Michael Thompson

Professor Michael Thompson serves as Professor Emeritus in Zoology within the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney. His career has centered on advancing understanding in vertebrate reproductive biology, with a particular emphasis on physiological and morphological adaptations enabling viviparity across diverse taxa. Thompson's investigations explore the evolution of placentation, the development of extraembryonic membranes, and uterine modifications during pregnancy in reptiles, sharks, seahorses, and marsupials. He has also dedicated significant effort to the ecology and conservation of Australian freshwater turtles, examining factors such as nest site selection, predation pressures, and population dynamics.

Thompson has produced over 322 peer-reviewed publications, amassing more than 11,000 citations as documented on Google Scholar, underscoring his enduring influence in evolutionary physiology and herpetology. Notable contributions include 'Neglected taxonomy and continuing extinctions of tuatara (Sphenodon)' published in Nature in 1990, 'The significance of predation in nest site selection of turtles: an experimental consideration of macro- and microhabitat preferences' in Oikos in 2003, 'Evolution of placentation among squamate reptiles: recent research and future directions' in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A in 2000, 'Populations of the Murray River tortoise, Emydura (Chelodina): the effect of egg predation by the red fox, Vulpes vulpes' in Wildlife Research in 1983, 'A review of the evolution of viviparity in lizards: structure, function and physiology of the placenta' in Journal of Comparative Physiology B in 2006, and 'Experimental analysis of the impact of foxes on freshwater turtle populations' in Conservation Biology in 2005. Recent works continue his focus, such as 'Opportunities for research and conservation of freshwater turtles in Australia' in 2023 and 'Evolution of Placentation in Eugongylini (Squamata: Scincidae)' in 2024. These studies provide foundational insights into reproductive strategies and conservation challenges faced by ectothermic vertebrates.

Professional Email: mtho5575@mail.usyd.edu.au