Project: 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.

Background:

Graduate Diploma in Science, University of Sydney, 2006
Bachelor of Science (majors in Ecology, Zoology and Botany) James Cook University, 2001

I have worked as a native animal house attendant, a senior wildlife keeper (Cairns Zoo) a senior ranger (SA NPWS) and a biological consultant.