Research Output per year
Personal profile
Biography
I have examined the evolutionary consequences of sperm competition for male and female reproductive physiology in house mice (Mus domesticus), at the whole organism and gametic levels. I have combined field based population approaches with experimental evolution in the laboratory, and used novel in vitro fertilisation (IVF) technologies to explore the hypothesis that sperm competition generates sexual conflict over fertilisation. Currently, I am interested in determining whether males and/or females use paternity biasing mechanisms to increase the production of male or female offspring under specific conditions. I also tend to explore the phenomenon of sexual conflict (misalignment of mother/sire interests) over sex allocation among offspring. My most recent investigations have extended to the native sandy inland mouse (Pseudomys hermannsburgensis). I intend to further develop my studies of native species in the future.
Funding overview
2014-2016: Australian Research Council (Discovery Early Career Researcher Award; Fellowship/project funding; $393 000)
2014: UWA Research Collaboration Award ($17 000)
2010-2012: Australian Research Council (Postdoctoral Fellowship and Discovery Project; $390 000)
2009/2011: UWA Research Development Award ($30 000)
2010/2013: Fortescue Metals Group Pty. Ltd. Research Contribution ($50 000)
2010: Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Research Grant (£5 000)
2014: UWA Research Collaboration Award ($17 000)
2010-2012: Australian Research Council (Postdoctoral Fellowship and Discovery Project; $390 000)
2009/2011: UWA Research Development Award ($30 000)
2010/2013: Fortescue Metals Group Pty. Ltd. Research Contribution ($50 000)
2010: Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Research Grant (£5 000)
Previous positions
2013 UWA Postdoctoral Researcher
2010-2012 Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow (UWA)
2009 Centre for Evolutionary Biology (UWA) Postdoctoral Researcher
2010-2012 Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow (UWA)
2009 Centre for Evolutionary Biology (UWA) Postdoctoral Researcher
Current projects
1. Sperm competition and adaptive sex allocation (collaborator: Dr Paco Garcia-Gonzalez, Donaña Biological Station, Sevilla, Spain)
2. In vitro sperm competition and sperm selection in house mice (collaborator: Prof Leigh Simmons, University of Western Australia)
3. Polyandry and a selfish genetic element in house mice (collaborator: Dr Anna Lindholm, University of Zurich, Switzerland)
4. Mating systems and ovulation mode among mammals (collaborator: Dr Ines Klemme, University of Jyväskylä, Finland)
5. Mating systems and gene expression in house mice (collaborator: A/Prof Matt Dean, University of Southern California, USA)
2. In vitro sperm competition and sperm selection in house mice (collaborator: Prof Leigh Simmons, University of Western Australia)
3. Polyandry and a selfish genetic element in house mice (collaborator: Dr Anna Lindholm, University of Zurich, Switzerland)
4. Mating systems and ovulation mode among mammals (collaborator: Dr Ines Klemme, University of Jyväskylä, Finland)
5. Mating systems and gene expression in house mice (collaborator: A/Prof Matt Dean, University of Southern California, USA)
Teaching overview
2011-2013 Experimental Biology 4404 (Supervisor for research component)
Research
The evolutionary implications of sperm competition in mammals
Keywords
- Postcopulatory sexual selection
- Sperm competition
- Selective fertilisation
- Adaptive sex allocation
- Mammals
- House mice
- Native rodents
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- 17 Similar Profiles
Mus musculus
Agriculture & Biology
sperm competition
Agriculture & Biology
sperm
Earth & Environmental Sciences
spermatozoa
Agriculture & Biology
Spermatozoa
Medicine & Life Sciences
paternity
Earth & Environmental Sciences
polyandry
Agriculture & Biology
testes
Agriculture & Biology
Network
Recent external collaboration on country level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots.
Research Output 2003 2019
Exposure to male-dominated environments during development influences sperm sex ratios at sexual maturity
Lavoie, M. D., Tedeschi, J. N., Garcia-Gonzalez, F. & Firman, R. C., Aug 2019, In : Evolution Letters. 3, 4, p. 392-402 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Open Access
Sex Ratio
Spermatozoa
Social Environment
Social Conditions
Gonadal Steroid Hormones
Limited influence of landscape on the genetic structure of three small mammals in a heterogeneous arid environment
Levy, E., Byrne, M., Huey, J. A., Hillyer, M. J., Firman, R. C. & Ottewell, K. M., Mar 2019, In : Journal of Biogeography. 46, 3, p. 539-551 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Range-wide genetic structure of a cooperative mouse in a semi-arid zone: Evidence for panmixia
Firman, R. C., Ottewell, K. M., Fisher, D. O. & Tedeschi, J. N., 18 Jun 2019, In : Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
semiarid zones
pebble
genetic structure
cooperatives
social structure
1
Citation
(Scopus)
A competitive environment influences sperm production, but not testes tissue composition, in house mice
Firman, R. C., Garcia-Gonzalez, F., Simmons, L. W. & André, G. I., Nov 2018, In : Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 31, 11, p. 1647-1654Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Mus musculus
sperm
testes
spermatozoa
social environment
2
Citations
(Scopus)
Phenotypic plasticity in genitalia: baculum shape responds to sperm competition risk in house mice
André, G. I., Firman, R. C. & Simmons, L. W., 11 Jul 2018, In : Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 285, 1882, 20181086.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
sperm competition
Genitalia
phenotypic plasticity
Mus musculus
genitalia
Datasets
Data from: Female social preference for males that have evolved via monogamy: evidence of a trade-off between pre- and post-copulatory sexually selected traits?
Firman, R. (Creator), Dryad Digital Repository, 10 Sep 2014
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.2v4h6, https://datadryad.org/resource/doi:10.5061/dryad.2v4h6
Dataset
Data from: Experimental evidence for the evolution of the mammalian baculum by sexual selection
Simmons, L. (Creator), Firman, R. (Creator), Dryad Digital Repository, 2 Aug 2013
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.vb229, https://datadryad.org/resource/doi:10.5061/dryad.vb229
Dataset
Male anatomical and sperm data
Firman, R. (Creator), Klemme, I. (Creator), Simmons, L. (Creator), Dryad Digital Repository, 2 May 2013
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.87pk2, https://datadryad.org/resource/doi:10.5061/dryad.87pk2
Dataset
Testis tissue data
Firman, R. (Creator), Garcia-Gonzalez, F. (Creator), Thyer, E. M. (Creator), Wheeler, S. (Creator), Dryad Digital Repository, 20 Jan 2015
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.3t082, https://datadryad.org/resource/doi:10.5061/dryad.3t082
Dataset
Data from: The coevolution of ova defensiveness with sperm competitiveness in house mice
Firman, R. (Creator), Gomendio, M. (Creator), Roldan, E. R. S. (Creator), Simmons, L. (Creator), Dryad Digital Repository, 18 Dec 2013
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.7287d, https://datadryad.org/resource/doi:10.5061/dryad.7287d
Dataset
Projects 2009 2021
Music to her ears: attractive components of ultra-sonic vocalizations in male house mice
Firman, R. & Musolf, K.
University of Western Australia
1/01/16 → 31/12/16
Project: Research
Captive breeding and assisted reproductive technologies in the western pebble-mound mouse
Firman, R. & Fisher, D.
University of Western Australia
1/01/15 → 31/12/15
Project: Research
Under female control: egg defence, adaptive sex allocation, and sperm selection
1/01/14 → 31/12/16
Project: Research
Adaptive sex allocation in a polyandrous mammal.
Firman, R. & Garcia-Gonzalez, F. (.
University of Western Australia
1/01/14 → 31/12/14
Project: Research