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© Biodiversity Research Group

Biodiversity Research Group Members

Head of Group

Professor Salit Kark


Salit Kark is a Professor at the School of Biological Sciences, the University of Queensland, Brisbane (Australia). Salit is the Head of the Biodiversity Research Group, andhas served as Deputy Director of the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation science at UQ. Kark joined the University of Queensland in 2013, undertaking an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow and was a Chief Investigator and Theme Leader of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (CEED; 2011-2018). Kark is Chief Investigator of the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Threatened Species Recovery Hub; 2015-2021. She is the Project Leader for the national-scale Project she initiated: Saving Species on Australian Islands. Kark is an ecologist and conservation scientist with interest in conservation prioritisation in terrestrial, freshwater and marine systems, and the role of collaboration in conservation, biodiversity and its spatial patterns and processes in a changing world, biotic invasions (and especially birds). urban ecology, island conservation, ecological gradients (ecotones), in enhancing the links between science, practice and policy and in incorporating Indigenous Ecological Knowledge into conservation. She has led working groups linking these actors and several continental and national scale projects in Europe, the Mediterranean, Australia and other regions.

More Information About Salit…



Salit

Post-doctoral Fellows

Dr Peter Baxter

Peter is a Senior Research Fellow working on Prof Kark’s “Saving species on Australian islands” project, within the NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub.

Peter’s expertise is in modelling challenges in conservation and invasion biology, with a particular interest in the efficient allocation of resources for conservation and environmental management. His research typically links ecological models with decision theory, using quantitative approaches to explore optimal ways of managing populations and species of concern.

Peter’s current research with the Kark group involves compiling and analysing databases of threatened species and invasive species on islands, which will assist in identifying gaps and opportunities for conservation management.

Peter holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management from the University of California, Berkeley; a B.A. (Mod.; Environmental Sciences) from Trinity College Dublin; and Diploma in Actuarial Techniques from the Institute of Actuaries, London. He has previously held postdoctoral positions at the University of Melbourne, University of Queensland, and Queensland University of Technology and was a lecturer with UQ’s Centre for Applications in Natural Resource Mathematics.

http://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/1624

http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=1wxQn6cAAAAJ

Dr Andrew M. Rogers

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PhD Thesis: Interactions between native and invasive cavity-nesting bird species in Australia
My primary research interests include species’ use of highly transformed habitats, conservation management in human-dominated landscapes and habitat restoration. I am particularly interested in the impact of invasive species on native community assembly and function. Recent work has included quantifying novel ecosystem support of native species, invasive species distribution mapping, and resource use by native species in human-modified habitats.

My current research explores why certain species do well in human-dominated habitats, and how introduced species impact native community interactions. To answer these questions I am examining how the presence of the non-native Common Mynah and the native Noisy Miner affect bird communities in southeast Queensland, Australia. The outcomes of this work will help to inform conservation policy for native species as well as management plans for invasive species.

Selected Publications

Rogers, A., Chown, S. 2014. Novel ecosystems support substantial avian assemblages: The case of invasive alien Acacia thickets. Diversity and Distributions, vol: 20 (1), pp: 34-45 Adobe_PDF_icon

Contact
Email: a.munro.rogers@gmail.com
ResearchGate Profile: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew_Rogers7


Research Students 

Mitchell Eddie

I grew up on a farm in rural Queensland in Roma and as an associate of the local Wildlife Caring Group I always had critters running around the house. I really enjoyed the exposure I had to the natural environment and animals (both our farm and native animals) and the allure of exploring different parts of the world has drawn me into now studying a BAdvSc with an Ecology specialisation. Brisbane is quite a change of pace from my quiet country life but I am grateful to be closer to the beach.

My interest in ecology and zoology is quite broad, unlike a lot of others in this field who are passionate about small and specific areas of study. Hopefully with my honours year approaching I can narrow down my interests and find my own niche. In this semester I have started doing so with a semester research project on the conservation of the Pale Imperial Hairstreak Butterfly.

Lauren Ohayon

My name is Lauren, and I am from Toronto, Canada. I completed my undergraduate degree in biology at Western University and went on to complete my first master’s degree at the University of Toronto in forest conservation. During that time, I had the incredible opportunity to conduct a research project focused on corporate stewardship of urban green space, collaborating with a global pharmaceutical company, Sanofi. Currently, I am pursuing my second master’s degree in conservation science at the University of Queensland, where I’m excited to delve into my research project on aerospace conservation. My wider interests include urban conservation, invasive species, and community stewardship.

Ben Brearley

I am in the final part of a Master of Conservation Science, undertaking a semester-long research project under the supervision of Salit Kark. My research will use statistical and spatial tools to focus on threatened species on Australia’s islands and how external factors such as fire or land tenure affect their conservation status compared to the mainland. I am an avid outdoors person with a keen interest in birds and am excited to contribute to the conservation of our country’s unique wildlife.

Tyra Pirrit

I am in my final year of a Bachelor of Environmental Science at the University of Queensland, commencing honours under the supervision of Professor Salit Kark. I will be working on a project focusing on interactions between and among parrot species and other cavity nesting species. I have always had a strong passion for nature and enjoy spending my spare time hiking and photographing wildlife.

Jessica Collins

I am in my final year of a Bachelor of Environmental Science, undertaking honours with the guidance of Professor Salit Kark. My project will explore patterns of threatened and/or invasive species on Australian islands using a recently developed national database. Whether venturing into spatial variation, urbanisation impact, introduced species interactions or species distributions, any area that I find myself focusing on I aim to contribute to conservation implementation.

Samuel Ho

I grew up in Hong Kong, a place known for its concrete jungle, yet I always enjoyed being in the wild looking for critters since I was young. I am currently an undergraduate student at The University of Queensland studying Ecology and Zoology. 

I am passionate about herpetofauna and freshwater fish conservation, which I think are often underappreciated. This includes their threats, ecology, and how they are being traded. Combined with my keen interest in wildlife photography and filming, I hope to contribute to the preservation of these wonderful species by engaging in both research and education. 

Laura Coles

Laura Coles 3  Laura Coles 2  

PhD Student- From the UK to Australia: When a Native Species Becomes an Invader.

I will be completing a joint PhD between the University of Queensland and the University of Exeter (Cornwall, UK), as part of the QUEX Institute, supervised by Salit Kark and Regan Early. My research will focus on invasive species, investigating the drivers behind variation in impacts of the European green crab (Carcinus maenas) between native populations in the UK and invasive populations in Australia. Giving particular attention to the impacts of environmental change and species interaction networks, and working with relevant stakeholders, I hope that this work will aid in the development and implementation of effective management strategies. I have recently completed an MSc by Research degree at the University of Exeter, studying the impacts of stressor interaction on green crab camouflage and antipredator behaviours. Prior to this I completed a BSc (Hons) degree in Marine Biology. I have particular interests in scientific communication and marine conservation, and am the Science Communication Officer for The Rock Pool Project, a UK citizen science NGO.

Anisha Pokharel

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PhD Student: Reducing human-wildlife conflict in natural, agricultural and urban landscapes across boundaries

I am a wildlife biologist from Nepal and recently completed my Master’s degree in Biological Sciences at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA. I will be commencing a joint PhD with IIT Delhi (with Dr Ajay Saini), India and UQ (with Prof Salit Kark). My Master’s thesis was based on prey selection by birds of prey in North America including sharp-shinned hawks, Cooper’s hawks and barn owls. I have had the opportunity to work in a wide range of projects including human-wildlife conflicts in Nepal, behavioural research on vultures, raptor migration in North America and Thailand, and many more. My research interest integrates conservation biology, behavioural ecology and human dimensions. I am very passionate about raising awareness among local communities towards wildlife conservation. In addition, I love traveling, bird watching, photography and writing on my blog.

Contact

Email: anisha.pokharel@uqconnect.edu.au

Junior Novera

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PhD Student: Understanding the Evolution, Ecology and Community Conservation of Mammals on Bougainville, Papua New Guinea

I completed my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) in 2005. The following year I joined the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and then PNG Institute of Biological Research (PNGIBR) in 2008 to undertake an Honours project on Wildlife Hunting and Sustainability in target communities of the Central Highlands region of Papua New Guinea (PNG). In 2009 I went to Lancaster University in the UK under the British Chevening Scholarship to undertake a Masters Degree in Conservation Science. After completing my Masters in 2010 I came back to PNG and worked for PNGIBR as a Conservation Biologist conducting studies on New Guinea mammals and wildlife hunting, biodiversity surveys, community conservation and participated in several consultation work with the Gas and Oil projects in PNG.

My interest in comprehending a myriad of issues surrounding the social and ecological interactions and context between indigenous people and their environment has accumulated over 10 years to understand all aspects of hunting, cultural practices, sustainability and ecosystem services by formulating crucial questions like; Why are communities continually hunting? Where are they hunting? What are they hunting? Who is hunting? These key questions have motivated me to further explore ecology, evolution and community conservation of Melanesian mammals on Bougainville as part of my current PhD project. No one has carried out any thorough studies on the ecology and evolution of mammals on Bougainville since the 1930s when first specimens of mammals were collected. Therefore it is very urgent and crucial to conduct this study on Bougainville which is also an IUCN Biodiversity Hotspot in the Melanesian region. Both biological and cultural data from this study will add new knowledge to the existing scientific information on the ecology, evolution, bioculture, ecosystem services and conservation of mammals on Bougainville, PNG and the region as a whole.

Email: jnovera@gmail.com

Kelsie Youman

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Honours Student

I have recently completed my Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in ecology at the University of Queensland. Starting in 2021, I will be working on an Honours project which will focus on quantifying threats to coastal ecosystems and biodiversity, with particular interest on the impacts to sea turtle nesting sites. I have always had a strong passion for nature and wildlife which developed from a young age and has only grown through my tertiary education. Even though I have never lived close to the ocean, I have always been fascinated by the majestic sea turtle species found around Australia’s coastlines and I am extremely excited to contribute to the conservation of species such as these, as well as the many other species that make up coastal ecosystems.

Contact

Email: k.youman@uq.net.au

Leah Dann


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PhD Student: Understanding barriers to the recruitment of threatened plant species on Norfolk Island

I received a BSc and MSc in Biology from Walla Walla University, where I gained experience in a variety of fields including ecology, molecular biology, and biochemistry. My primary interest lies in conservation science and ecology. I am currently examining the impacts of invasive plant and animal species on native plant recruitment on Norfolk Island. In conjunction with this research, I also plan to explore interactions between native plants, pollinators, and seed dispersers along with anthropogenic and natural factors associated with historical changes in vegetation cover and species dynamics on the island. I hope this work will provide evidence-based recommendations for management strategies on Norfolk Island and reach beyond local conservation to shed light on similar issues in other locations.

Contact

Email: l.dann@uq.edu.au

Vasundhara Krishnani (Tanvi)

Tanvi4

tanvi2      Tanvi3      Tanvi1

PhD Student: Finding alternate sources of livelihood to aid conservation of large threatened mammals

Tanvi is a wildlife conservationist who has completed her Masters in Conservation Science at the University of Queensland and is currently pursuing a joint PhD with IIT Delhi (with Dr Ajay Saini), India and UQ (with Prof Salit Kark). Her Master’s thesis was based on the mitigation measures for human-elephant conflict. She is also working with wildlife filmmaking and has been featured on National Geographic in the film ‘ Giants of the Himalayas’.

Her goal is to protect and conserve wild animals and their habitats by providing them with a wild and free life they deserve. She is an avid photographer and loves to capture nature and its beauty through her camera lens.

Contact

Email: Vasundhara.krishnani@uqconnect.edu.au

James Tweed

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PhD Student: 

I grew up in rural North Canterbury, New Zealand before moving to Dunedin to complete my BSc and MSc and the University of Otago. For my MSc I studied how nocturnal moth communities varied in relation to ecosystem restoration actions, habitat successional stage, and season in the forests around Dunedin. From 2018 to mid-2021 I worked in the private sector on a diverse range of entomological and ecological projects.

In mid-2021 I moved from NZ to Brisbane to begin his PhD within the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Queensland. I am passionate about the conservation of invertebrates and intend to research ways in which we can better identify invertebrate species and communities that require conservation action, particularly when we know so little about most of them. I also plan to include elements of fieldwork into my research and hope to help answer questions about some of Australia’s rare or threatened invertebrate species, the threats they face, and potential conservation actions.

 

Contact

Email: j.tweed@uq.net.au

Annalise Re

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MPhil Student: Assessing changes in biodiversity along urban gradients within the aerospace to inform decision frameworks for the creation of biodiversity friendly cities.

Having just completed my Bachelor of Science in conservation biology and environmental science at the University of Western Australia, I’ve moved to Brisbane to pursue a Master in Philosophy at the University of Queensland with Dr Salit Kark. Throughout my undergraduate degree, and for some time afterwards, I worked concurrently with numerous research scientists in the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. I was able to gain laboratory and field experience relating to fire science, looking at extinction debt, vitality of obligate seeding species and the general decline in health for plant species, particularly Banksia’s, within Fitzgerald National Park. Throughout my time volunteering at Perth Zoo, I also assisted with analysing data on the rehabilitation costs for black cockatoos in order to compare it to other conservation strategies. Finally, I completed a summer research project with the Kings Park and Botanic Gardens Authority, investigating the impact of various disturbances on species community change over time.

I have a very broad range of interests within conservation biology; however, I hope to expand my knowledge and skillset in spatial conservation planning and prioritisation. My research will focus on 3D urban conservation planning for cities, by observing bird activity in the “aerospace” and then attempting to map the vertical habitat space available along an urban gradient. From this study, I hope to be able to identify key aerospace “hotspots” for biodiversity. 3D modelling of Brisbane combined with data from the field and available literature can then be used to inform future management actions targeted at creating a more biodiversity-friendly city. I aim to be able to collaborate with relevant stakeholders throughout the course of my degree. I’m very passionate about conservation and I’m so excited by this opportunity to further my interests and my impact!

 

Contact

Email: a.re@uq.edu.au

Douglas Ledlie

Email: d.ledlie@uq.net.au


Research Assistants


Research Affiliates

Dr Sangay Dorji
 

 

I have post-graduate degrees in natural resource management and climate change from the University of New England, Australia (PhD, Masters, and PG Diploma). I have more than fifteen years experience in managing forested lands for economic, recreational and conservation purposes.  I am primarily interested in how the agricultural system, fire, land use, and climate change affect biodiversity and ecosystem services at the local and landscape level. I have also been keenly interested in conservation of threatened species, particularly in the Eastern Himalayan region. A relevant research focus in my doctoral research was the integration of forests, land-use and climate change into conservation and developmental planning, and conservation of threatened species. My international reputation is demonstrated by my publication of scientific articles in high-impact international journals, most notably Conservation Biology, Oryx, Biodiversity and Conservation, PloSONE, and Mammal Research. Furthermore, I have also worked with and secured numerous project fundings in the past, including World Bank, United Nations Development Program (Global Environmental Facility), World Wildlife Fund and Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), USA

Contact

Email: drsangaydorji@gmail.com

 

Salit Kark photoGraduation

 


Alumni 

Post-doctoral Fellows and Research Students

Dr Steve Wilson

Steve
Steve
Steve
Steve

PhD Student: Ecology and conservation of Indonesian Javan or Lesser one-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus Demarest)
I’ve been fortunate to get the green light to undertake a PhD on the “Ecology and Conservation of Indonesian Javan or Lesser one-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus Demarest, 1822), in Ujung Kulon National Park, West Java, Indonesia”, aiming to do the work over a four year time frame. These animals are amongst the most critically endangered species on the planet with less than 60 animals left in only one population, are conservation dependant and the proposed research will be exploring how the animals are doing ecologically in light of current conservation measures and the role local community plays in rhino conservation (very broad summary).

From a current work perspective for the past 4 odd years as the Land & Biodiversity Manager, I’ve been leading a team of 13 environmental specialists, including landscape ecologists, landscape restoration, strategic planning and natural resource management experts in the Catchment management space in the Goulburn Broken Catchment of northern Victoria. Job entails working with community and key stakeholders to manage their natural resources more sustainably, my operating budget is around $4.5 million annually which supports staff and a range of large and small scale projects, for example we restored and protected 1,000 ha of degraded EPBC threatened grassy woodland and 200 ha of seasonal herbaceous wetlands during 2013/14 to name a few of the works completed. My operating environment varies between sitting in a landholder’s kitchen discussing wetland management to meetings with state and federal senior bureaucrats and ministers over funding, so jack of all trades master of none!

Common thread to my working life is a strong interest in wildlife, wildlife management and the importance of taking community along the management journey as well, I’ve a passion for photography and natural history writing and are really keen and motivated to get stuck into learning more about and contributing to what is a poorly known but iconic species. In my spare time, my wife Tracey (married 25 years), and three kids Coen (20 and studying archaeology at Latrobe), Daly 18 (about to finish year 12) and Allira 16 (about to finish year 9) keep me occupied.

Selected Publication

Contact

Email: stevew@gbcma.vic.gov.au

Dr Arthur Tuda

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Assessing potential for adaptive governance of cross-boundary marine protected areas network in East Africa

My research interests are in marine resource governance. My specific interests are in marine protected area (MPA) planning and management. My current research concerns the planning of cross-boundary MPA networks and their adaptive management. I am focusing on the East African Marine Ecoregion to understand how governance contexts influence adaptive management and have implication for management and governance of cross-boundary MPA networks. In my research I will also develop novel approaches for incorporating governance aspects into the design and spatial prioritization of MPAs and MPA networks. My most recent research explored how to address conflicts using marine spatial planning.

Selected publication

Tuda OA, Steven FT, Rodwell LD (2014) Resolving coastal conflicts using marine spatial planning. Journal of Environmental Management  133: 59-68

Contact

Email: tudahke@yahoo.com
Research gate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arthur_Tuda

Dr Eduardo Gallo-Cajiao

Ed Bio photo   Ed Bio photo

PhD Student: Cross jurisdictional governance of migratory shore bird conservation
I completed my undergraduate studies at “Universidad del Valle”, in my native Colombia, and a Master of Environmental Science at Macquarie University. I have accrued over 6 years of experience working in biodiversity conservation with government and the non-for-profit sector in Colombia and Australia.

I am currently working on global environmental governance for conserving migratory species under the supervision of Dr Richard Fuller and Co-supervision of Dr Tiffany Morrison and Dr Salit Kark. Migratory shorebirds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway face multiple threats; which have triggered a conservation agenda influenced by the emergence of international policy. Since the 1970s there has been a proliferation of international institutional arrangements relevant to migratory shorebird conservation in this flyway. However, despite the existence of this institutional framework, migratory shorebirds have continued to decline. Hence, the effectiveness of the governance system in place has been questioned. Through my project I will integrate ecology and social science to evaluate the performance of such an international institutional framework.

Ed is a joint PhD student with the Fuller lab.

Selected Publications

Chi-Yeung, C., Jackson, M., Gallo-Cajiao, E., Murray, N. J., Clemens, R. S., Gan, X. and R. A. Fuller. In press.
Biodiversity and China’s new Great Wall. Diversity and Distributions.

Runge, C., Gallo-Cajiao, E., Carey, M. J., Garnett, S. T., Fuller, R. A. and P. C. McCormack. 2017. Coordinating domestic legislation and international agreements to conserve migratory species. Conservation Letters: 10 (6), 765-772.

Gallo-Cajiao, E. 2014. Evidence is required to address potential albatross mortality in the New South Wales Ocean Trawl fishery. Pacific Conservation Biology 20: 328-335.Adobe_PDF_icon

See Eduardo’s full publication list here.

Contact

Email: e.gallocajiao@uq.edu.au
Personal Twitter: @Gallo_Eduardo
ResearchGate Profile: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eduardo_Gallo-Cajiao2

Dr Leslie Roberson

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PhD Student: Understanding human dimensions across multiple scales to develop better management solutions to fisheries bycatch.

I have an interdisciplinary background in biological conservation that started with my B.A. in Environmental Studies at Yale University, during which I was able to work on several projects related to natural resource management and conservation in Latin America and the Caribbean. I then spent a year studying sea turtle by-catch and traditional fisheries in a village in Ghana in West Africa.

In 2013 I moved to South Africa to complete my M.Sc. in Applied Marine Science at the University of Cape Town (UCT). I’ve since been working as a research assistant at UCT on several projects related to MPA monitoring in South Africa, mostly using underwater video.

Despite all the time I’ve spent in and around fishing boats, I am extremely bad at catching fish. I’m excellent at counting them though, so if anyone needs that Scarce Skill then I’ve got you covered.

Selected Publications:

Roberson L, Atwood CG, Winker H, Cockroft AC, Van Zyl DL. “Potential application of baited remote underwater video to survey abundance of west coast rock lobster Jasus lalandii.” Fisheries Management and Ecology (In Press).

Roberson LA, Lagabrielle E, Lombard AT, Sink K, Livingstone T, Grantham H, Harris JM. (2017) “Pelagic bioregionalisation using open-access data for better planning of marine protected area networks.” Ocean Coastal Management 148, doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2017.08.017.

Roberson L, Winker H, Attwood CG, De Vos L, Sanguinetti C, Götz A. (2015) “First survey of fishes in the Betty’s Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA) along South Africa’s temperate Southwest coast,” African Journal of Marine Science 37(4), pp543 – 556.


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PhD Thesis: Interactions between native and invasive cavity-nesting bird species in Australia
My primary research interests include species’ use of highly transformed habitats, conservation management in human-dominated landscapes and habitat restoration. I am particularly interested in the impact of invasive species on native community assembly and function. Recent work has included quantifying novel ecosystem support of native species, invasive species distribution mapping, and resource use by native species in human-modified habitats.

My current research explores why certain species do well in human-dominated habitats, and how introduced species impact native community interactions. To answer these questions I am examining how the presence of the non-native Common Mynah and the native Noisy Miner affect bird communities in southeast Queensland, Australia. The outcomes of this work will help to inform conservation policy for native species as well as management plans for invasive species.

Selected Publications

Rogers, A., Chown, S. 2014. Novel ecosystems support substantial avian assemblages: The case of invasive alien Acacia thickets. Diversity and Distributions, vol: 20 (1), pp: 34-45 Adobe_PDF_icon

Contact
Email: a.munro.rogers@gmail.com
ResearchGate Profile: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew_Rogers7

Dr Ruben Venegas

Andrew  Andrew
PhD Thesis: Incorporating trans-national collaboration into marine spatial conservation prioritization
I am originally from Costa Rica, where I did my BSc in Biology. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I worked for several years in a Sea Turtle Conservation project in the Caribbean coast of the country. I was also involved in environmental education activities, and together with other colleagues, started <ahref=”http://fundacionketo.org/”>Keto Foundation, a Non-for-Profit Organization which strives to do research which can better inform management decisions of coastal and marine areas of the country. Later, I obtained an MSc degree in Geo-information Science and Earth Observations in the Netherlands, which opened the doors to be involved as a GIS and remote sensing analyst in several projects in Costa Rica and South East Asia, both in marine and terrestrial environments. Through these experiences, I have become interested in spatial conservation prioritization, which led me to start my PhD at the University of Queensland in November 2014.

Globally, there is a growing interest in multinational conservation initiatives in the marine environment. Thus through my PhD research, I would like to generate information that will help to better understand how incorporating trans-national collaboration into marine spatial conservation prioritization could affect environmental decisions, as well as the benefits and limitations of doing so.

Selected publication

Venegas-Li, R., Cros, A., White, A., Mora, C. 2016 Measuring conservation success with missing Marine Protected Area boundaries: A case study in the Coral Triangle. Ecological Indicators, Volume 60, pp 119–124.Adobe_PDF_icon

Contact

Email: r.venegas@uq.edu.au
ResearchGate Profile: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ruben_Venegas-Li

Dr Matthew McKinney

Matt
Matt

PhD Student: Spatiotemporal interactions between invasive and native bird species in Australian

I was born and raised in north-western Georgia (USA) where my parents taught me how to turn over rocks to find and scorpions and salamanders, to fish and hunt, to garden, and to pick berries. I received my bachelor’s degree in forest resources from the University of Georgia in 2006, and my master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries science from Mississippi State University in 2013. In-between, I worked as a public lands biologist / land manager for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, conserving and managing endangered ecosystems, endangered species, game species, and everything in-between. I came to Brisbane in 2013 to live with my wife and (now) son, and I began working for Salit later that year. My strengths are GIS, the R Statistical Environment, and technical management / research skills (fire, farm equipment, surveys). My PhD will focus on modelling invasive bird species interactions, and using that information to build multi-species dynamic occupancy models to inform prioritization of actions. I love bluegrass music and I play Dobro guitar in my spare time.

Selected publication

Contact

Email: matthewryanmckinney@gmail.com

Dr Hernán Cáceres Escobar

Hernan
Hernan
Hernan


PhD Student: Systematic study of the effects of invasive mammals on native wildlife in biological islands

I completed my undergraduate studies in Veterinary Medicine at Universidad de Chile in 2010. Then I began working in a small animal clinic, where I was a volunteer since 2006, as a surgeon and internal medicine physician until 2012, when I started working in a Ecology Group name “Fauna Australis” in Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, at the same time I worked for different NGOs in Chile and as an Environmental Consultant (Fauna Specialist) for different environmental consultant companies. In March 2014 I returned to my alma mater, and worked in the Centre for Environmental and Biodiversity Management until November 2014, when I arrived to Australia and started my PhD under the supervision of Salit Kark, in The Biodiversity Research Group of the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science in The School of Biological Sciences of the University of Queensland.

My project aims to develop a scientifically-based protocol using novel scientific tools, to prioritize actions and develop strategies that will enable to effectively minimize the threats of invasive mammals, which affect Australia’s unique biodiversity and ecosystems. I will investigate the spatial patterns and major processes shaping the invasion of terrestrial invasive mammals in Australia at a continental scale, synthesizing spatial, temporal, historical, and economic data to examine the role of biological versus human-related processes in shaping invasion success and impacts in Australia. This will allow better integration of biological, climatic and human related data to spatially prioritize action.

My interests are mainly related to conservation biology, community ecology, population dynamics, invasive species (specially the effects of invasive mammals and birds on the native fauna and the environment). I have experience in ecological surveys, environmental base lines, environmental impact analysis, monitoring endangered species and mapping their interactions network.

Selected publication

Melendez, P., Caceres, H. et al. 2012 Use of the Great Pyrenees dogs as a biological strategy to control sheep predation. University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.Adobe_PDF_icon

Contact

Email: h.caceres@uqconnect.edu.au
Personal Twitter: @hgcacerese
ResearchGate Profile: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hernan_Caceres


Dr Micheli Duarte

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I am a marine biologist with research interests encompassing spatial ecology, quantitative marine ecology, climate change, and conservation. My research is characterised by novel integration of multiple disciplines to tackle fundamental questions in marine conservation science. My current research is in collaboration with the Brazilian Network for Climate Change and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, where I am investigating the impacts of climate change in the distribution of marine species in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

Within the Kark Group, I am a research assistant working on some ongoing projects such as investigating how collaboration can improve conservation in the Amazon basin and the island conservation project.

I completed my PhD in Biological Oceanography in 2015 through the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (Brazil) under the supervision of Professor José Henrique Muelbert. As part of my PhD, I spent six months at The University of Queensland working with Professor Hugh Possingham to investigate how to incorporate estuarine dynamics and information from different life stages of fish into marine spatial planning.

Before I started to focus my research in marine conservation, most of my projects were related to fish eggs and larvae taxonomy and ecology. Due to these skills, I am currently collaborating in the National Ichthyoplankton Monitoring and Observing Program with Professors Anthony Richardson (UQ/CSIRO), Professor Iain Suthers (UNSW) and Tony Miskiewicz.

Contact

Email: duarte.micheli@yahoo.com.br/mduartedepaulacosta@uq.edu.au

ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Micheli_Costa

GoogleScholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com.br/citations?user=c3ag0gcAAAAJ&hl

Selected Publications

Costa, M.D.P., Muelbert, J.H. 2016. Long-term assessment of temporal variability in spatial patterns of early life stages of fishes to facilitate estuarine conservation. Marine Biology Research. DOI: 10.1080/17451000.2016.1213397.

Costa, M.D.P., Possinghamd, H.P., Muelbert, J.H. 2015. Incorporating early life stages of fishes into estuarine spatial conservation planning. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. DOI: 10.1002/aqc.2584

Costa, M.D.P., Muelbert, J.H., Vieira, J.P. & Castello, J.P. 2015. Dealing with temporal variation and different life stages of whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri (Actinopterygii, Sciaenidae) in species distribution modeling to improve essential estuarine fish habitat identification. Hydrobiologia. DOI: 10.1007/s10750-015-2348-4

Costa, M.D.P., Muelbert, J.H., Moraes, L.E., Vieira, J.P., Castello, J.P. 2014. Estuarine early life stage habitat occupancy patterns of whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri (Desmarest, 1830) from the Patos Lagoon, Brazil. Fisheries Research, 160: 77-84.


Dr William Feeney

Williamfeeney


Will is a UQ Fellow hosted by Salit Kark’s group and Robbie Wilson’s group.

I am an evolutionary ecologist interesting in understanding how interactions between species generate and maintain the world’s biodiversity. My research stems from field observations and experiments and tends to focus on two main systems: the relationships between avian brood parasites, such as cuckoos, and their hosts; and the interactions between predatory coral reef fishes and their prey. Lately, this work has been focusing more on species that live within Australia, though I also have current projects running in China (birds) and French Polynesia (fish).

Prior to starting at UQ, I completed a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley (2015 – 2016); an Endeavour Fellowship at the University of Cambridge (2015) and my PhD at the Australian National University (2011 – 2014). Prior to that I split my time between my PostGrad studies at James Cook University and working as  tour guide in the North-Western Arnhemland.

Contact

Email: w.feeney@uq.edu.au

GoogleScholar (for a full list of publications)

Instagram: @samsonvalebirdproject

Website: http://www.williamefeeney

Selected Publications

Feeney WE, Brooker RM (2017) Anemonefishes. Current Biology 27: R6-R8.

Grutter AS, Feeney WE (2016) Equivalent cleaning in a juvenile facultative and obligate cleaning wrasse: an insight into the evolution of cleaning? Coral Reefs 35: 991-997.

Feeney WE, Troscianko J, Langmore NE, Spottiswoode CN (2015) Evidence for aggressive mimicry in an adult brood parasitic bird, and generalised defences in its host. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 282: 20150795

Cortesi F, Feeney WE, Ferrari MCO, Waldie PA, Phillips GAC, McClure EC, Sköld HN, Salzburger W, Marshall NJ, Cheney KL (2015) Phenotypic plasticity confers multiple benefits to a mimic. Current Biology 25: 949-954

Feeney WE, Welbergen JA, Langmore NE (2014) Advances in the study of coevolution between avian brood parasites and their hosts. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 45: 227-246

Feeney WE, Medina I, Somveille M, Heinsohn R, Hall ML, Mulder RA, Stein JA, Kilner RM, Langmore NE (2013) Brood parasitism and the evolution of cooperative breeding in birds. Science 342:1506-1508

Feeney WE, Langmore NE (2013). Social learning of a brood parasite by its host. Biology Letters 9: 20130443

Feeney WE, Lonnstedt O, Bosiger Y, Martin J, Jones GP, Rowe R, McCormick MI (2012) High rate of prey consumption in a small predatory fish on coral reefs. Coral Reefs 31: 909-918

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Dr Anna Turbe

Dr Anna Turbe collaborated with our research group from Nov 2006 to April 2008. Anna is now an independent consultant for biodiversity and policy projects.
at321@cam.ac.uk

Dr April Reside


April

BTF
Black-throated Finch, photo credit Eric Vanderduys

April2

HE
White-throated Honeyeater

Bat
Saccolaimus saccolaimus, photo credit Eric Vanderduys



Post-doc Researcher: NESP Islands and refugia projects

I am a postdoctoral research fellow working on the NESP Threatened Species Hub, on Theme 4: Reintroductions and refugia.

My prior research focused on climate change impacts and biodiversity conservation using spatial modelling. Funded by NCCARF, I modelled the distributions of >1700 vertebrate species across Australia for both current and future climate scenarios to identify future biodiversity hotspots and refugia. Using these models, I applied conservation planning frameworks to identify spatial priorities for climate change adaptation for biodiversity and carbon sequestration. This research fed into Natural Resource Management and government planning for climate change adaptation.

I have a particular fascination of flying vertebrates, and have worked on bats on three continents and nine countries. I worked as a field ecologist for with Australian Wildlife Conservancy before moving to Townsville to study savanna birds with JCU and CSIRO. My PhD: “Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability: Novel methods for understanding potential impacts on Australian Tropical Savanna Birds” adapted species distribution modelling techniques to account for temporal and spatial variability in the distributions of highly vagile bird species.

I am on the Recovery Team for the Black-throated Finch, and sit on Birdlife Australia’s Research and Conservation Committee.

Contact
Email: a.reside@uq.edu.au
ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/April_Reside
GoogleScholar Profile: Click here for more publications!

Selected Publications

Reside, A. E., Bridge, T.C.L. & Rummer, J.L. 2016. Great Barrier Reef: Clearing the way for reef destruction. Nature 537(7620): 307.

Reside, A. E., J. J. VanDerWal, A. S. Kutt, and G. C. Perkins. 2010. Weather, not climate, defines distributions of vagile bird species. PLoS ONE 5:e13569.

Reside, A. E., J. VanDerWal, A. Kutt, I. Watson, and S. Williams. 2012. Fire regime shifts affect bird species distributions. Diversity and Distributions 18:213-225.

Keppel, G., K. Mokany, G. W. Wardell-Johnson, B. L. Phillips, J. A. Welbergen, and A. E. Reside. 2015. The capacity of refugia for conservation planning under climate change. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 13:106-112.

Reside, A. E., J. A. Welbergen, B. L. Phillips, G. W. Wardell-Johnson, G. Keppel, S. Ferrier, S. E. Williams, and J. VanDerWal. 2014. Characteristics of climate change refugia for Australian biodiversity. Austral Ecology 39:887-897.

VanDerWal, J., H. T. Murphy, A. S. Kutt, G. C. Perkins, B. L. Bateman, J. J. Perry, and A. E. Reside. 2013. Focus on poleward shifts in species’ distribution underestimates the fingerprint of climate change. Nature Climate Change 3:239-243.

Vanderduys, E. P., A. E. Reside, A. Grice, and J. Rechetelo. 2016. Addressing potential cumulative impacts of development on threatened species: the case of the endangered Black-throated Finch. PLoS ONE 11:e0148485.

Anderson, A. S., A. E. Reside, J. J. VanDerWal, L. P. Shoo, R. G. Pearson, and S. E. Williams. 2012. Immigrants and refugees: the importance of dispersal in mediating biotic attrition under climate change. Global Change Biology 18:2126-2134.

Hill, N. J., A. J. Tobin, A. E. Reside, J. G. Pepperell, and T. C. L. Bridge. 2016. Dynamic habitat suitability modelling reveals rapid poleward distribution shift in a mobile apex predator. Global Change Biology 22:1086-1096.


Dr Assaf Shwartz

Thesis Title: Patterns and processes shaping the success of urban and invasive birds
Dr Assaf Shwartz graduated in 2007. Assaf is presently a senior lecturer at the Israel Institute of Technology.
shwara@pob.huji.ac.il

Dr Eran Brokovich

Thesis Title: Patterns and processes in bathymetric distribution of coral reef fishes
Dr Eran Brokovich graduated in 2009. Eran is now a private consultant to large conservation projects.
eran.brokovich@mail.huji.ac.il

Dr Erin McCreless

Erin McCreless


Post-doc Researcher

I am a conservation biologist interested in using the best available ecological, social, and economic information to improve the way conservation efforts are planned and implemented. I completed my Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California-Santa Cruz in 2015, where my research focused on quantifying the impacts of invasive alien mammals on globally threatened insular vertebrate species, and on the development of optimization tools to prioritize invasive mammal eradications on islands. I also investigated national-level relationships between conservation costs, governance, and human rights to better understand how prioritizing conservation based on cost alone may lead to lower success rates for conservation projects as well as unintended negative outcomes for local people.

Prior to beginning my Ph.D. research, I worked in the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, NY, where I contributed to conservation-related research projects, museum exhibits, and education initiatives. I have conducted fieldwork in the eastern and western continental US, Hawaii, Alaska, and Costa Rica. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Yale University in 2004.

Dr Erin McCreless is presently a postdoctoral research fellow with Oregon State University.

Contact:
Email: e.mccreless@uq.edu.au

Selected Publications

McCreless, E. & Beck, M.W. 2016. Rethinking Our Global Coastal Investment Portfolio. Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics: Vol. 3: Iss. 2, Article 6.

McCreless, E., D.D. Huff, D.A. Croll, B.R. Tershy, D.R. Spatz, N.D. Holmes, S.H.M. Butchart & C. Wilcox. 2016. Past and potential future impact of invasive alien mammals on island vertebrate populations. Nature Communications 7:12488.

McCreless, E., P. Visconti, J. Carwardine, C. Wilcox & R.J. Smith. 2013. Cheap and nasty? The potential perils of using management costs to identify global conservation priorities. PLoS ONE 8:e80893.


Dr Francois Chiron

Dr Francois Chiron collaborated with our research group from December 2006 to July 2008. Francois is currently Assistant Professor at the AgroParisTech and Université Paris-Sud.
fchiron@mnhn.fr

Dr Gilad Bino

Thesis Title: Spatial and numerical responses of golden jackals (Canis aureus) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to resource manipulation
Dr Gilad Bino graduated in 2007. Gilad is presently a research fellow at the University of New South Wales, Australia.
giladbino@gmail.com

Dr Gili Konyak

Dr Gili Konyak collaborated with our research group from April 2009 to April 2010. Gili is presently a Lecturer with the Faculty of Management at the University of Haifa.
koniakg@gmail.com

Dr Guy Pe’er

Dr Guy Pe’er collaborated with our research group from February 2005 to October 2006. Guy is presently a postdoctoral research fellow at the German Centre of Integrative Biodiversity Halle-Jena-Leipzig and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research.
guy.peer@ufz.de

Dr Michal Lichter

Dr Michal Lichter is presently working at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Email: mlichter@gmail.com
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Dr Rafi Kent

Dr Rafi Kent collaborated with our research group from September 2010 to January 2011. Rafi has a Teaching and Research academic position in the Department of Geography and Environment, Bar Ilan University.
rkent@technion.ac.il

Dr Susan Shirley

Dr Susan Shirley collaborated with our research group from September 2005 to December 2006. She is currently a research fellow and scientist at Oregon State University.
susanshir@gmail.com

Dr Tessa Mazor

Tessa


PhD Graduate

I am a marine spatial ecologist, with an interest in finding sustainable and practical solutions for biodiversity protection. My research interests include conservation planning and prioritization (e.g. designing marine protected area networks), marine spatial planning, evaluating and mapping threats to biodiversity and integrating social and economic objectives to facilitate the implementation of conservation action. I am particularly interested in sea turtles, exploring drivers of their nesting patterns and using decision support tools to select priority areas for sea turtle conservation.

My PhD at the University of Queensland focused on advancing conservation planning in the Mediterranean Sea, advancing the theory of systematic conservation planning and developing solutions with implications for the Mediterranean region.

Tessa has recently started a postdoc at CSIRO in Brisbane.

Contact
tessa.mazor@csiro.au


Dr Yotam Orchan

Thesis Title: The cavity nesting bird community in the Yarkon Park: spatial, temporal interactions and breeding success in a community being invaded in recent decades
Dr Yotam Orchan graduated in 2008. He is presently a research technician with the Movement Ecology Lab at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
yotam@pob.huji.ac.il

Dr Francoise Lermite

Francoise


PhD Student: The role of behaviour in the ecological success of Indian Mynas

Francoise is originally from France and joins A/Professor Salit Kark and Dr Andrea Griffin on the collaborative cavity-nesting species project. Francoise is the main driver of the project in New South Wales and her area of interest includes behavioral interactions and individual-based behaviors of the Indian Myna. Further information about Francoise can be found on The Comparative Cognition Labs webpage: http://andreasgriffin.weebly.com/lab-members.html

Selected publication

Griffin, A., Lermite, F. Perea, M. Guez, D. 2013 To innovate or not: contrasting effects of social groupings on safe and risky foraging in Indian mynahs. Animal Behaviour, vol 86, issue 6, pp 1291–1300.Adobe_PDF_icon

Contact

Email: francoise.lermite@uon.edu.au
ResearchGate Profile: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Francoise_Lermite

Alexander Hendry

16406449_589739457890559_1937657908828700826_n (2)Alexander HendryCrop Kangaroo

Honours Student and Research assistant: Aggressive interactions over food resources between native and introduced birds in Brisbane

I am currently studying the Bachelor of Advanced Science, majoring in ecology, and the concurrent diploma of languages, majoring in Japanese. Starting in semester 2 2020, I am working on an Honours project investigating interactions between native and introduced birds in Brisbane with a focus on aggressive interactions over food resources. Previously I have completed projects at the Wildlife Endocrinology lab at UQ’s Gatton campus and in the Barker Parasitology lab. I have an interest and passion for wildlife conservation, and I hope to one day work for the Australian Antarctic Division or work to combat the illegal wildlife trade.

Contact

Email: a.hendry@uq.net.au

Maria Jose Lopez Jara

maria 1 maria 2

Master of Conservation Science thesis

I’m a veterinarian from Chile and I’ve had the opportunity to work with small carnivores as research assistant of the Guigna Conservation Project, which focused on the vulnerable Kodkod (Leopardus guigna). More recently, I participated as research assistant on a sea turtle monitoring project in Costa Rica and got involved in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation as an intern in California. My research interests are around understanding threats and drivers of decline of wild species populations to implement effective conservation actions. Other areas of interest are wildlife diseases and emerging zoonotic diseases. For my master’s project I will focus on increasing the understanding of patterns and drivers of emerging infectious diseases, and identify opportunities to reduce the risk of disease emergence from wildlife while protecting biodiversity.

Contact

Email: m.lopezjara@uq.net.au

Keren Pereira

keren_pereira_kark_group

Master of Conservation Science thesis

I have completed my Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Botany and Zoology in India, during which I developed an interest in animal behaviour, conservation biology and human-wildlife interactions. Beyond academia, I have had the opportunity of working with a team led by a Wildlife Conservation Society’s researcher that conducted population estimation of common leopards and assessed the human-leopard conflict in Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park. I have also worked on a project conducted by the Indian Institute of Science on the behavioural phenology of Peninsular rock agamas (Psammophilus dorsalis) in Andhra Pradesh.

I am currently pursuing my Master of Conservation Science degree. For my project, I will be working to analyse the dietary composition of two sympatric carnivore species using a DNA-based strategy in the human-dominated Kathmandu valley of Nepal. The findings will be used to examine the human-predator conflict to inform future conservation of the carnivores by making recommendations to mitigate the conflict prevalent within the region.

Contact

Email: k.pereira@uq.net.au

Joshua Hungerford

Joshua

Master of Conservation Science thesis: The impacts of predator-exclusion refugia on non-target small vertebrates in remnant vegetation of south-western Australia.

My research is on the relatively unknown impacts of introduced predator-free sanctuaries on non-target small reptiles, mammals and amphibians. While introduced predator-free sanctuaries effectively conserve target species (regionally extinct & endangered native mammals), birds and ecosystem processes, little is known about the impacts on local non-target, least-concern vertebrate species. Of key interest is whether non-target species richness and occupancy similarly benefit from introduced predator absence, and how resultant changes in population and ecological dynamics might affect the wider ecosystem.

I have great interests in reintroduction and translocation biology, ecological restoration, sustainable livelihoods & development and Indigenous knowledge. I am an enthusiast of the philosophical, esoteric and ecocentric. I thrive in the outdoors, I volunteer as a wildlife rescuer and community educator, and I have completed an internship with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

Contact: 

Email: joshua.hungerford@uq.net.au

Alexander Bezzina

bezzina

Master of Conservation Science Student: Predator management effectiveness in Haast Kiwi Sanctuary 

I am working on my thesis partnered with the Department of Conservation’s Haast Kiwi Sanctuary. The focus of this project will be to analyse the effectiveness of past stoat management and create cost-effective steps for future action. Stoats are an introduced predator in New Zealand causing large declines in many kiwi species, and the Sanctuary houses the largest population of the rare Haast Tokoeka species. My undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Science, Zoology major, where I developed a passion for animal behaviour and community and ecosystem interactions. Outside of this, I have worked with a team that evaluated the current population estimates for lions and conducted population assessments of leopards and hyenas in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park. I have also worked with WWF reviewing camera trap data of Northern Bettongs. I am most interested in creative ideas that make conservation more cost-effective and maximise benefits for both people and nature.

Contact

Email: a.bezzina@uq.net.au

Romi Castagnino

Romi (1 of 1)Romi (2 of 3)

Conservation Science Master’s research: Spatiotemporal Interactions of Carnivores Exposed to Anthropogenic Pressures in Peru’s Montane Cloud Forest

My main area of interest is wildlife conservation in the tropics. Prior to moving to Australia, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Studies in Peru with a research project focusing in the habitat spatial use of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) in the Amazon Rainforest.

My current study examines niche partitioning between eleven carnivore species and evaluates the impact of anthropogenic factors on the carnivore community in a highly threatened biodiversity hotspot within the Peruvian tropical montane cloud forests. Findings will guide conservation practitioners address the ecological implications of a proposed road development within the study area.

Other than my work at UQ, I’m an environmental bilingual writer at Mongabay.com; and I dedicate my spare time to nature photography and filmmaking.

Contact

Instagram & Twitter: @romi_castagnino

Carly Martin

Carly


Honours Student: Fine-scale interactions between native and invasive cavity nesting birds in Australia
In 2015 I completed a dual degree of Science and Journalism majoring in Ecology at the University of Queensland. I finished my honours degree in July 2016 at UQ working with Associate Professor Salit Kark. In my project, I looked at small scale interactions between native and invasive bird species around cavity trees. The Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis) was the focus of my studies. By comparing interactions in different locations I was able to develop an understanding of factors that promote the spread of this invasive species.

Carly currently works as the Bird and Reptile Specialist at Pet City Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, Australia.

Contact

Email: carly.martin@uqconnect.edu.au


Hannah Thomas


Hannah


Research Project Student: Understanding how arboreal mammals are impacting native and invasive bird species in urban areas
I’m a fourth-year Bachelor of Advanced Science student, majoring in Biology. I’m doing the subject SCIE3011, which is a year-long research course, designed to give undergraduates an idea of what it’s like to join a research lab. I will be working under the supervision of Assoc. Professor Salit Kark and joining the invasive bird team, learning about and assisting the nest box projects currently underway. I have a broad range of interests within the ecology field and hope this project will give me an insight into current ecological research.

Contact

Email: hannah.thomas2@uq.net.au


Damien O’Connor


Damien


Honours Student: The role of behavioural variation in the invasion process
I completed my Bachelor of Science (Ecology & Zoology) at the University of Queensland in 2014. In 2015 I undertook my Honours project working under the supervision of Assoc. Professor Salit Kark and Dr Andrea Griffin. I looked at the invasive common myna (Acridotheres tristis) and investigated the role of behavioural variation in the invasion process. My project consisted of a feeding experiment to determine whether there was a variation in foraging behaviour throughout parts of the common myna’s range in Queensland. This project also modeled components that aimed to provide a better understanding of the implications of behavioural variation in an invasive species.

Damien is presently a Technical Officer at the Australian Federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.

Contact

Email: damien.oconnor@uqconnect.edu.au
Personal Twitter: @Damien_OConnor


Emily Dayman

Emily
BSc Honours: Interactions between cavity-nesting birds and their implications for conservation

I graduated my Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Marine Science at Griffith University in 2014 and began my Honours work with Salit Kark in 2014. I am particularly interested in the interactions around breeding cavities in the presence of invasive cavity nesting species around Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. I specialize in conservation ecology, studying the management of biological invasions on both small and large scales. I have experience in marine biology working on Heron Island, monitoring the water chemistry on the reef flat to closely examine the implications of climate change pose on coral reef organisms and how to mitigate and manage their impacts. I have assisted in estuarine fish ecology and reptile biology field work around the Gold Coast. In 2012, I completed work experience at the Griffith Center of Coastal Management. I worked on the Redesigned COPE Program (Coastal Observation Programme- Engineering), proposed for the Gold Coast City Council. I also have experience volunteering in zoos, attending to koalas at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and penguins at Seaworld.

My project aims to develop interaction networks within cavity nesting avian communities, which include invasive alien and native species, examining source and front sites of an ongoing avian invasion and an urbanisation gradient. Aliens and native urban exploiters can have negative effects on abundance and the diversity of native species and other urban avoiders that are susceptible to urbanisation and ecological change. I will compare two sites where the Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis) has been established for over 30 years in Brisbane with two sites in the Sunshine Coast where mynas have only recently invaded. I will examine the nest occupancy, replacement and breeding success through three sub-environments (paved, park and fringe) within each location, over the 2014-2015 breeding season. I will also examine the outcomes of behavioural interactions between all cavity nesting birds in the community to identify “winners” and “losers” of interactions. My project will address an important gap in our scientific understanding on the role of invasion processes and urbanisation constraints on species interactions in a cavity nesting community. The interaction webs will provide valuable future management for birds and conservation strategies that will effectively control invasion threats and mitigate urbanisation impacts on native biodiversity.

Contact
emily.dayman@uq.net.au

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Emma Lee


Emma

Honours Student: Understanding the Indigenous Australians’ approach towards invasive and native species through their languages
I graduated from UQ in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science (Zoology) and Arts (Japanese and Linguistics), and worked on my honours project under the supervision of Assoc. Professor Salit Kark and Professor Ghil’ad Zuckermann (The University of Adelaide: Department of Linguistics). For my project I looked at the words used in various Aboriginal languages for invasive and native species, as well as the uses of the species in these communities. Through this, my project aimed to understand the Indigenous Australians’ approach towards invasive and native species, so as to help inform the management plans for these species.

Contact

Email: ej.lee@uqconnect.edu.au


Georgina Hockings


GH

Honours Student: Using camera traps to study social structure and behaviour of Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) in Ujung Kulon National Park, West Java, Indonesia
In 2014 I completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Zoology and Ecology at the University of Queensland. I am now commencing an Honours project at UQ with Associate Professor Salit Kark. I will be working in collaboration with Steve Wilson for his PhD investigating the ecology and conservation of the critically endangered Javan rhino. In my project I will be using camera trap data to look at Javan rhino behaviour, with a particular focus on their social structure and interactions. Through this project I hope to be able to develop an understanding of what behavioural information can be learned through camera trap data that is of conservational value to this critically endangered species.

Georgina is presently a research assistant and volunteer coordinator at Kanaan N/a’an ku se Desert Retreat in Southern Namibia.

Contact

Email: g.hockings@bigpond.com


James Vandersteen

IMG_1571[216]

Honours Student: Investigating the night light distribution on Heron Island
I am undertaking my Honours under the supervision of Professor Salit Kark and Professor Noam Levin. Together we aim to thoroughly explore, using novel technologies, night light distribution on Heron Island with the aim to minimize its impact on sea turtles. This research will differ to past research on such topics as we plan to incorporate detailed spatial mapping of light sources on the island, and to quantify the effects of such lights using a Sky Quality Camera (a relatively new piece of technology). This information, together with pre-existing sea turtle data for Heron Island, will enable us to study the potential relationships between night lights on the island and sea turtle nesting.

I completed my Bachelor of Environmental Science at Monash University in 2017 majoring in Ecology and Conservation Biology. In my final semester at Monash, I undertook a research project exploring the feasibility of nest cages in preventing nest predation of the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater. Through this project, I was able to be involved in the 2017 release and subsequent monitoring of 100 captive-bred Regent Honeyeaters in Northern Victoria. In addition, during my time at Monash I travelled to Italy, Borneo and Heron Island to participate in fieldwork for various studies.

Contact

Email: james.vandersteen@outlook.com

Laura Cox

Thesis Title: 
Graduated 2014
laura.a.cox@outlook.com

Rebecca Turk

Matt


Rebecca is a second year Applied Science student majoring in Wildlife Science at The University of Queensland. Her interests span a multitude of areas within the environmental sector, but being on the invasive bird team has fostered an interest in bird species and how invasive species interact with native systems.

Contact

Email: rebecca.turk@uq.net.au


Maggie McKeown

Maggie

Masters Student: Communicating Invasive Species

Maggie completed her Masters thesis with A/Professor Salit Kark as a component of her Masters in Conservation Science degree at The University of Queensland in 2015. Maggie was particularly interested in intergrating her love of communication with her love of conservation with this project looking into different communication strategies influencing perceptions about invasive species.

Maggie is currently a community organiser at the Mackay Conservation Group, Queensland, Australia.

Contact

Email: maggie.mckeown@uqconnect.edu.au




Marsya Sibarani

marsya Picture

Masters Student: Assessing the effectiveness of biodiversity surrogates and gap analysis of protected areas in Sumatra, Indonesia
I completed my Bachelor of Science in Biology from Universitas Indonesia in 2014 with an undergraduate thesis about niche partitioning among arboreal mammals in a Sumatran tropical rainforest. I began my career in conservation as biodiversity database officer at Wildlife Conservation Society-Indonesia Program for 2 years.

Currently, I undertake a masters research under the supervison of A/Professor Salit Kark. My research aims to assess the effectiveness of charismatic megafauna in Sumatra as surrogates for terrestrial mammals and to assess gaps of existing protected areas in Sumatra. I chose this topic because most of conservation effort in Sumatra is focused on the protection of ‘sexy’ species, assuming that by protecting them, we also protect the rest of biodiversity. The establishment of protected areas is mostly driven by political interests, not science, so we do not know how well PAs cover the spatial extent of the species. Hence, I want to assess these things to inform conservation decision-making in my home country.

Other than pursuing a master’s degree in Conservation Science, I am also affiliated with Tambora Muda, an organisation I co-founded which aims to enhance capacity building and networking for young conservationists in Indonesia. In my spare time, I like to make drawings of wildlife and design infographics to communicate ecology and conservation to the public.

Presently, Marsya is working as a researcher with the Wildlife Conservation Society in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Contact

Email: m.sibarani@uq.net.au

Maya Sella

Thesis Title: The land use changes of the Gazelle Valley and their implications on vegetation characteristics (1880-2006)
Graduated 2008

After her stint with our research group, Maya worked as a GIS officer at the Fire and EMS Operations/GIS Department, with the International Association of Fire Fighters, headquartered in Washington, DC. She has recently begun working in Alaska in conservation guidance.
m_sela@yahoo.com

Mercedes McLean

Mercedes


Mercedes McLean is Algonquin from the Greater Golden Lake First Nation and is also of British ancestry. However, she grew up on Coast Salish Territory – Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Mount Allison University, Mercedes set out to develop a career in wildlife biology and ocean science. Her area of focus has been working with Indigenous communities to establish community-based research projects, which have included wildlife monitoring programs in the Canadian Rockies, and collaboratively developing ocean monitoring systems with Indigenous communities along coastal British Columbia and into the Canadian Arctic.

Master of Conservation Science Research: Advancing Conservation Decision-Making Practice: Using Indigenous Knowledge and Scientific Data to Inform Marine Conservation within Southern Resident Killer Whale Habitat along southwestern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

This was a research collaboration between Ocean Networks Canada, an initiative of the University of Victoria, in Canada and the University of Queensland, in Australia.

The Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) are critically listed with an imminent threat of extinction. For their survival and recovery, it is necessary that key foraging areas are protected, and salmon fisheries reduced, to increase prey availability. This case study aims to illustrate how Indigenous knowledge and scientific data can be effectively woven together to inform marine conservation decision-making for critical SRKW habitat. This methodological study evaluates the feasibility of using decision-support tools, including Marxan; the specific types of data that are needed; and assesses the processes required for inclusive and collaborative conservation planning and fisheries management within Indigenous communities.

Contact

Email: m.mclean@uqconnect.edu.au

Oded Levanoni

Thesis Title: Predicting butterfly diversity along an altitudinal gradient using remote sensing tools on Mount Hermon, Israel
Graduated 2007

Oded is now a PhD candidate at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
odded@pob.huji.ac.il

Orit Nir

Thesis Title: Changes in the coral Seriatopora hystrix along a bathymetric gradient in the Northern Gulf of Aqaba
Graduated 2006

Orit is now a PhD candidate at the University of Haifa in the School of Marine Sciences. Orit also works for the Israeli Ministry of Environment and Energy.
niro01@pob.huji.ac.il

Samantha Richardson


GH

Honours Student: Assessing shark attack spatial and temporal patterns with a focus on understanding public perception.
My research interests fall within the field of Ecology and Zoology, graduating from a Bachelor of Science in 2015. I am particularly interested in the marine environment which has been the underlying focus of my research experience. I worked with Professor Andy Fischer from the Institute of Marine and Antarctic studies, University of Tasmania during 2015 analysing wind data and the relationships with harmful algal blooms along the eastern coastline of Tasmania. I am now undertaking an Honours Research project at the University of Queensland with Associate Professor Salit Kark. My research aims to generate knowledge of how to direct shark-attack mitigation approaches in an environmentally conscious manner by providing an analytical approach that can be utilised to advance conflict resolution approaches to be more spatially informed than current intervention strategies, as well as guide public education programs through an increased scientific knowledge of public perception. To effectively mitigate shark-human conflicts an understanding of how humans view sharks and shark mitigation approaches is required as human perception is known to act as a barrier or facilitator in achieving conservation goals.

Samantha is now teaching Marine Science at Hervey Bay State High School.

Contact

Email: samantha.richardson1@uq.net.au


Shamia Farhana Shoma

Shamia_Kark group

Masters Student: Factors shaping the establishment of introduced starlings and mynas

I started my career as a lecturer of Zoology in Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, the same university from where I received BSc and MSc in Zoology with a major of Wildlife Ecology, Management and Conservation Biology. Before heading to a PhD, I intended to attend a world-class institution in order to deepen my theoretical knowledge and practical skills. In 2017, I was awarded Australia award scholarship and obtained my second Master’s degree in Conservation Science in 2018 from the University of Queensland, Australia.

As part of my MSc degree at UQ, I worked under the supervision of Prof. Salit Kark. My research project aimed to understand the spatial patterns and factors influencing the establishment of introduced starlings and mynas which is important for better addressing and managing global biological invasions. I examined the effect of species traits on variation in their establishment success in the context of introduction effort and environment by using the Global Avian Invasions Atlas (GAVIA) database.

I am engaged in different aspects of Wildlife research in Bangladesh since 2009. My primary research interest lies in ecology, animal behaviour and biodiversity conservation.

Contact

Email: s.shoma@uqconnect.edu.au

Vasundhara (Tanvi) Krishnani


Tanvi


Masters Student: Human-elephant conflict, India Australia
I completed my Bachelor of Science in Zoology from India in 2014 after which I worked with an NGO regarding the implementation of the Forest Rights Act in a village situated within a Wildlife Sanctuary in India. I am currently pursuing my Masters of Conservation Biology from University of Queensland. I intend on working on understanding perceptions of people towards Asian elephants in India for my Masters project under the supervision of Associate Professor Salit Kark. My primary interest lies in looking at ways to mitigate man- elephant conflict in India. Elephants are very close to my heart and due to ever rising increase in demand for agriculture causing habitat fragmentation, farmers and elephants have been facing unwanted interactions leading to crop damage, injuries and sometimes even death. This is something which is going to keep on increasing and finding ways to avoid or reduce this conflict is necessary. This project will help in understanding the main factors causing the difference in perceptions in various parts of the country which then can be used for the site specific application of mitigation methods accordingly in order to reduce incidences of unwanted man elephant interactions.

Tanvi is presently working in elephant conservation research and community involvement in India.

Contact

Email: vasundhara.krishnani@uq.net.au


Tingting Mo


Tingting

Masters Student: Using species distribution models to estimate the potential distribution of Common myna (Acridotheres tristis) and common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) in Australia

I completed my undergraduate studies in Wildlife and Nature Reserve Management from Southwest Forestry University. When I began my first Ornithology course at the university, I fell in love with bird watching and chose to complete my dissertation for my Bachelors degree on an alien bird in China, the Asian open-bill Stork (Anastomus oscitans). That was my first time using the species distribution model.

My current Masters thesis used the Maxent model, a widely used species distribution model, to estimate the distribution of two introduced invasive species, the common myna and common starling. In the study, the potential distribution of myna and starling at different time periods in Australia were predicted through the ecological niche model (ENM). The results were used to indicate invasion tendency and the changing habitat suitability of these species. Furthermore, the study tried to estimate the influences of anthropogenic landscapes on invasion process of starlings and mynas. Considering these species were listed as ‘pest species’ globally, the study aimed to contribute spatial information for biocontrol in different regions in Australia based on the habitat suitability of these birds.

Contact

Email: tingting.mo@outlook.com

Alana O’Dwyer

Email: a.odwyer@uq.net.au

Joel Lim

Email: joel.lim1@uq.net.au

Alexander Hendry

16406449_589739457890559_1937657908828700826_n (2)Alexander HendryCrop Kangaroo

Honours Student and Research assistant: Aggressive interactions over food resources between native and introduced birds in Brisbane

I am currently studying the Bachelor of Advanced Science, majoring in ecology, and the concurrent diploma of languages, majoring in Japanese. Starting in semester 2 2020, I am working on an Honours project investigating interactions between native and introduced birds in Brisbane with a focus on aggressive interactions over food resources. Previously I have completed projects at the Wildlife Endocrinology lab at UQ’s Gatton campus and in the Barker Parasitology lab. I have an interest and passion for wildlife conservation, and I hope to one day work for the Australian Antarctic Division or work to combat the illegal wildlife trade.

Contact

Email: a.hendry@uq.net.au

Marina Corella Tor

marina

I decided I wanted to be a Zoologist at the age of 7, so, when I was old enough, I moved away from my hometown near Barcelona, in Catalunya, to go study in the UK at the University College London (UCL). During my degree I also studied abroad at the University of Queensland (UQ) and, after graduating with a Masters in Biological Sciences (Zoology), I am now back in Australia as a Research Assistant in the Fuller lab and as a Research Affiliate in the Kark Group. I am studying migratory bird species, specifically, the international legislation aiming to protect them and how different countries are connected by both migratory birds and international environmental treaties, conventions and other agreements. I have recently arrived in the world of birds, although I had already volunteered in rescue centres and have rehabilitated birds and other species, including mammals and reptiles.

Contact

Email: corella.marina@gmail.com


Staff, Interns and Volunteers

Hannah Allan

coral pic  turtle pic

I completed my undergraduate degree in Science, majoring in wildlife and marine biology, at Griffith University on the Gold Coast. I also completed my honours in the field of ecotoxicology analysing sugarcane herbicides in marine turtle nesting areas and assessing risk using in vitro toxicity assays.

I spent over two years living and working in the Republic of Maldives as a coral biologist managing a coral propagation program. I was also lucky enough to to be involved in a sea turtle rehabilitation program looking after victims of ghost nets and other anthropogenic threats.

My main research interests include wildlife conservation, particularly in coral reef and tropical ecosystems. Aligning with my Aboriginal ancestry, I am also interested in the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge into conservation practices.

Contact

Email: hannah.allan@uq.edu.au

Alice McNeill

Alice


Research Assistant: Invasive species projects
Alice completed a bachelors degree in Applied science, majoring in wildlife science in 2014. Throughout 2015 she completed her honours degree focusing on dingoes in southeast Queensland looking at their movement ecology and habitat preferences. With a love for all wildlife she hopes to gain more experience in the field as well as building her skills in data analysis. In her free time Alice volunteers with the RSPCA and ventures up to Mon repos every year to help monitor the various turtle populations.

Contact

Email: ali_mcneill@hotmail.com


Amélie Genay

Amiele



I am a French biology student from AgrosupDijon, currently in my second year of study. As apart of my program I had the opportunity to be part of the Biodiversity Group during as an intern with A/Professor Salit. I am interested in urban ecology, especially when it comes to the management of species and ecosystems in urban green spaces. It is my first experience in ecology and biodiversity lab and I really enjoy it. My project goal, for my internship, is to characterize the vegetation on the different sites, which are currently used for the Urban Bird Project. I am currently using GIS and going to the field for my project, and as well, learning a lot of new things about Australian’s tree and bird species. For my near future, I want to work in the management of park in cities or in urban biodiversity. I will follow a specialization in Urban Forestry for my third year of study in the institute of AgroParisTech. I am really interested in studying park, which are an interface between nature and town people. A place that house a lot of species and where people can as well relax into.

Amélie is presently Collaboratrice d’expert Agricole at Cabinet Daniel LAINE (Saint Valéry en Caux, France).

Contact

Email:amelie.genay@agrosupdijon.fr



Camille Voisin

Camille was an International Intern in 2014. She is now Chargée d’études environnement chez IRIS conseil (Saint Quentin en Yvelines, France).
camille.voisin@agrocampus-ouest.fr

Carla Archibald

CARLA


Research Assistant and Project Manager: ARC cavity nesting bird project

Carla is wildlife ecologist with an interest in urban ecology and protected area management on both a small and large scale. Carla graduated her Applied Science degree from the University of Queensland in 2012 and received her honors degree within the CEED lab in 2014 specializing in avian conservation. She has a background conducting terrestrial vertebrate fauna surveys using both trapping and observational methods utilizing visuals, calls and traces for all taxa. Carla has experience as a fauna consultant/wildlife biologist implementing fauna surveying methods and liaising with many stakeholders to ensure the highest standard of animal welfare. Currently her primary role is project managing the field component for the invasive species project along with another position working for the IUCN: Joint taskforce for Biodiversity and Protected areas. In her spare time Carla enjoys looking for animals, rock climbing, playing music and catching up on work.

Carla is presently a PhD Candidate in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at The University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia).

Selected Publication

Barnes, M., Woodley, S., Craigie, I., Geldmann, J., Archibald, C., Harrison, L., Whitmee, S. 2015. Trends in Species Populations in GEF Supported Protected Areas. Technical Report for the Global Environmental Facility.

Contact

Email: carla.wildlife@hotmail.com
Personal Blog: www.carlawildlife.wordpress.com
Personal Twitter: @CarlaWildlife
ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carla_Archibald


Diego Bezerra

Matt


Research Assistant.
As a marine ecologist my academic interests are broad, but I am particularly fascinated by faunal diversity. Foremost interested in understanding the ecological mechanisms that drive ecosystems performance and its conservation.
I began my marine research journey at Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR) where I obtained knowledge about marine invertebrate’s identification, ecology of benthic organisms, population dynamics, conservation biology and environmental consulting. My first major interest in marine ecology was on the processes that determine patterns of distribution of benthic communities, especially in artificial structures comparing to natural substrata. It led me to develop a Master’s degree project titled Bathymetric Distribution of Molluscan Fauna of Ports from Northeast Brazil with emphasis on bioinvasion.
My current research still focusing on bioinvasion but in broader bias considering policies, management and decision makers. Therefore, I am investigating the complexity between non-native and native species interactions, including biodiversity along species range in aquatic and terrestrial habitat as well as implications for conservation planning. In addition, I am looking at pathways for narrowing the gaps between science, policy, management and practice in conservation. My interest comes from a strong belief that Environmental Sciences need to diminish these gaps making our career more approachable and meaningful, effectively supporting decision makers.

Contact

Email: diegofbg_1@hotmail.com


Isabella de Oliveira


Isabella is one of the research assistants that worked on the Big Rivers project, in particular the South American component (the Amazon). She is now Project Coordinator at Carbon & Clean Energy Solutions (Melbourne, Australia).

Contact

Email: oliveiraisabella@gmail.com




James Allan

James


Research Assistant: Collaboration in big rivers worldwide

I grew up in Kenya where I was surrounded by wildlife and the outdoors. School holidays were spent on safari game driving with clients, discussing Africa’s conservation challenges around the campfire, and on walking safaris in some of Kenya’s wildest and most beautiful regions.

This inspired me to study a science degree, the highlight being my Honours year in Hugh Possingham’s conservation lab at the University of Queensland. I modeled bird metapopulations under climate change and looked at the implications of different modeling approaches on conservation decision making. After spending a year modeling on a computer I was keen to get back into the field. I returned to Kenya where I worked for the African Conservation Centre, an NGO whose focus is on community conservation in pastoral lands looking at carnivore-livestock interactions.

James is now a PhD Candidate in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at The University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia).

Contact

Email: james.allan@uqconnect.edu.au


Timothy Staples

Tim


Administrative Assistance

I was born in Townsville, North Queensland, and camped across the state’s diverse ecosystems with my family while I was young. I moved to Brisbane in 2010 to study by bachelor of science, where I graduated in 2013 with my Honours. I assisted Salit with administrative and management tasks while commencing a PhD project, titled ‘Designing productive and diverse carbon forests’, under the supervision of Dr Mayfield and Dr Dwyer (UQ), and Dr Pichancourt and Dr England (CSIRO). I am looking at using community ecology, particularly functional traits and modelling, to balance the trade-off between productivity and diversity in carbon plantings in low rainfall areas of Australia. My ultimate goal is to develop a framework for stakeholders to use to achieve multiple benefits for reforestation projects. To read more about Tims work visit the Mayfield Lab website: http://www.mayfieldplantecologylab.org/site/Current_Lab_Members/Current_Lab_Members.html

Contact

Email: timothy.staples@uqconnect.edu.au



Visiting International Collaborators

Gabriel Borgheti de Figueiredo – São Paulo, Brazil

Gabriel


I am currently an undergraduate student of Biological Sciences in the Universidade de São Paulo (São Paulo, Brazil). In 2014, I received a scholarship from the Brazilian government that gave me the opportunity to study for a year in the University of Queensland. During my last few months in Brisbane have had the opportunity to work as an intern with A/Professor Salit Kark in the Biodiversity Research Group at UQ. My previous internship was in a science museum in my hometown, so it was the first experience as part of a lab group, and it was a great source of learning and growth both professionally and personally. The project we began to develop is based on alien bird species in Brazil, where we aim to analyze the causes, distribution, impacts and other characteristics of these invasions.

Contact

Email: g.figueiredo@uq.net.au