My research areas span evolutionary biology, conservation genetics and ecological genomics. At present, I have focussed on investigating the processes responsible for local adaptation of plant species in the Darling range in Western Australia, with the applied goal of delineating seed provenance zones for post-mining habitat rehabilitation. This is particularly important in the southwest floristic region of Western Australia, which is not only a plant biodiversity hotspot but also is experiencing a boom in the resources sector. In the past, I have researched extensively in the field of plant-pollinator adaptation, in particular studying the processes responsible for the evolution and maintenance of pollination systems in the Orchidaceae whereby the plant deceives the pollinator into visiting without offering a nectar reward. I have considerable experience in the application of molecular genetics techniques in ecology and conservation biology, with students studying topics as diverse as quantifying the genetic diversity of rare species, determining the extent of clonal reproduction in plants, and estimating the extent of self-pollination. I also have applied genomic and transcriptomic approaches to ecology and conservation, with the aim of developing methods that more efficiently quantify adaptation and genetic diversity. Recent publications include: Smithson A., Juillet N., Gigord L. D. B. & Macnair M. R. (2007). Is there a positive relationship between phenotypic diversity and reproductive success in rewardless orchids? Ecology 88, 434-442. Internicola A., Juillet N., Smithson A. & Gigord L. D. B. (2006). Experimental investigation of spatial aggregation-dependent reproductive success in a rewardless orchid. Oecologia 150, 435-441. Smithson A. (2006). Pollinator limitation and inbreeding depression in orchid species with and without nectar rewards. New Phytologist 169, 419-430. Cresswell J. C. and Smithson A. (2005). Artificial flowers and pollinators in pollination research. In Pollination Ecology, a Practical Approach. Ed A. Dafni and P. Kevan, IRL Press. Gravendeel B., Smithson A., Slik F. and Schuiteman A. (2004) Epiphytism and pollinator specialization – drivers for orchid diversity? Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 359, 1523-1535. Smithson A. and Gigord L. D. B. (2003). The evolution of empty flowers revisited. American Naturalist 161, 537-552. Smithson A. and Macnair M. R. (2003). Have recent developments in molecular techniques led to greater insight into evolutionary and ecological processes in plant populations? Genes in the Environment, Eds. R. S. Hails, J. E. Beringer and H. C. J. Godfray. Blackwell Publishing. Smithson A. (2002). The evolution of rewardlessness in orchids: reward supplementation experiments with Anacamptis morio. American J. Botany 89, 1579-1587. Gigord L. D. B., Macnair M. R., Stritesky M. and Smithson A. (2002). The potential for floral mimicry in rewardless orchids: an experimental approach. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 269, 1389-1395. Ferdy J. B. and Smithson A. (2002). Bumblebee behaviour and selfing rates in unrewarding inflorescences. Evolutionary Ecology 16, 155-175. Gigord L. D. B., Macnair M. R. and Smithson A. (2001). Negative frequency-dependent selection maintains a dramatic flower colour polymorphism in the rewardless orchid Dactylorhiza sambucina. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 6253-6255. Smithson A. and Gigord L. D. B. (2001). Are there advantages in being a rewardless orchid? Reward supplementation experiments with Barlia robertiana. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 268, 1-7. Smithson A. (2001). Pollinator preference, frequency-dependence, and floral evolution. In Cognitive Ecology of Pollination: Animal Behaviour and Floral Evolution. Eds Chittka L. and Thomson J. D., pp 237-258, Cambridge University Press. | 
