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Graduate Diploma in Science, University of Sydney,
2006
Bachelor of Science (majors in Ecology, Zoology and Botany)
James Cook University, 2001
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Background
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I have worked as a native animal house attendant, a senior
wildlife keeper (Cairns Zoo) a senior ranger (SA NPWS) and a
biological consultant.
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Supervisors
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Assoc. Prof. Michael Thompson, University of Sydney
Dr Elaine Murphy, Detection & Prevention Program Leader, IA
CRC/DOC NZ.
Dieter Hochuli, University of Sydney.
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IA CRC Program
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Detection and Prevention
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Proj
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Ecology behaviour and physiology of the highly invasive lizard,
Lamphropholis delicata.
Invasive species pose the greatest threat to biodiversity
after habitat loss. Invasive species also have a massive economic
impact, costing the U.S. alone $137 billion per annum. A very
common and familiar garden lizard along the east coast of Australia
is the Rainbow or Plague Skink Lampropholis delicata, an
Australian native lizard that has become invasive overseas. It was
introduced to Hawaii in 1900, New Zealand in the 1960s and has most
recently turned up on Lord Howe Island sometime between 1970-2000.
Lampropholis delicata is extensively established, highly
abundant and spreading throughout these islands. It is believed
that L. delicata is causing significant ecological damage
in NZ, Hawaii and on Lord Howe Is., particularly via the
displacement of endemic lizards and predation upon endemic
invertebrates.
Understanding the factors that facilitate the spread of L.
delicata is crucial to its management as an invasive species.
I aim to identify factors promoting the ability of L.
delicata to invade different climatic environments; this will
be addressed by researching the ecology and thermal biology of
L. delicata in comparison to other Lampropholis
species with limited distributions.
I will determine the characteristics of L. delicata that drive
its success as an invader, in accordance with the expectation that
a widely successful invader will be able to tolerate a broad
climatic range and have generalist habitat requirements. My
research will provide data to be applied to risk assessment models
predicting the invasion potential of other species.
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Locations
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University of Sydney
Field work primarily on Lord Howe Island
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Publications
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In review.
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