Dr Mark Blacket | Print |

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Dr Mark Blacket
CESAR & Dept Zoology

Bio21 Institute
University of Melbourne
Vic 3010

Tel: +613 834 2281
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Research Interest:

  • Vertebrate and invertebrate phylogeography and speciation.
  • Investigating the evolutionary history of species: understanding their responses to past climate changes.
  • Molecular population and quantitative genetics: identifying genes underlying adaptive responses to climatic stress in invertebrates.

Qualification PhD. La Trobe University 2001.

Current Research:

Assessing geographical genetic variation in rainforest species.  

Climatic adaptation candidate genes: Gp

Research:

  • 2007-2009:  Population genetics, hybridisation, cytology and the evolution of parthenogenesis in Western Australian stick insects (Sipyloidea spp.).  University of Melbourne.
  • 2005-2007:  Molecular population and quantitative genetics: identifying genes underlying adaptive responses to climatic stress in invertebrates.  University of Melbourne & Monash University.
  • 2003-2004:  i) Comparative phylogeography of saproxylic invertebrates, and ii) The evolution of parthenogenesis in the grasshopper Warramaba virgo.  La Trobe University
  • 2001-2002:  Conservation genetics of Arabian mammals.  Zoological Society of London
  • 1995-2000:  Systematics and evolution within the dasyurid marsupial subfamily Sminthopsinae.  La Trobe University 

Publication List:

van Heerwaarden B., V. Kellermann, M. Schiffer, M.J. Blacket, C. Sgro, & A.A. Hoffmann (2009) Testing evolutionary hypotheses about species borders: Patterns of genetic variation in  two rainforest Drosophila and a related species. Proceedings of the Royal Society B in press.
 
Kearney M., & M.J. Blacket (2008) The evolution of sexual and parthenogenetic Warramaba: a window onto Plio-Pleistocene diversification processes in an arid biome. Molecular Ecology 17: 5257-5275.
 
Blacket M.J., C. Kemper, R. Brandle (2008) Planigales (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) of eastern Australia’s interior: a comparison of morphology, distributions and habitat preferences, with particular emphasis on South Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 56: 195-205
 
York K. L., M. J. Blacket, & B. R. Appleton (2008) The Bassian Isthmus and the major ocean currents of southeastern Australia influence the phylogeography and population structure of southern Australian intertidal barnacle, Catomerus polymerus (Darwin).  Molecular Ecology 17: 1948-1961.
 
Hoffmann A. A., E. Ratna, C. M. Sgrò, M. Barton, M. J. Blacket, R. Hallas, S. De Garis, & A. R. Weeks (2007) Antagonistic selection between adult thorax and wing size in field released Drosophila melanogaster independent of thermal conditions. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 20: 2219-2227.
 
Rako L., M. J. Blacket, S. McKechnie & A. A. Hoffmann (2007) Gene candidates and thermal traits: identifying ecologically important genetic variation using a single population of Drosophila melanogaster from the east coast of Australia.  Molecular Ecology 16: 2948-2957.
 
Schiffer M., W. J. Kennington, A. A. Hoffmann, & M. J. Blacket (2007) Lack of genetic structure among ecologically adapted populations of an Australian rainforest Drosophila species as indicated by microsatellite markers and mitochondrial DNA sequences.  Molecular Ecology 16: 1687-1700.
 
Sunnucks P., M. J. Blacket, J. M. Taylor, C. J. Sands, S. A. Ciavaglia, R. C. Garrick, N. N. Tait, D. M. Rowell & A. Pavlova (2006) A tale of two flatties: different responses of two terrestrial flatworms to past environmental climatic fluctuations at Tallaganda in montane south-eastern Australia.  Molecular Ecology 15: 4513-4531.
 
Runciman D., M. J. Blacket, C. Schmuki & P. Sunnucks (2006) Polymorphic population genetic markers for the Australian wood cockroach Panesthia australis.  Molecular Ecology Notes 6: 765-766.
Schmuki C., M.J. Blacket, & P. Sunnucks (2006) Anonymous scnDNA markers for  two endemic log-dwelling beetles: Apasis puncticeps and Adelium calosomoides (Tenebrionidae: Lagriinae: Adeliini).  Molecular Ecology Notes  6: 362-364.
 
Blacket M. J., S. Cooper, C. Krajewski & M. Westerman (2006) Systematics and evolution of the dasyurid marsupial genus Sminthopsis: II. The Murina group. Journal of Mammalian Evolution  13: 125-138.
 
Kearney M., M. J. Blacket, J. L. Strasburg, & C. Moritz (2006) Waves of parthenogenesis in the desert: evidence for the parallel loss of sex in a grasshopper and a gecko from Australia. Molecular Ecology FAST-TRACK 15: 1743-1748.
 
Hansen B. D., P. Sunnucks, M. Blacket & A. C. Taylor (2005) A set of microsatellite markers for an endangered arboreal marsupial, Leadbeater’s possum.  Molecular Ecology Notes  5: 796-799.
 
Crowther M. & M. J. Blacket (2003) Why are there so many dasyurids? Speciation of the Dasyuridae.  Chapter 8 in Predators with Pouches: The biology of Carnivorous Marsupials eds. M. Jones, C. Dickman and M. Archer.  pp 124-130.
 
Blacket M. J., M. Adams, S. Cooper, C. Krajewski, & M. Westerman (2001) Systematics and evolution of the dasyurid marsupial genus Sminthopsis: I. The Macroura group. Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 8: 149-170.
 
Blacket M. J., M. Adams, C. Krajewski, & M. Westerman (2000) Genetic variation within the dasyurid marsupial genus Planigale. Australian Journal of Zoology. 48: 443-459.
 
Krajewski C., M. J. Blacket, & M. Westerman (2000) DNA sequence analysis of familial relationships among Dasyuromorphian marsupials. Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 7: 95-108
 
Blacket, M. J., C. Krajewski, A. Labrinidis, B. Cambron, S. Cooper, & M. Westerman (1999) Systematic relationships within the dasyurid marsupial tribe Sminthopsini – a multigene approach. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 12: 140-155.
 
Krajewski C., M.J. Blacket, L. Buckley, & M. Westerman (1997) A Multigene Assessment of Phylogenetic Relationships within the Dasyurid Marsupial Subfamily Sminthopsinae.  Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution  8: 236-248.