Professor Richard Fuller
Professor

Richard Fuller

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 69912
Mobile: 
0458353102

Background

The actions of people just like you and me have caused a massive biodiversity crisis, pushing many species to the brink of extinction and beyond. Doing something about this is one of the most important and urgent problems globally. I am interested in understanding how people have affected the natural world around them, and how some of their destructive effects can best be reversed. On the flip side, I am also keen to understand whether people can benefit positively from experiences of biodiversity.

To answer these questions I work on pure and applied topics in biodiversity and conservation. Much of my work is interdisciplinary, focusing on the interactions between people and nature, how these can be enhanced, and how these relationships can be shaped to converge on coherent solutions to the biodiversity crisis. Current research topics include the ecology and conservation of migratory species, understanding what drives some people to show stronger environmental concern than others, and strategies for designing efficient conservation plans. I enjoy working closely with all my wonderful colleagues in the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science.

Availability

Professor Richard Fuller is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Ecology Environmental Sciences Zoology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours), University of Bristol
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, Imperial College London
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Durham University

Research impacts

My expertise is regularly called upon to provide advice outside academia. I study the topic of sustainable environmental management, a subject of keen interest not only to the public at large, but also to organisations and agencies charged with managing the environment and regulating human impacts upon it. Reflecting this expertise, I have been repeatedly invited by the Australian Government to form part of the official Australian delegation in bilateral talks on migratory species conservation with the Chinese, Japanese and Korean governments in 2014, 2016, and 2018. I frequently advise the Australian Government as well as regional agencies such as Queensland Department of Environment and Science, and Brisbane City Council. This advice includes expert witness testimony on the biodiversity impacts of proposed coastal developments and for advice about migratory species conservation domestically and internationally. Recently I provided direct 1:1 advice to the Federal Environment Minister on a coastal development proposal in central Queensland. I also seek to communicate broadly with the public and am invited monthly to speak at local and regional meetings and writing for special interest magazines and newsletters.

In direct response to the analysis in Studds et al. (2017; Nature Communications), the Australian Government listed the Eastern Curlew and the Curlew Sandpiper as Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act, and the following year another six migratory shorebirds were also listed as nationally threatened. Given the large number of species involved, this decision was a step change in migratory bird conservation in Australia, significantly adding to the protections for these declining species and subsequently influencing hundreds of coastal development decisions around the nation. Frequently citing our work, and enlisting me as a technical advisor, the Australian Government created and ratified a formal International Single Species Action Plan to rescue the Critically Endangered Eastern Curlew (Fig. 1). The plan has been approved and implemented in 22 countries, catalysing research and action around the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Search Professor Richard Fuller’s works on UQ eSpace

329 works between 1997 and 2025
All (329) Journal Article (278) Book Chapter (16) Conference Publication (5) Book (8) Other Outputs (22)

21 - 40 of 329 works

2024

Journal Article

Agreements for conserving migratory shorebirds in the Asia–Pacific are better fit for addressing habitat loss than hunting

Gallo-Cajiao, Eduardo, Morrison, Tiffany H. and Fuller, Richard A. (2024). Agreements for conserving migratory shorebirds in the Asia–Pacific are better fit for addressing habitat loss than hunting. Ambio, 53 (9), 1336-1354. doi: 10.1007/s13280-024-02018-3

Agreements for conserving migratory shorebirds in the Asia–Pacific are better fit for addressing habitat loss than hunting

2024

Journal Article

Well-being from nature exposure depends on socio-environmental contexts in Paraguay

Berdejo-Espinola, Violeta, Fuller, Richard A. and Zahnow, Renee (2024). Well-being from nature exposure depends on socio-environmental contexts in Paraguay. Nature Cities, 1 (5), 335-345. doi: 10.1038/s44284-024-00058-0

Well-being from nature exposure depends on socio-environmental contexts in Paraguay

2024

Journal Article

Predicting resilience of migratory birds to environmental change

Lisovski, Simeon, Hoye, Bethany J., Conklin, Jesse R., Battley, Phil F., Fuller, Richard A., Gosbell, Ken B., Klaassen, Marcel, Benjamin Lee, Chengfa, Murray, Nicholas J. and Bauer, Silke (2024). Predicting resilience of migratory birds to environmental change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121 (19) e2311146121, 1-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2311146121

Predicting resilience of migratory birds to environmental change

2024

Journal Article

Virtual reality for nature experiences

Berdejo-Espinola, Violeta, Zahnow, Renee, O’Bryan, Christopher J. and Fuller, Richard A. (2024). Virtual reality for nature experiences. Nature Human Behaviour, 8 (6), 1-3. doi: 10.1038/s41562-024-01857-0

Virtual reality for nature experiences

2024

Other Outputs

The world’s spectacular animal migrations are dwindling. Fishing, fences and development are fast-tracking extinctions

Fuller, Richard, Dunn, Daniel and Bentley, Lily (2024, 02 13). The world’s spectacular animal migrations are dwindling. Fishing, fences and development are fast-tracking extinctions The Conversation

The world’s spectacular animal migrations are dwindling. Fishing, fences and development are fast-tracking extinctions

2024

Journal Article

Assessing adequacy of citizen science datasets for biodiversity monitoring

Backstrom, Louis J., Callaghan, Corey T., Leseberg, Nicholas P., Sanderson, Chris, Fuller, Richard A. and Watson, James E. M. (2024). Assessing adequacy of citizen science datasets for biodiversity monitoring. Ecology and Evolution, 14 (2) e10857, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/ece3.10857

Assessing adequacy of citizen science datasets for biodiversity monitoring

2024

Journal Article

Language inclusion in ecological systematic reviews and maps: barriers and perspectives

Hannah, Kelsey, Haddaway, Neal R., Fuller, Richard A. and Amano, Tatsuya (2024). Language inclusion in ecological systematic reviews and maps: barriers and perspectives. Research Synthesis Methods, 15 (3), 466-482. doi: 10.1002/jrsm.1699

Language inclusion in ecological systematic reviews and maps: barriers and perspectives

2024

Journal Article

Using citizen science to identify Australia’s least known birds and inform conservation action

Backstrom, Louis J., Leseberg, Nicholas P., Callaghan, Corey T., Sanderson, Chris, Fuller, Richard. A. and Watson, James E. M. (2024). Using citizen science to identify Australia’s least known birds and inform conservation action. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 124 (2), 199-205. doi: 10.1080/01584197.2023.2283443

Using citizen science to identify Australia’s least known birds and inform conservation action

2023

Journal Article

Using modern portfolio theory to enhance ecosystem service delivery: A case study from China

Zhang, Xiaolin, Jin, Xiaobin, Fuller, Richard A., Liang, Xinyuan, Fan, Yeting and Zhou, Yinkang (2023). Using modern portfolio theory to enhance ecosystem service delivery: A case study from China. Journal of Environmental Management, 347 119064, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119064

Using modern portfolio theory to enhance ecosystem service delivery: A case study from China

2023

Journal Article

Tree removals as socioecological experiments in cities

Threlfall, Caragh G., Ordonez-Barona, Camilo, Livesley, Stephen J., Baumann, Jess, Callow, David, Davern, Melanie, English, Alex, Fuller, Richard A., Hertzog, Kelly, Hochuli, Dieter F., van Der Ree, Rodney and Kendal, Dave (2023). Tree removals as socioecological experiments in cities. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 22 (1) e2686. doi: 10.1002/fee.2686

Tree removals as socioecological experiments in cities

2023

Journal Article

Comparing different management strategies of river mouths for waterbird conservation: a case study along the Yellow Sea coast

Zhao, Shanshan, Wang, Tianhou, Li, Xiuzhen, Xu, Huan, Liu, Ningning, Xu, Aichun, Fuller, Richard A. and Li, Ben (2023). Comparing different management strategies of river mouths for waterbird conservation: a case study along the Yellow Sea coast. Global Ecology and Conservation, 47 e02659, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02659

Comparing different management strategies of river mouths for waterbird conservation: a case study along the Yellow Sea coast

2023

Journal Article

Saving our seabirds: variable breeding success of Red-tailed Tropicbirds in the Great Barrier Reef reveals the need for robust monitoring

Richardson, Lachlan S., Fuller, Richard A., Stewart, David A., McDonald, Jane A., Robertson, Katharine and Oswald, Stephen A. (2023). Saving our seabirds: variable breeding success of Red-tailed Tropicbirds in the Great Barrier Reef reveals the need for robust monitoring. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 123 (4), 345-356. doi: 10.1080/01584197.2023.2269189

Saving our seabirds: variable breeding success of Red-tailed Tropicbirds in the Great Barrier Reef reveals the need for robust monitoring

2023

Journal Article

Insights from citizen science reveal priority areas for conserving biodiversity in Bangladesh

Chowdhury, Shawan, Fuller, Richard A., Rokonuzzaman, Md., Alam, Shofiul, Das, Priyanka, Siddika, Asma, Ahmed, Sultan, Labi, Mahzabin Muzahid, Chowdhury, Sayam U., Mukul, Sharif A., Böhm, Monika and Hanson, Jeffrey O. (2023). Insights from citizen science reveal priority areas for conserving biodiversity in Bangladesh. One Earth, 6 (10), 1315-1325. doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.08.025

Insights from citizen science reveal priority areas for conserving biodiversity in Bangladesh

2023

Journal Article

Drone‐induced flight initiation distances for shorebirds in mixed‐species flocks

Wilson, Joshua P., Amano, Tatsuya and Fuller, Richard A. (2023). Drone‐induced flight initiation distances for shorebirds in mixed‐species flocks. Journal of Applied Ecology, 60 (9), 1816-1827. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.14467

Drone‐induced flight initiation distances for shorebirds in mixed‐species flocks

2023

Journal Article

Multiple facets of biodiversity are threatened by mining‐induced land‐use change in the Brazilian Amazon

Lloyd, Thomas J., Oliveira, Ubirajara, Soares‐Filho, Britaldo S., Fuller, Richard A., Butt, Nathalie, Ascher, John S., Barbosa, João Paulo Peixoto Pena, Batista, João Aguiar Nogueira, Brescovit, Antonio D., de Carvalho, Claudio J. B., De Marco, Paulo, Ferro, Viviane Gianluppi, Leite, Felipe Sá Fortes, Löwenberg‐Neto, Peter, Paglia, Adriano Pereira, de Rezende, Daniella Teixeira, Santos, Adalberto J., Silva, Daniel Paiva, de Vasconcelos, Marcelo Ferreira and Sonter, Laura J. (2023). Multiple facets of biodiversity are threatened by mining‐induced land‐use change in the Brazilian Amazon. Diversity and Distributions, 29 (9), 1190-1204. doi: 10.1111/ddi.13753

Multiple facets of biodiversity are threatened by mining‐induced land‐use change in the Brazilian Amazon

2023

Journal Article

Using social media records to inform conservation planning

Chowdhury, Shawan, Fuller, Richard A., Ahmed, Sultan, Alam, Shofiul, Callaghan, Corey T., Das, Priyanka, Correia, Ricardo A., Marco, Moreno Di, Minin, Enrico Di, Jarić, Ivan, Labi, Mahzabin Muzahid, Ladle, Richard J., Rokonuzzaman, Md., Roll, Uri, Sbragaglia, Valerio, Siddika, Asma and Bonn, Aletta (2023). Using social media records to inform conservation planning. Conservation Biology, 38 (1) e14161, 1-11. doi: 10.1111/cobi.14161

Using social media records to inform conservation planning

2023

Journal Article

Increasing biodiversity knowledge through social media: a case study from tropical Bangladesh

Chowdhury, Shawan, Aich, Upama, Rokonuzzaman, Md, Alam, Shofiul, Das, Priyanka, Siddika, Asma, Ahmed, Sultan, Labi, Mahzabin Muzahid, Marco, Moreno Di, Fuller, Richard A and Callaghan, Corey T (2023). Increasing biodiversity knowledge through social media: a case study from tropical Bangladesh. BioScience, 73 (6), 453-459. doi: 10.1093/biosci/biad042

Increasing biodiversity knowledge through social media: a case study from tropical Bangladesh

2023

Journal Article

Can an acoustic observatory contribute to the conservation of threatened species?

Schwarzkopf, Lin, Roe, Paul, Mcdonald, Paul G., Watson, David M., Fuller, Richard A. and Allen‐Ankins, Slade (2023). Can an acoustic observatory contribute to the conservation of threatened species?. Austral Ecology, 48 (7), 1-8. doi: 10.1111/aec.13398

Can an acoustic observatory contribute to the conservation of threatened species?

2023

Journal Article

Quantifying the importance of urban trees to people and nature through tree removal experiments

Ordóñez, Camilo, Threlfall, Caragh G., Kendal, Dave, Baumann, Jess, Sonkkila, Cherese, Hochuli, Dieter F., van der Ree, Rodney, Fuller, Richard A., Davern, Melanie, Herzog, Kelly, English, Alex and Livesley, Stephen J. (2023). Quantifying the importance of urban trees to people and nature through tree removal experiments. People and Nature, 5 (4), 1316-1335. doi: 10.1002/pan3.10509

Quantifying the importance of urban trees to people and nature through tree removal experiments

2023

Journal Article

Using empirical data analysis and expert opinion to identify farmland‐associated bird species from their habitat associations

Lin, Da‐Li, Maron, Martine, Amano, Tatsuya, Chang, An‐Yu and Fuller, Richard A. (2023). Using empirical data analysis and expert opinion to identify farmland‐associated bird species from their habitat associations. Ibis, 165 (3), 974-985. doi: 10.1111/ibi.13179

Using empirical data analysis and expert opinion to identify farmland‐associated bird species from their habitat associations

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Improving biodiversity outcomes in West African cocoa
    Lindt Cocoa Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Research and tools to support recovery and management of migratory shorebirds in Australia (NESP2 MaC Hub - Reef and Rainforest Research Centre funded project)
    Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Limited
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2023
    Using citizen science to benefit nature conservation and human health
    Universities Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Pasay 360 Sustainability Framework
    SM Smart City Infrastructure and Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Social perspectives on human-wildlife interactions in coastal settings
    Sunshine Coast Regional Council
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Australia's Coastal Shorebirds: Trends and Prospects
    University of Tasmania
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Surveying shorebirds in Moreton Bay using an unmanned aerial vehicle
    The Moreton Bay Foundation Members Projects
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Acoustics for large scale biodiversity assessment (ARC Discovery Project administered by James Cook University)
    James Cook University
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Better Parks, Healthier for All? (UKRI-NHMRC Built Environment and Prevention Grant administered by UNSW)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    The ecology and conservation biogeography of the buff-breasted button-quail
    Birds Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Population status and trends of seabirds of the Great Barrier Reef
    Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2024
    Acoustic observatory: A network to monitor biodiversity across Australia (ARC LIEF project administered by Queensland University of Technology)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Designing green spaces for biodiversity and human well-being (ARC Linkage Project administered by RMIT University)
    Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Recovering the Critically Endangered Far Eastern Curlew: What is the migration route?
    Birds Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Managing urban trees for people and wildlife (ARC Linkage Project administered by the University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Conserving Australia's Antarctic biodiversity in a changing climate
    Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Recovering Australia's migratory shorebirds
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Mud, glorious mud! Mapping the world's intertidal ecosystems
    Google Inc
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2021
    NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub
    National Environmental Science Program
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    Conserving Antarctica's biodiversity under multiple stressors
    Australian Antarctic Division
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    Migratory Shorebird Monitoring - Understanding Ecological Impact
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2019
    Optimising the ecological performance of cities
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Optimal protection for the world's ecosystems
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards - DVC(R) Funding
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Understanding the impacts of flooding on Australia's coastal ecosystems
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Understanding the impacts of flooding on Australia's coastal ecosystems
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Averting the extinction of experience
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Optimal habitat protection and restoration for climate adaptation
    Climate Change Adaptation Research Grants Program
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Coastal bird vulnerability and resilience assessment project
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    The influence of the recent La Nina climate event on nomadic terrestrial birds in Australia's interior
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Understanding and reversing the rapid declines in Australia's shorebirds
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    NERP Environmental Decisions Hub
    CDSEWPC - National Environmental Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2009
    The impacts of urban density on Brisbane's biodiversity
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Richard Fuller is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Revealing bird migration patterns in Eastern Australia by integrating weather radar and citizen science data

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cultural variation in connection to urban nature

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Renee Zahnow

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The role of wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release in conservation

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Ella Kuskoff

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Distributional Shifts and Conservation of Avian Migrants

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Urban greenspaces and biodiversity

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Angela Dean

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Conserving migratory species

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Learning from success: Recovery of the Black-faced Spoonbill, an endangered migratory waterbird in East Asia

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Where no eyes can see: Tracking Australian shorebird migration using radar

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Revealing bird migration patterns in Eastern Australia by integrating weather radar and citizen science data

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mining, Biodiversity, and Area-Based Conservation: Risks and Opportunities

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Laura Sonter

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Bird migration along the East Asian Australasian Flyway and vulnerability due to habitat loss in China

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Developing a Drone Based Shorebird Survey Method

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The role of wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release in conservation

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Ella Kuskoff

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mining, Biodiversity, and Area-Based Conservation: Risks and Opportunities

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Laura Sonter

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cultural variation in connection to urban nature

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Renee Zahnow

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Reducing Barriers to Drone-Based Bird Surveys

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano

  • Master Philosophy

    Cultural variation in connection to nature

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Renee Zahnow

  • Doctor Philosophy

    No place like home: Urban nuisance wildlife management and the impacts of relocation

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr John Hall

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Leveraging large camera-trapping datasets to untangle multiple threats to terrestrial and understory bird communities in tropical forests

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Matthew Luskin

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Assessing the effectiveness of acoustic indices for monitoring changes in forest ecosystems

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Berndt Janse Van Rensburg

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Tapping into non-English-language science in tackling global challenges

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The effects of rapid evolution on ecological dynamics and stability in variable environments

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Simon Hart

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Improving biodiversity outcomes in West African cocoa

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Matthew Luskin, Dr Wilma J. Blaser Hart, Dr Simon Hart

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mining and area-based biodiversity conservation: risks and opportunities

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Laura Sonter

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding language barriers to the use of scientific knowledge in conservation decision making

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Enhancing International Collaboration for Migratory Bird Conservation

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding language barriers to the use of scientific knowledge in conservation decision making

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Distribution and Invasiveness of the Common myna (Acridotheres tristis) along Gradients

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Salit Kark

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Why are waterbirds declining globally?

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Conserving Urban Parrots in Indonesian Urban Setting

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr April Reside

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Richard Fuller directly for media enquiries about:

  • biodiversity
  • birds
  • citizen science
  • conservation
  • eastern curlew
  • migratory shorebirds
  • national parks
  • protected areas
  • shorebirds
  • urban green space

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