Invasive Animals CRC

Invasive Animals CRC > About Us > Our postgraduate students

Jennyfer Cruz-Bernal

	Environmental Science Degree (Honours), Monash University.
Background	Jennyfer has always had a passion for environmental issues and lately has discovered an interest in ecology. Her PhD project allows her to combine these interests to hopefully develop better management strategies for the protection of endangered species.
Supervisors	Mr Paul de Torres, Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation Dr Luke Leung, University of Queensland (Gatton).
IA CRC Program	Uptake
Project	Effects of extrinsic factors on brushtail possum population dynamics, following long-term fox control. Prey populations in the northern jarrah forest of WA have faced major declines in the past few years despite ongoing fox control efforts, suggesting that factors other than fox predation are responsible for their decline. The aim of this project is to determine the impact that extrinsic factors including food availability, disease and predation are having on brushtail possum population in an effort to determine the causes of their recent decline. Results would be applicable to other prey populations in the northern jarrah forest and Jennyfer hopes to provide improved management strategies in order to ensure the conservation of these endangered populations. This project forms part of the Western Australian demonstration site - "Western Shield"
Locations	Department of Environment and Conservation (WA) University of Queensland Field work primarily in the northern jarrah forest of Western Australia.