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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

Poulin, R. (2024). Evolution of parasitological knowledge: can the past inform the future? Trends in Parasitology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.10.011 Journal - Research Other

Martins, P. M., & Poulin, R. (2024). Universal versus taxon-specific drivers of helminth prevalence and intensity of infection. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 291, 20241673. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.1673 Journal - Research Article

Koellsch, C., Poulin, R., & Salloum, P. M. (2024). What shapes a microbiome? Differences in bacterial communities associated with helminth-amphipod interactions. International Journal for Parasitology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2024.08.005 Journal - Research Article

Koellsch, C., Poulin, R., & Salloum, P. M. (2024). Microbial artists: The role of parasite microbiomes in explaining colour polymorphism among amphipods and potential link to host manipulation. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/jeb/voae085 Journal - Research Article

Poulin, R., Salloum, P. M., & Bennett, J. (2024). Evolution of parasites in the Anthropocene: New pressures, new adaptive directions. Biological Reviews. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/brv.13118 Journal - Research Article

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