Fruit flies are among the world’s most destructive horticultural pests, posing significant threats to global agriculture. The Zeugodacus tau complex, commonly known as the pumpkin fruit fly, is particularly problematic due to its unresolved species delimitations. Addressing these taxonomic ambiguities is crucial for Australia’s biosecurity and for developing effective pest management strategies.
Aim: This PhD project aims to untangle the taxonomy of the 21-species Zeugodacus tau complex using a combination of molecular, morphological, and biological evidence. The project will enhance species delimitation and establish the relationship between different forms of the species that are associated with specific host plants and species which are formally described in the literature. Additionally, there is scope for population genomic analyses of species pairs of interest, such as Zeugodacus tricuspidatae and Zeugodacus trichosanthes, to provide insights into their evolutionary relationships, population structures and potential adaptations to different environments or hosts.
Meed the PhD student for this project
Claudio Cipriani
“I’m a PhD student at James Cook University in collaboration with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries.
“My research focuses on the systematics of a fruit fly (Tephritidae) species complex, integrating morphology and genomics to better understand evolutionary relationships.
“During my BSc and MSc at ‘Sapienza’ University of Rome, I worked on Diptera taxonomy with the LIT protocol, pollination networks in Mediterranean dune ecosystems, and wild bee conservation assessments for an IUCN Red List project.
“I’m passionate about biodiversity, phylogeny and ecosystem interactions, and committed to translating this biological complexity into actionable science for the conservation of nature.”
Supervisors and advisors
Professor Darren Crayn, James Cook University.
Professor Lori Lach, James Cook University
Associate Professor Megan Head, The Australian National University.
Dr Melissa Starkie, Biosecurity Queensland, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Dr Mark Schutze, Biosecurity Queensland, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Dr Ed Gilding, Biosecurity Queensland, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Approach
The project will include the following tasks:
- Collaborative Research: Work closely with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and regularly visit their premises to ensure the project’s alignment with biosecurity goals.
- Species Delimitation: Employ an integrative taxonomic framework to unite morphological, genetic, and biological data for precise species delimitation.
- Field Collections and Collaborations: Source material through new field collections and collaborations with Asian colleagues, and utilize specimens from the Queensland Primary Industries Insect Collection (QDPC).
- Genomic Analyses: Conduct population genomic analyses to compare species pairs and elucidate differences in populations across geographical regions and host plants.
Want to know more? Email claudio.cipriani@my.jcu.edu.au.