Ethologica, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
Considerations on the use of video playbacks as visual stimuli: The Lisbon workshop consensus
R Oliveira, G Rosenthal, I Schlupp, P McGregor, I Cuthill, J Endler, L Fleishman, J Zeil, E Barata, F Burford, D Gonçalves, M Haley, S Jakobsson, M Jennions, K Körner, L Lindström, T Peake, A Pilastro, D Pope, S Roberts, C Rowe, J Smith, J Waas
(2000), Vol. 3, pp. 61-65, Acta Ethologica, C1
Sensory ecology, receiver biases and sexual selection
J Endler, A Basolo
(1998), Vol. 13, pp. 415-420, Trends in ecology and evolution, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Colour perception and the use of video playback experiments in animal behaviour
L Fleishman, W McClintock, R D'Eath, D Brainard, J Endler
(1998), Vol. 56, pp. 1035-1040, Animal behaviour, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
The relative success of some methods for measuring and describing the shape of complex objects
T McLellan, J Endler
(1998), Vol. 47, pp. 264-281, Systematic biology, Oxford, Eng., C1-1
Multiple-trait coevolution and environmental gradients in guppies
J Endler
(1995), Vol. 10, pp. 22-29, Trends in ecology & evolution, Cambridge, Mass., C1-1
Geographic variation in female preferences for male traits in Poecilia reticulata
J Endler, A Houde
(1995), Vol. 49, pp. 456-468, Evolution, Chichester, Eng., C1-1
D Reznick, R Baxter, J Endler
(1994), Vol. 34, pp. 452-462, Integrative and Comparative Biology, Oxford, Eng., C1-1
The color of light in forests and its implications
J Endler
(1993), Vol. 63, pp. 1-27, Ecological monographs, Hoboken, N.J., C1-1
Some general comments on the evolution and design of animal communication systems
J Endler
(1993), Vol. 340, pp. 215-225, Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society B: biological sciences, London, Eng., C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
No Funded Projects at Deakin found
Supervisions
No completed student supervisions to report