Honours student

My research project is focused on assessing the implications of applying generalised techniques, such as allometric relationships, to predict lizard surface area when estimating rates of water loss. To do so, I am capturing the surface area of a large diversity of lizards using novel 3D-scanning and processing techniques. Additionally, I will assess the implications of erroneous surface area measurements on water loss rate estimations.

Climate change is intensifying at an unprecedented rate, increasing species’ vulnerability to extinction – especially ectotherms. Thus, the findings of this study may be able to contribute to improving estimations of lizard vulnerability to increasing climate change, and provide future researchers with a novel, accurate technique to capture surface area when studying water/heat loss in lizards, and possibly many other organisms.