Understanding how the brains and sensory systems of animals in the real world have been shaped by their environment and behavioural needs
With questions such as, Why are shrimps like satellites? Why are reef fish colourful? and Why are octopus colour blind?, research in the Marshall laboratory is focussed on visual neuroscience and visual ecology in Australia’s vibrant marine environment.
Sometimes called Neuroethology this field of research involves both lab and field-based neuroscience. It aims at understanding how the brains and sensory systems of animals in the real world have been shaped by their environment and behavioural needs.
Group leader
Professor Emeritus Justin Marshall
Group Leader, Sensory neurobiology group
+61 7 334 51397
justin.marshall@uq.edu.au
UQ Researcher Profile
@ecovisuq
Marshall Lab
Sensory Neurobiology Group website
CoralWatch
Our approach
The Marshall group’s work is based around crustacean (e.g., mantis shrimp), cephalopod (e.g., octopus), and fish eye and brain structure and function. This comparative and whole of system approach to understanding vertebrate and invertebrate vision includes anatomical, electrophysiological, molecular (transcriptomics) and behavioural methods, along with the physical quantifying light in the natural environment.
Research areas
- Visual ecology
- Visual neuroscience
- Colour vision
- Polarisation vision
- Behavioural ecology
- Coral reef and deep-sea ecology
Alumni
- Kerstin Fritsches
- Uli Siebeck
- Meri Peach
- Hing Ang
- Sonja Kleinlogel
- Tom Lisney
- Devi Stuart-Fox
- Sam Waller P
- Chris Talbot P
- Connor Champ P
- Adrian Flynn P
- Andy Dunstan DA P
- Amy Newman
- Hanne Thoen DA P
- Genevieve Phillips P
- Anne Winters
- Rachel Templin P
- Sara Ostlund-Nilsson
- Nathan Hart
- Lydia Mathger
- Karen Cheney
- Lotta Skogh
- Vincenzo Pignatelli
- Tsyr-Huei (Short) Chiou
- Martin How
- Shelby Temple
- Yi-Hsin Li
- Yakir Gagnon
- Sara Stieb
- Miriam Henze