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Dr Theresa Rueger

Dr Theresa Rueger

Marie Skłodowska Curie Research Fellow

 

Overview

My research focuses on behavioural ecology and evolutionary ecology, specifically the evolution of social and mating systems and population dynamics such as dipersal and small scale patterns of relatedness. Thus far I have used coral reef fishes to address questions of pair formation, monogamous vs polygamous matings, self-recruitment and kin cohesion. My current work utilizes long-term behavioural experiments, molecular tools and evolutionary modelling to understand social evolution in two key model species; the emerald coral goby, Paragobiodon xanthosomus, and the clown anemonefish, Amphiprion percula. Since 2012 my field work has been taking place in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, where I am involved in education and community awareness programs. I am currently on secondment at Boston University, under supervision of Prof Peter Buston. 

Qualifications

2017

PhD, James Cook University

2011

Graduate Diploma of Scientific Methods, James Cook University

2010

Bachelor of Science, Christian Albrecht University

Career

2019- present

Marie Skłodowska Curie Fellow, Boston University/University of Exeter

2017- 2019

Senior Project Consultant (Ecology), SLR Consulting

2017

Teaching associate, Monash University

2017

Teaching assistant, James Cook University

2011- 2015

Resident researcher, Mahonia Na Dari Science and Education Centre

Links

Research group links

Research

Research interests

  • Behavioural ecology
  • Molecular ecology
  • Social evolution
  • Reproductive skew
  • Dispersal

Publications

Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year

Publications by category


Journal articles

Francis RK, Catalano KA, Majoris JE, Rueger T, D’Aloia CC, Bogdanowicz S, Buston PM (2022). Characteristics of breeding habitat, genetic mating system, and determinants of male mating success in the sponge-dwelling goby Elacatinus lori. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 76(12). Abstract.
Rueger T, Heatwole SJ, Wong MYL (2022). Social rank and species-specific differences influence cooperation and conflict in anemonefish societies. Animal Behaviour, 187, 105-116.
Rueger T, Buston PM, Bogdanowicz SM, Wong MY (2021). Genetic relatedness in social groups of the emerald coral goby Paragobiodon xanthosoma creates potential for weak kin selection. Mol Ecol, 30(5), 1311-1321. Abstract.  Author URL.
Rueger T, Branconi R, Froehlich CYM, Heatwole SJ, Wong MYL, Buston PM (2021). The Next Frontier in Understanding the Evolution of Coral Reef Fish Societies. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8 Abstract.
Rueger T, Harrison HB, Buston PM, Gardiner NM, Berumen ML, Jones GP (2020). Natal philopatry increases relatedness within groups of coral reef cardinalfish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 287(1930). Abstract.
Barbasch TA, Rueger T, Srinivasan M, Wong MYL, Jones GP, Buston PM (2020). Substantial plasticity of reproduction and parental care in response to local resource availability in a wild clownfish population. Oikos, 129(12), 1844-1855. Abstract.
Rueger T, Harrison HB, Gardiner NM, Berumen ML, Jones GP (2019). Extra‐pair mating in a socially monogamous and paternal mouth‐brooding cardinalfish. Molecular Ecology, 28(10), 2625-2635.
Giffin AL, Rueger T, Jones GP (2019). Ontogenetic shifts in microhabitat use and coral selectivity in three coral reef fishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 102(1), 55-67.
Rueger T, Barbasch TA, Wong MYL, Srinivasan M, Jones GP, Buston PM (2018). Reproductive control via the threat of eviction in the clown anemonefish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 285(1891), 20181295-20181295. Abstract.
Rueger T, Gardiner NM, Jones GP (2017). Site fidelity facilitates pair formation in aggregations of coral reef cardinalfish. Oecologia, 186(2), 425-434.
Rueger T, Gardiner NM, Jones GP (2016). Homing is not for everyone: displaced cardinalfish find a new place to live. Journal of Fish Biology, 89(4), 2182-2188.
Rueger T, Gardiner NM, Jones GP (2016). Size matters: male and female mate choice leads to size-assortative pairing in a coral reef cardinalfish. Behavioral Ecology, arw082-arw082.
Rueger T, Harrison HB, Jones GP, Mansour H, Berumen ML (2015). Resolving genealogical relationships in the Pyjama cardinalfish, Sphaeramia nematoptera (Apogonidae) with 23 novel microsatellite markers. Conservation Genetics Resources, 7(3), 623-626.
Rueger T, Gardiner NM, Jones GP (2014). Relationships between pair formation, site fidelity and sex in a coral reef cardinalfish. Behavioural Processes, 107, 119-126.
Rüger T, Sommer U (2012). Warming does not always benefit the small – Results from a plankton experiment. Aquatic Botany, 97(1), 64-68.

Publications by year


2022

Francis RK, Catalano KA, Majoris JE, Rueger T, D’Aloia CC, Bogdanowicz S, Buston PM (2022). Characteristics of breeding habitat, genetic mating system, and determinants of male mating success in the sponge-dwelling goby Elacatinus lori. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 76(12). Abstract.
Rueger T, Heatwole SJ, Wong MYL (2022). Social rank and species-specific differences influence cooperation and conflict in anemonefish societies. Animal Behaviour, 187, 105-116.

2021

Rueger T, Buston PM, Bogdanowicz SM, Wong MY (2021). Genetic relatedness in social groups of the emerald coral goby Paragobiodon xanthosoma creates potential for weak kin selection. Mol Ecol, 30(5), 1311-1321. Abstract.  Author URL.
Rueger T, Branconi R, Froehlich CYM, Heatwole SJ, Wong MYL, Buston PM (2021). The Next Frontier in Understanding the Evolution of Coral Reef Fish Societies. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8 Abstract.

2020

Rueger T, Harrison HB, Buston PM, Gardiner NM, Berumen ML, Jones GP (2020). Natal philopatry increases relatedness within groups of coral reef cardinalfish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 287(1930). Abstract.
Barbasch TA, Rueger T, Srinivasan M, Wong MYL, Jones GP, Buston PM (2020). Substantial plasticity of reproduction and parental care in response to local resource availability in a wild clownfish population. Oikos, 129(12), 1844-1855. Abstract.

2019

Rueger T, Harrison HB, Gardiner NM, Berumen ML, Jones GP (2019). Extra‐pair mating in a socially monogamous and paternal mouth‐brooding cardinalfish. Molecular Ecology, 28(10), 2625-2635.
Giffin AL, Rueger T, Jones GP (2019). Ontogenetic shifts in microhabitat use and coral selectivity in three coral reef fishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 102(1), 55-67.

2018

Rueger T, Barbasch TA, Wong MYL, Srinivasan M, Jones GP, Buston PM (2018). Reproductive control via the threat of eviction in the clown anemonefish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 285(1891), 20181295-20181295. Abstract.

2017

Rueger T, Gardiner NM, Jones GP (2017). Site fidelity facilitates pair formation in aggregations of coral reef cardinalfish. Oecologia, 186(2), 425-434.

2016

Rueger T, Gardiner NM, Jones GP (2016). Homing is not for everyone: displaced cardinalfish find a new place to live. Journal of Fish Biology, 89(4), 2182-2188.
Rueger T, Gardiner NM, Jones GP (2016). Size matters: male and female mate choice leads to size-assortative pairing in a coral reef cardinalfish. Behavioral Ecology, arw082-arw082.

2015

Rueger T, Harrison HB, Jones GP, Mansour H, Berumen ML (2015). Resolving genealogical relationships in the Pyjama cardinalfish, Sphaeramia nematoptera (Apogonidae) with 23 novel microsatellite markers. Conservation Genetics Resources, 7(3), 623-626.

2014

Rueger T, Gardiner NM, Jones GP (2014). Relationships between pair formation, site fidelity and sex in a coral reef cardinalfish. Behavioural Processes, 107, 119-126.

2012

Rüger T, Sommer U (2012). Warming does not always benefit the small – Results from a plankton experiment. Aquatic Botany, 97(1), 64-68.

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