Wildlife at the Watering Hole - October 2024 - Dr Soleille Miller

Dr Soleille Miller

Theory predicts that parthenogenesis, the ability to reproduce asexually, could offer advantages over sexual reproduction in nature. Yet, paradoxically, parthenogenetic lineages rarely persist over evolutionary timescales. Facultative parthenogens – species capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction – represent a stepping stone to the evolution of obligate asexuality and thus provide useful models to investigate the early stages of transitions to parthenogenesis. My research focuses on a facultatively parthenogenetic stick insect native to Australia, aiming to understand the early consequences of transitioning to parthenogenesis in a natural environment. I examine the population genetics of this species in the wild and compare the phenotypic and ecological differences between its two reproductive modes. My findings highlight that the impacts of parthenogenesis are highly context-dependent and provide insights into why such transitions may succeed or fail over evolutionary time.

About Soleille:

I’m passionate about advancing the fields of ecology, evolution, and wildlife conservation through the study of genomics. My expertise in genomics is versatile and applicable across species and disciplines, evidenced by the history of my scientific career. My journey began during my undergrad where I did research on behavioral ecology, genetics, and epigenetics in the common snapping turtle in Minnesota. Then, I travelled to Sydney for my PhD at UNSW, which explored the population genetics and evolutionary consequences of parthenogenesis in the peppermint stick insect. With my PhD now submitted, I’m diving into two new and exciting projects: one investigating how maternal age influences offspring gene expression in springtails, and another focused on understanding the genetic diversity of one of Australia’s most endangered birds, the orange-bellied parrot.