Zoology & Ecology

Saul Chemonges

Saul Chemonges

Daniel Montesinos Torres

Daniel Montesinos Torres

Claire Gely

Claire Gely

Ben Hirsch

Ben Hirsch

Stephen Williams

Stephen Williams

Myles Menz

Myles Menz

Martijn van de Pol

Martijn van de Pol

Slade Allen-Ankins

Slade Allen-Ankins

Noel Preece

Noel Preece

Conrad Hoskin

Conrad Hoskin

The effect of light intensity on leaf pigmentation and light utilisation in mango (Old ID 27722)
Alex Cheesman
01 Aug 2022 - 31 Dec 2022
The objective of this experimental work is to determine the effect of light intensity on leaf morphology, productivity and light utilisation in the commercial Mango cv. Calypso. Plant leaves contain a variety of pigments associated with specific physiological functions, including photosynthesis and photoprotection from excessive light. Within an individual tree-canopy, gradients in leaf age and microenvironment alter the balance of these functions and where resources are invested. By examining leaf-level function at specific points in a Mango tree architecture we hope to improve our understanding of how orchard management (such as pruning) can make trees more productive
Improving performance of bioreactors for treating effluent from land- based aquaculture. (Old ID 26969)
Alex Cheesman
01 Jun 2020 - 08 Sep 2021
Effluent from land-based aquaculture is problematic because of its nutrient content. This project aims to enhance the performance of ‘denitrification bioreactors’ designed to remove nitrogen from effluent. It will be carried out on a barramundi farm near Innisfail. Availability of carbon appears to limit bioreactor performance, so the effect of adding molasses will be tested, under different conditions of salinity and retention time. The ability of the bioreactors to eliminate algae and parasites will also be tested. The results will be applicable to aquaculture farms throughout the tropics, facilitating more effective treatment of water leaving farms or being recirculated.
Queensland threatened species listing. (Old ID 27253)
Conrad Hoskin
01 Jun 2021 - 30 Nov 2021
Humane Society International (HSi) is a charity that works towards “an ecologically sustainable and humane world for all animals”. This includes ensuring that threatened species are nominated to be listed under legislation. An opportunity has arisen for HSI to work with the Queensland Government to list a number of reptile species that are in dire need of conservation recognition. These are reptiles that I am an expert on, so they have contacted me to provide funding to me to help them write the nominations. I would use this funding to employ a recently graduated JCU PhD student to draft these nominations for me to then check and submit with HSI. Any left-over funding would be used for research on these threatened species. This is a ‘for the greater good’ project that I’d like to help out with.
Tackling Frog Disease (Old ID 22979)
Lin Schwarzkopf
01 Jan 2016 - 30 Sep 2024
Chytridiomycois is one of the most dramatic and important emerging infectious diseases in wildlife. It is caused by a fungal pathogen (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis or Bd), which parasitizes the skin of amphibians. This highly contagious pathogen has been responsible for making frogs the most endangered vertebrates on earth. Remarkably, some populations that experienced drastic declines have recovered, and now appear to coexist with the fungus, but the nature of their recovery remains a mystery. There are a a range of possible complex and interacting reasons why frog populations may coexist with this disease, which could be evolutionary, behavioural, environmental, or ecological. We are examining possible reasons for coexistence, to find approaches to aid populations that persist but are not recovering.
Elliot Springs – Offset Management Plan compliance for Black-throated Finch Scientific Study (Old ID 27038)
Lin Schwarzkopf
22 Oct 2020 - 30 Nov 2023
We will be determining the efficacy of using remote acoustic monitoring tools for black-throated finches (southern subspecies), by deploying automated recorders for one week each in a variety of locations around Qld where black-throated finches may occur, and manually surveying these areas once at the beginning of deployment and once at the end. Acoustic recordings will be analysed using human listening and automated artificial intelligence screening for black-throated finch calls. The results from the two methods will be compared to determine if acoustic monitoring is sufficient to monitor the occurrence of these finches in various locations.
Ecological influences on biodiverse morphology in climbing geckos (Old ID 27210)
Lin Schwarzkopf
15 Apr 2021 - 30 Apr 2025
Ecological interactions are one of the main drivers of biodiversity generation. The influence of ecology on the morphology of organisms is one such interaction that influences the generation of biodiversity. Australian Diplodactyline geckos are some of the most morphologically and ecologically diverse systems in the world. They occupy a diverse range of habitats and have evolved unique toe pads enable the exploitation of several substrates within the habitats they occupy. Therefore, my project will investigate how toe pads have evolved in response to habitat use in Diplodactyline geckos. We will examine these relationships by studying habitat use and morphology, with locomotor performance as an intermediary link.
Bioacoustics of Asian black-spined toad (Old ID 27734)
Lin Schwarzkopf
01 Jul 2022 - 31 Aug 2023
This Project will extend the research of the original project by increasing the number of ABST calls recorded and improving understanding of the breeding and calling behaviour of ABST and improving surveillance (trapping and camera trapping approaches) for ABST. This Project will also facilitate provision of advice to overseas collaborators in undertaking studies of ABST under the first contract mentioned above. Additional complementary data collection and/or research areas may be undertaken by mutual agreement between the Department and the Collaborator.
Limiting Environmental Impacts While Optimizing Benefits of Rapid Road Expansion in the Asia-Pacific Region (Old ID 22967)
William Laurance
01 Oct 2016 - 31 Mar 2020
We will assess the impacts of roads and other infrastructure on terrestrial ecosystems of the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on rapidly developing frontier areas in Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. Key goals will include devising land-use planning models to reduce environmental costs, maximise economic benefits, and predict the impacts of new roads and infrastructure on the environment. We will work actively with local partners and stakeholders, and engage in a variety of outreach and dissemination activities, to promote more sustainable infrastructure development in our environmentally critical study area.
Research to inform yellow crazy ant management in the Wet Tropics (Old ID 26714)
Lori Lach
01 Apr 2020 - 30 Jun 2025
Continuation and consolidation of four years of scientific activities to support yellow crazy ant eradication in the Wet Tropics (data analysis, monitoring non-target effects of baiting, probability of detection).
On the physiology of plant transpiration (Old ID 27163)
Lucas Cernusak
01 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2024
The aim is to better understand plant water use (transpiration): to determine the relative roles of the environment, both aerial [absorbed radiation, both long and short wave, humidity, windspeed and temperature] and below ground [e.g. soil moisture content and resistance to root penetration], and of the plant [stomata, water pathways inside the leaf, and root water status] in controlling transpiration rate. The project will improve formulae describing the environmental and biological aspects of transpiration. A novel technique will be developed to measure the water potential distribution within the leaf. Results will inform breeders of the abilities of different plants to transpire rapidly when demand is high, or to conserve water.
Title: ARC Future Fellow ($680,000), Global Change: Rainforest responses to experimental drought
Reseracher: Susan Laurance (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2014
Title: American Society of Naturalists
Reseracher: Megan Higgie (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2003
Title: European Research Council Advanced Grant 2018, ($2.5 million Euros). Role: collaborator, Lead Investigator: Dr Lourens Poorter
Reseracher: Susan Laurance (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2018
Title: Habilitation (Venia Docendi), University of Bern
Reseracher: Myles Menz (Senior Lecturer, Zoology and Ecology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2013
End Date: 01 Jan 2018
Title: PhD, The University of Western Australia
Reseracher: Myles Menz (Senior Lecturer, Zoology and Ecology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2009
End Date: 01 Jan 2013
Title: MSc in Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern
Reseracher: Myles Menz (Senior Lecturer, Zoology and Ecology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2006
End Date: 01 Jan 2008
Title: Bachelor of Science , The University of Western Australia
Reseracher: Myles Menz (Senior Lecturer, Zoology and Ecology)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2000
End Date: 01 Jan 2003
Title: Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Witwatersrand
Reseracher: Tasmin Rymer (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2004
End Date: 01 Jan 2009
Title: Minibeast Wildlife, I partnered with Minibeast Wildlife to support an Honour's student's project focusing on subsociality in tarantulas. That work is in the process of being published.
Reseracher: Tasmin Rymer (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2024
End Date: 01 Jan 2025
Title: Master of Science, University of Pretoria
Reseracher: Tasmin Rymer (Associate Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2003
End Date: 01 Jan 2004