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Survey open until 31 October 2009

Dynamics and impacts of invasive species

Invasive species are a major threat to biodiversity and agricultural production worldwide and work in my lab examines two key groups of invasive animals; predatory mammals and rodents.

a. Feral Predators

Feral predators are a primary cause of biodiversity loss and few ecosystems have escaped their impact. Understanding how feral predators affect their prey is a critical conservation objective; not only to identify and protect prey species at risk but also to ensure efficient and targeted management of the problem. Importantly, the future of pest control relies upon ethical and clever solutions to reduce pest impact with minimal impacts on animal welfare.

A major project in this program involves collaboration with researchers at the University of Turku, Finland, examining the impacts and ecology of invasive mink on wildlife in the Finnish Archipelago. We are using a unique long-term large scale predator removal experiment to reveal the nature of prolonged impacts. Our results to date show that alien mink are altering fundamental ecological processes for migratory aquatic bird species, rodents, and amphibians. Related projects in Australia investigate interactions between competing alien species, and how their interactions with each other influence their impacts on native wildlife.

Recent Projects

Bruce Mitchell (Hons 2004) - Interactions between foxes and wild dogs in the Blue Mountains National Park

Karen Fey (PhD University of Turku) - Alteration of top down and bottom processes by feral mink in the ecology of vole populations

Pälvi Salo (PhD, University of Turku) - Ecology of feral mink in Finnish Archipelago

Collaborators

Prof Erkki Korpimäki (University of Turku), Dr Mikael Nordström, Prof Chris Dickman (USYD), Prof Lauri Oksanen (University of Turku, Finland), Bruce Mitchell (NPWS), Dr Ricky Spencer (Peststat), Dr Matt Hayward (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa)

b. Alien rodents

Alien rodents are arguably the world's worst vertebrate pests. They are major pests of the world's staple foods (rice and wheat), and cause millions of dollars damage in developed countries. In terms of conservation, rats are major predators of birds, insects and other small mammals, and have been directly linked to extinctions in Australia and the Pacific. They also spread disease, out-compete local species and support elevated numbers of predators which go on to kill other native fauna. Despite these impacts, the underlying biology and ecology of the feral rodents are surprisingly poorly known. This program aims to develop a better understanding of the dynamics of two key rodents pests, the black rat and the house mouse by testing theories of population processes. We also use manipulative experiments to reveal the nature of rodent impcts on native species, and the functional role of rodents in ecosystem processes.

Recent Projects

Rachel Millers (MSc) Ecology & impacts of pest rodents in the Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines

Peter Brown (PhD 2006) Compensatory processes in the management of rodent impacts in Australia and south-east Asia

Vicki Stokes (PhD) interactions between clack rats and native mammals at Jervis Bay

Tania Rose (Hons 2004) Ecology and impacts of black rats at North Head Sydney

Jenna Bytheway (Hons 2005) The role of odour in the foraging behaviour of rodents.

Collaborators

Dr Peter Brown (CSIRO), Prof Erkki Korpimäki (University of Turku), Dr Grant Singleton (IRRI, Philippines), Dr Roger Pech (Landcare New Zealand)

Chemical signal exploitation in predator prey interactions

Signalling lies at the heart of behavioural and evolutionary ecology, being the primary means by which animals choose mates and socialise. Yet social signals are open to eavesdropping enemies, including predators which may use prey cues to improve their foraging. In Australia, prey naivete to alien predators is one reason why invasive species have been so devsatating, yet we know little of how predators find their prey. This research program aims to develop a new understanding about the exploitation of social signals by both predator and prey. In doing so we aim to generate new theory on the reactive foraging behaviour of predators and use this theory to solve conservation problems

Recent Projects

Nelika Hughes (PhD) - Signal exploitation in house mouse predator prey interactions
Catherine Price (PhD) - Novel strategies to protect prey from alien predation

Ben Russell (PhD 2006) - The ecology of alien and native predator and prey behavioural interactions amongst Australian mammals
Joanne Lenehan (Hons 2003) - Mechanisms of browsing deterrents to protect plants from marsupials

Candida Barclay (Hons 2004) - Mechanisms of road crossing behavior in small mammals

Louise Pastro (Hons 2003) - House mouse responses to chemical signal exploitation in predator-prey interactions.

Collaborators

Dr Jennifer Kelley (Post Doc UNSW), Dr Otso Huitu (University of Turku), Dr Hannu Ylönen (University of Jyväskylä), Dr Clare McArthur (University of Sydney)

Conservation Biology of Australian Mammals: Wildlife at the Urban Interface

Australia has suffered the highest rate of mammal extinctions anywhere in the world since 1700. Ongoing impacts of European settlement continue to threatened mammals, making research into their ecology a conservation priority. A range of projects in the lab has examined how native mammals are coping with encroaching urbanisation. In particular, we are involved in a 10 year study of the ecology and dynamics of an endangered long-nosed bandicoot population at North Head, Sydney. The response of this population to ongoing urban development is being used as a model for other native wildlife trapped in pockets of urbanisation.

Recent projects

Jessica Bryant (Hons 2005) Ecological impacts of dog walking in natural areas

Nelika Hughes (Hons 2003) Habitat selection of an endangered bandicoot population across and urban/bushland interface

Elke Venstra (MSc University of Amsterdam 2004) Are urban bandicoots caught in an ecological trap?

Tania Rose (Hons 2004) Ecology and impacts of black rats at North Head

Rochelle Basham (Hons 2005): Bat's in Sydneys urban bushland fragments

Roy Wilson (MSc 2004) Ecology of the southern brown bandicoot in northern Sydney

Brian Hawkins (Hons 2004) Mapping habitat for the endangered Yellow-bellied Glider across the Gosford LGA

Collaborators

Rachel Miller, Mel Tyas, Rob Humphries (NPWS), Dr Brad Law (SFNSW), Dr Adam Munn (University of Sydney)