Dr Aaron Harmer staff profile picture

Contact details +6492136594

Dr Aaron Harmer PhD, BSc(Hons)

Research Officer

School of Natural and Computational Sciences

Professional

Contact details

  • Ph: +64 9 213 6594
    Campus: Oteha Rohe, Albany

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy - Macquarie University (2010)
  • Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Macquarie University (2005)

Research Expertise

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Animal Behaviour (060801): Animal Structure and Function (060807): Behavioural Ecology (060201): Biological Sciences (060000): Ecology (060200): Evolutionary Biology (060300): Zoology (060800)

Research Projects

Summary of Research Projects

Position Current Completed
Project Leader 1 1

Research Outputs

Journal

Madin, EMP., Madin, JS., Harmer, AMT., Barrett, NS., Booth, DJ., Caley, MJ., . . . Sweatman, HPA. (2020). Latitude and protection affect decadal trends in reef trophic structure over a continental scale. Ecology and Evolution. 10(14), 6954-6966
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Madin, EMP., Harborne, AR., Harmer, AMT., Luiz, OJ., Atwood, TB., Sullivan, BJ., . . . Madin, JS. (2019). Marine reserves shape seascapes on scales visible from space. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 286(1901)
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Roper, MM., Harmer, AMT., & Brunton, DH. (2018). Developmental changes in song production in free-living male and female New Zealand bellbirds. Animal Behaviour. 140, 57-71
[Journal article]Authored by: Brunton, D., Harmer, A.
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Madin, JS., Anderson, KD., Andreasen, MH., Bridge, TCL., Cairns, SD., Connolly, SR., . . . Baird, AH. (2017). Corrigendum: The Coral Trait Database, a curated database of trait information for coral species from the global oceans. Scientific data. 4, 170174
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Madin, JS., Anderson, KD., Andreasen, MH., Bridge, TCL., Cairns, SD., Connolly, SR., . . . Baird, AH. (2016). The Coral Trait Database, a curated database of trait information for coral species from the global oceans. SCIENTIFIC DATA. 3
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Parker, KA., Lovegrove, TG., Chambers, R., & Harmer, A. (2016). A guide for banding North Island robin (Petroica longipes) nestlings. New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 43(3), 307-310
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Brunton, DH., Roper, MM., & Harmer, AMT. (2016). Female song rate and structure predict reproductive success in a socially monogamous bird. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 4(MAR)
[Journal article]Authored by: Brunton, D., Harmer, A.
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Harmer, AMT., Clausen, PD., Wroe, S., & Madin, JS. (2015). Large orb-webs adapted to maximise total biomass not rare, large prey. Scientific Reports. 5
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Harmer, AMT., Kokko, H., Herberstein, ME., & Madin, JS. (2012). Optimal web investment in sub-optimal foraging conditions. Naturwissenschaften. 99(1), 65-70
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Herberstein, ME., Wignall, AE., Nessler, SH., Harmer, AMT., & Schneider, JM. (2012). How effective and persistent are fragmentsof male genitalia as mating plugs?. Behavioral Ecology. 23(5), 1140-1145
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A., Wignall, A.
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Harmer, AMT., Blackledge, TA., Madin, JS., & Herberstein, ME. (2011). High-performance spider webs: Integrating biomechanics, ecology and behaviour. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 8(57), 457-471
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Herberstein, ME., Schneider, JM., Harmer, AMT., Gaskett, AC., Robinson, K., Shaddick, K., . . . Elgar, MA. (2011). Sperm storage and copulation duration in a sexually cannibalistic spider. Journal of Ethology. 29(1), 9-15
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Harmer, AMT., & Herberstein, ME. (2010). Functional diversity of ladder-webs: Moth specialization or optimal area use?. Journal of Arachnology. 38(1), 119-122
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Harmer, AMT. (2009). Elongated orb-webs of Australian ladder-web spiders (Araneidae: Telaprocera) and the significance of orb-web elongation. Journal of Ethology. 27(3), 453-460
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Harmer, AMT., & Herberstein, ME. (2009). Taking it to extremes: what drives extreme web elongation in Australian ladder web spiders (Araneidae: Telaprocera maudae)?. Animal Behaviour. 78(2), 499-504
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Harmer, AMT., & Framenau, VW. (2008). Telaprocera (Araneae: Araneidae), a new genus of Australian orb-web spiders with highly elongated webs. Zootaxa. (1956), 59-80
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Mankin, RW., Lemon, M., Harmer, AMT., Evans, CS., & Taylor, PW. (2008). Time-pattern and frequency analyses of sounds produced by irradiated and untreated male Bactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae) during mating behavior. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 101(3), 664-674
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Perez-Staples, D., Harmer, AMT., Collins, SR., & Taylor, PW. (2008). Potential for pre-release diet supplements to increase the sexual performance and longevity of male Queensland fruit flies. Agricultural and Forest Entomology. 10(3), 255-262
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Perez-Staples, D., Harmer, AMT., & Taylor, PW. (2007). Sperm storage and utilization in female Queensland fruit flies (Bactrocera tryoni). Physiological Entomology. 32(2), 127-135
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Harmer, AMT., Radhakrishnan, P., & Taylor, PW. (2006). Remating inhibition in female Queensland fruit flies: Effects and correlates of sperm storage. Journal of Insect Physiology. 52(2), 179-186
[Journal article]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Conference

Wignall, A., & Harmer, A. (2018, April). Better the devil you know: familiarity reduces contest aggression in spiders. Presented at 67th Entomological Society of New Zealand Conference. Whanganui, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Harmer, A., Wignall, A.
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Harmer, AMT., Clausen, P., Wroe, S., & Madin, JS. (2017, April). Crash-testing spider webs to test the rare large prey hypothesis. Presented at The 66th Entomological Society of New Zealand Conference. Wellington, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Harmer, AMT., & Thomas, DB.pathtrackr: An r package for video tracking and analysing animal movement.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Harmer, A., Thomas, D.
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Harmer, AMT., Clausen, P., Wroe, S., & Madin, JS. (2015). Crash-testing spider webs to test the rare large prey hypothesis. Poster session presented at the meeting of 34th International Ethological Conference. Cairns, Australia
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Harmer, AMT., & Wroe, S. (2012, August). Adaptive engineering of spider webs: how do behaviour, materials and ecology interact to determine prey capture performance?. Presented at 14th International Behavioural Ecology Congress. Lund, Sweden.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Harmer, A.
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Other

Harmer, AMT., & Thomas, DB. (2017). pathtrackr: An R package for video tracking and analysing animal movement.
[Other]Authored by: Harmer, A., Thomas, D.

Teaching and Supervision

Courses Coordinated

Contact Supervisor

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Co-supervisor 4 2

Current Doctoral Supervision

Co-supervisor of:

  • Jacques De Satge - Doctor of Philosophy
    The function of New Zealand mangrove forests as wildlife habitats and effect of mangrove removal on banded rails (Gallirallus phillippensis)
  • Irene Middleton - Doctor of Philosophy
    Detecting and predicting the dispersal and naturalisation of foreign marine species on New Zealand reefs
  • Abigail Kuranchie - Doctor of Philosophy
    Assessing the role of marginal and degraded habitats in species conservation
  • Mehrnaz Tavasoli - Doctor of Philosophy
    Behavioural plasticity in common blackbird (Turdus merula): exploration, responses to novelty, and reproductive success

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Co-supervisor of:

  • 2020 - Wesley Webb - Doctor of Philosophy
    New horizons for female birdsong: evolution, culture and analysis tools
  • 2018 - Michelle Roper - Doctor of Philosophy
    Sexual dimorphism of song and life history trade-offs in the New Zealand bellbird.