Dr Nicholas Clark
Dr

Nicholas Clark

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 535 15104

Background

An ecologist by training – I hold a B.Sc. (Hons) in Marine Ecology from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington and a Ph.D. in Ecological Modelling from Griffith University. I am broadly interested in exploring new ways to (1) understand how natural communities are formed and (2) predict how they will change over time. As an Amplify Fellow at UQ, my current research focuses on developing computational tools and adapting techniques from epidemiology and statistical forecasting to study how organisms and ecosystems respond to environmental change. This work is being applied to investigate natural dynamics for a range of natural systems including host-parasite interactions, wildlife populations and veterinary diseases.

I am an active member of the R community and have written and/or maintain several popular R packages. For example, I’m a lead developer on the MRFcov package for multivariate conditional random fields analyses. I also wrote the mvgam R package for fitting dynamic Generalised Additive Models to analyse and forecast multivariate ecological time series, and I regularly provide training seminars and workshops to help researchers learn techniques in ecological data analysis.

I am currently seeking Honours and PhD candidates with interests and/or skills in veterinary epidemiology, spatial / spatiotemporal modeling and quantitative ecology.

Availability

Dr Nicholas Clark is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biogeography and phylogeography Biological Sciences Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology) Ecology Epidemiology Genetics Health Sciences Phylogeny and comparative analysis Population ecology Speciation and extinction

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University

Research interests

  • Using forecasts to anticipate how ecosystems respond to environmental change

    I am leading projects to develop new stastical and machine learning models that aim to advance our ability to predict and forecast ecological change. Expected applications of this work cover many fields where time series are very important, including conservation prioritisation, agriculture, species distribution modeling and biosecurity. Currently seeking both Honours and PhD students who are interested in ecological forecasting.

  • Automatic forecasting for non-Gaussian time series

    Automatic forecasting algorithms are crucial tools for many modern-day business operations. Yet nearly all of the available algorithms, and their associated software packages, assume that the series can be modelled with Gaussian errors. This makes it hard for end-users to employ these models when they routinely deal with non-Gaussian series, such as counts of sales, compositional data that must sum to 1, or time series that present as proportions. This project will develop extremely efficient and adaptable forecasting algorithms that can work with a huge variety of real-world time series, filling a crucial gap in the available software landscape for industry-level forecasting purposes.

  • The macroecology and biogeography of infectious dieases

    This work aims to describe large-scale patterns in the distributions of wildlife and their pathogens to identify processes governing ecological community assembly and the spread of pathogens. I'll be very happy to accept Honours or PhD students who are interested in biogeography, wildlife research and infectious disease epidemiology.

  • The epidemiology of animal pathogens across the human-wildlife interface

    I am interested in using molecular genetics and epidemiology to improve our understanding of how pathogen infection rates and emergence will change as human encroachment alters natural environments. This work mostly focuses on wildlife and domestic animals, but it can also be used to study human diseases. I'll be very happy to accept Honours or PhD students who are interested in this line of work.

Research impacts

My research is geared towards understanding how ecological communities, pathogen infection rates and pathogen emergence will change as climate change and human encroachment continue to alter natural environments. This work has generated translational benefits by helping to provide insights into factors that can be targeted to reduce the spread of pathogens in our animals and how to build better models for understanding wildlife responses to climate change. Some key media coverage of this body of work includes:

Ecological Forecasting with Dynamic Generalized Additive Models

Detecting how ecological communities respond to temperature changes

Understanding parasite spread through wildlife: the crucial role of statistical models

Adapting statistical network models to identify biotic interactions in changing communities

Using evolutionary models to trace the emergence of harmful viruses in pet dogs

Tracing the spread of fleas from pets to wildlife and vice versa

Detecting invasive malaria parasites in Australian birds

Search Professor Nicholas Clark’s works on UQ eSpace

72 works between 2012 and 2025
All (72) Journal Article (70) Conference Publication (2)

1 - 20 of 72 works

Featured

2022

Journal Article

Dynamic generalised additive models ( DGAMs ) for forecasting discrete ecological time series

Clark, Nicholas J. and Wells, Konstans (2022). Dynamic generalised additive models ( DGAMs ) for forecasting discrete ecological time series. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 14 (3), 771-784. doi: 10.1111/2041-210x.13974

Dynamic generalised additive models ( DGAMs ) for forecasting discrete ecological time series

Featured

2022

Journal Article

Improving the predictability and interpretability of co‐occurrence modelling through feature‐based joint species distribution ensembles

Powell‐Romero, Francisca, Fountain‐Jones, Nicholas M., Norberg, Anna and Clark, Nicholas J. (2022). Improving the predictability and interpretability of co‐occurrence modelling through feature‐based joint species distribution ensembles. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 14 (1), 1-16. doi: 10.1111/2041-210x.13915

Improving the predictability and interpretability of co‐occurrence modelling through feature‐based joint species distribution ensembles

Featured

2022

Journal Article

Near-term forecasting of companion animal tick paralysis incidence: an iterative ensemble model

Clark, Nicholas J., Proboste, Tatiana, Weerasinghe, Guyan and Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J. (2022). Near-term forecasting of companion animal tick paralysis incidence: an iterative ensemble model. PLoS Computational Biology, 18 (2) e1009874, e1009874. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009874

Near-term forecasting of companion animal tick paralysis incidence: an iterative ensemble model

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Rapid winter warming could disrupt coastal marine fish community structure

Clark, Nicholas J., Kerry, James T. and Fraser, Ceridwen I. (2020). Rapid winter warming could disrupt coastal marine fish community structure. Nature Climate Change, 10 (9), 862-867. doi: 10.1038/s41558-020-0838-5

Rapid winter warming could disrupt coastal marine fish community structure

Featured

2019

Journal Article

Climate variation influences host specificity in avian malaria parasites

Fecchio, Alan, Wells, Konstans, Bell, Jeffrey A., Tkach, Vasyl V., Lutz, Holly L., Weckstein, Jason D., Clegg, Sonya M. and Clark, Nicholas J. (2019). Climate variation influences host specificity in avian malaria parasites. Ecology Letters, 22 (3), 547-557. doi: 10.1111/ele.13215

Climate variation influences host specificity in avian malaria parasites

2025

Journal Article

The epidemiology of hospitalisations from four key environmentally sensitive zoonotic diseases in Queensland, 2012–2019

Proboste, Tatiana, Lau, Colleen L., Clark, Nicholas, Jagals, Paul, Sly, Peter D., Lambert, Stephen B., Devine, Gregor, Zuccon, Guido and Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J. (2025). The epidemiology of hospitalisations from four key environmentally sensitive zoonotic diseases in Queensland, 2012–2019. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 30 (8), 838-847. doi: 10.1111/tmi.14139

The epidemiology of hospitalisations from four key environmentally sensitive zoonotic diseases in Queensland, 2012–2019

2025

Journal Article

Diversity and Plasticity in Mosquito Feeding Patterns: A Meta‐Analysis of ‘Universal’ <scp>DNA</scp> Diet Studies

Lee, Meshach, O'Rorke, Richard, Clark, Nicholas J., Webster, Tamsyn Uren and Wells, Konstans (2025). Diversity and Plasticity in Mosquito Feeding Patterns: A Meta‐Analysis of ‘Universal’ DNA Diet Studies. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 34 (6) e70077. doi: 10.1111/geb.70077

Diversity and Plasticity in Mosquito Feeding Patterns: A Meta‐Analysis of ‘Universal’ <scp>DNA</scp> Diet Studies

2025

Journal Article

Correction: Rame Hau et al. The Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with the Presence of Antibiotic Residues in Milk from Peri-Urban Dairy Cattle Farms in Kathmandu, Nepal. Antibiotics 2025, 14, 98

Rame Hau, Erda E., Sharma, Minu, Khanal, Bal K. Sharma, Sly, Peter D., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Clark, Nicholas and Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J. (2025). Correction: Rame Hau et al. The Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with the Presence of Antibiotic Residues in Milk from Peri-Urban Dairy Cattle Farms in Kathmandu, Nepal. Antibiotics 2025, 14, 98. Antibiotics, 14 (5) 473, 473. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics14050473

Correction: Rame Hau et al. The Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with the Presence of Antibiotic Residues in Milk from Peri-Urban Dairy Cattle Farms in Kathmandu, Nepal. Antibiotics 2025, 14, 98

2025

Journal Article

Traditional practices versus modern healthcare: determinants of traditional medicine use after potential dog bites among dog-owning households in Nigeria

Mshelbwala, Philip P., Wangdi, Kinley, Idris, Jibrin, Hassan, Mohammad Mahmudul, Adamu, Andrew M., Rupprecht, Charles E. and Clark, Nicholas J. (2025). Traditional practices versus modern healthcare: determinants of traditional medicine use after potential dog bites among dog-owning households in Nigeria. Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases, 19 (3) e0012910. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012910

Traditional practices versus modern healthcare: determinants of traditional medicine use after potential dog bites among dog-owning households in Nigeria

2025

Journal Article

Beyond single-species models: leveraging multispecies forecasts to navigate the dynamics of ecological predictability

Clark, Nicholas J., Ernest, S. K. Morgan, Senyondo, Henry, Simonis, Juniper, White, Ethan P., Yenni, Glenda M. and Karunarathna, K. A. N. K. (2025). Beyond single-species models: leveraging multispecies forecasts to navigate the dynamics of ecological predictability. PeerJ, 13 (2) e18929. doi: 10.7717/peerj.18929

Beyond single-species models: leveraging multispecies forecasts to navigate the dynamics of ecological predictability

2025

Journal Article

The prevalence and risk factors associated with the presence of antibiotic residues in milk from peri-urban dairy cattle farms in Kathmandu, Nepal

Rame Hau, Erda E. Rame, Sharma, Minu, Khanal, Bal K. Sharma, Sly, Peter D., Mikkelsen, Deirdre, Clark, Nicholas and Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J. Soares (2025). The prevalence and risk factors associated with the presence of antibiotic residues in milk from peri-urban dairy cattle farms in Kathmandu, Nepal. Antibiotics, 14 (1) 98, 1-18. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics14010098

The prevalence and risk factors associated with the presence of antibiotic residues in milk from peri-urban dairy cattle farms in Kathmandu, Nepal

2025

Journal Article

Parasite abundance‐occupancy relationships across biogeographic regions: joint effects of niche breadth, host availability and climate

Wells, Konstans, Bell, Jeffrey A., Fecchio, Alan, Drovetski, Serguei, Galen, Spencer, Hackett, Shannon, Lutz, Holly, Skeen, Heather R., Voelker, Gary, Wamiti, Wanyoike, Weckstein, Jason D. and Clark, Nicholas J. (2025). Parasite abundance‐occupancy relationships across biogeographic regions: joint effects of niche breadth, host availability and climate. Journal of Biogeography, 52 (1), 55-65. doi: 10.1111/jbi.15015

Parasite abundance‐occupancy relationships across biogeographic regions: joint effects of niche breadth, host availability and climate

2024

Journal Article

Prevalence of feline upper respiratory tract pathogens and risk factors for clinical disease and final outcomes in an RSPCA shelter in Queensland, Australia

Kennedy, Uttara, Stevenson, Mark, Paterson, Mandy, Jaensch, Susan, Hayward, Doug and Clark, Nicholas (2024). Prevalence of feline upper respiratory tract pathogens and risk factors for clinical disease and final outcomes in an RSPCA shelter in Queensland, Australia. Veterinary Record Open, 11 (2) e70001, e270001. doi: 10.1002/vro2.70001

Prevalence of feline upper respiratory tract pathogens and risk factors for clinical disease and final outcomes in an RSPCA shelter in Queensland, Australia

2024

Journal Article

Ascertainment of community exposure sites to Ross River virus during the 2020 outbreak in Brisbane, Australia

Proboste, Tatiana, Bista, Damber, Clark, Nicholas J., Arora, Sahil, Devine, Gregor, Darbro, Jonathan M., Malloy, Deena S., Francis, Daniel and Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J. (2024). Ascertainment of community exposure sites to Ross River virus during the 2020 outbreak in Brisbane, Australia. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 231 (3), e501-e510. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiae578

Ascertainment of community exposure sites to Ross River virus during the 2020 outbreak in Brisbane, Australia

2024

Journal Article

Asymmetric biotic interactions cannot be inferred without accounting for priority effects

Powell‐Romero, Francisca, Wells, Konstans and Clark, Nicholas J. (2024). Asymmetric biotic interactions cannot be inferred without accounting for priority effects. Ecology Letters, 27 (9) e14509, e14509. doi: 10.1111/ele.14509

Asymmetric biotic interactions cannot be inferred without accounting for priority effects

2024

Journal Article

A systematic review and guide for using multi-response statistical models in co-infection research

Powell-Romero, Francisca, Wells, Konstans and Clark, Nicholas J. (2024). A systematic review and guide for using multi-response statistical models in co-infection research. Royal Society Open Science, 11 (10) 231589, 1-18. doi: 10.1098/rsos.231589

A systematic review and guide for using multi-response statistical models in co-infection research

2024

Journal Article

Assessing perceptions of flea and tick infestation risk in Southeast Queensland, Australia

Proboste, Tatiana, Dennis, Elisa, Soares Magalhães, Ricardo J., Abdullah, Swaid and Clark, Nicholas J. (2024). Assessing perceptions of flea and tick infestation risk in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, 54 101087, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101087

Assessing perceptions of flea and tick infestation risk in Southeast Queensland, Australia

2024

Journal Article

Insights into canine rabies vaccination disparities in Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional household study

Mshelbwala, Philip P., Wangdi, Kinley, Bunting-Graden, Joseph A., Bamayange, Saidu, Adamu, Andrew M., Gupta, Suman D., Suluku, Rowland, Adamu, Cornelius S., Weese, J. Scott, Rupprecht, Charles E. and Clark, Nicholas J. (2024). Insights into canine rabies vaccination disparities in Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional household study. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 18 (7) e0012332, 1-18. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012332

Insights into canine rabies vaccination disparities in Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional household study

2024

Journal Article

A scoping review of the evidence on prevalence of feline upper respiratory tract infections and associated risk factors

Kennedy, Uttara, Paterson, Mandy Bryce Allan, Soares Magalhaes, Ricardo, Callaghan, Thomas and Clark, Nicholas (2024). A scoping review of the evidence on prevalence of feline upper respiratory tract infections and associated risk factors. Veterinary Sciences, 11 (6) 232. doi: 10.3390/vetsci11060232

A scoping review of the evidence on prevalence of feline upper respiratory tract infections and associated risk factors

2024

Journal Article

Factors influencing canine rabies vaccination among dog-owning households in Nigeria

Mshelbwala, Philip P., Rupprecht, Charles E., Osinubi, Modupe O., Njoga, Emmanuel O., Orum, Terese G., Weese, J. Scott and Clark, Nicholas J. (2024). Factors influencing canine rabies vaccination among dog-owning households in Nigeria. One Health, 18 100751, 100751. doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100751

Factors influencing canine rabies vaccination among dog-owning households in Nigeria

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2023
    Epidemiology of feline upper respiratory tract Infections in shelter cats at RSPCA Queensland
    Feline Health Research Fund
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Towards reliable and explainable models for anticipating ecological change
    ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Deep sequencing of beta-tubulin genes to ascertain benzimidazole resistance mechanisms in canine hookworms in Australian dogs
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    TickAlert: development of an integrated early warning surveillance platform for tick paralysis
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Tracing the spillover of fleas and paralysis ticks between wildlife and domestic pets in Australia
    National Geographic Society
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Nicholas Clark is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Forecasting ecosystem responses to environmental change

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Evolutionary pathways and molecular characterization of Influenza Viruses at high-risk human-poultry interfaces in Bangladesh

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Dynamic habitat suitability modelling for terrestrial mammals in Australia integrating google earth engine, remote sensing, machine learning and citizen science data

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr April Reside

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Volatile synchrony: Pulse reproductive events of giant canopy trees, and the fauna they impact.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Andrew Letten

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Spatial epidemiological approaches to support local One Health strategies to achieve rabies infection control and elimination

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Prevalence of ticks and tick-borne diseases and other parasitic diseases in wild and free roaming canids in Queensland, Australia.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Justine Gibson, Dr Swaid Abdullah

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigations into the importance of antimicrobial residues in the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in peri-urban dairy farms of Nepal

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Deirdre Mikkelsen, Professor Peter Sly, Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr Nicholas Clark directly for media enquiries about:

  • Community ecology
  • Disease ecology
  • Ecological modeling
  • Forecasting
  • Host-parasite interactions

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au