Skin in the game: biomimetics, fitness and the springtail cuticle

This Project aims to examine the relationship between cuticle (skin) properties, water balance, and fitness in springtails - key players in soil systems. Springtail cuticles are diverse, responsive, and resistant to wetting. The project innovatively combines biomimetics - the application of nature's innovations to human problems - with biosecurity - understanding and managing the threats posed by invasive species. Expected outcomes are new information to harness for industry the diversity of nature’s self-cleaning, water repellent surfaces and new means to lower biosecurity risks to Australia’s important soil ecosystems. Significant benefits lie in potential new manufacturing options for self-cleaning surfaces and better biosecurity.