
Overview
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
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.
Works
Search Professor Richard Fuller’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Journal Article
Global protected‐area coverage and human pressure on tidal flats
Hill, Narelle K., Woodworth, Bradley K., Phinn, Stuart R., Murray, Nicholas J. and Fuller, Richard A. (2020). Global protected‐area coverage and human pressure on tidal flats. Conservation Biology, 35 (3) cobi.13638, 933-943. doi: 10.1111/cobi.13638
2020
Journal Article
Trends in seabird breeding populations across the Great Barrier Reef
Woodworth, Bradley K., Fuller, Richard A., Hemson, Graham, McDougall, Andrew, Congdon, Bradley C. and Low, Matthew (2020). Trends in seabird breeding populations across the Great Barrier Reef. Conservation Biology, 35 (3) cobi.13630, 846-858. doi: 10.1111/cobi.13630
2020
Journal Article
How urban forest managers evaluate management and governance challenges in their decision-making
Ordóñez, Camilo, Kendal, Dave, Threlfall, Caragh G., Hochuli, Dieter F., Davern, Melanie, Fuller, Richard A., van der Ree, Rodney and Livesley, Stephen J. (2020). How urban forest managers evaluate management and governance challenges in their decision-making. Forests, 11 (9) 963, 963. doi: 10.3390/f11090963
2020
Journal Article
Estimating the spatial coverage of citizen science for monitoring threatened species
Lloyd, Thomas J., Fuller, Richard A., Oliver, Jessica L., Tulloch, Ayesha I., Barnes, Megan and Steven, Rochelle (2020). Estimating the spatial coverage of citizen science for monitoring threatened species. Global Ecology and Conservation, 23 e01048, e01048. doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01048
2020
Journal Article
Navigating coasts of concrete: pervasive use of artificial habitats by shorebirds in the Asia-Pacific
Jackson, Micha V., Choi, Chi-Yeung, Amano, Tatsuya, Estrella, Sora M., Lei, Weipan, Moores, Nial, Mundkur, Taej, Rogers, Danny I. and Fuller, Richard A. (2020). Navigating coasts of concrete: pervasive use of artificial habitats by shorebirds in the Asia-Pacific. Biological Conservation, 247 108591, 108591. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108591
2020
Journal Article
Extent and potential impact of hunting on migratory shorebirds in the Asia-Pacific
Gallo-Cajiao, Eduardo, Morrison, Tiffany H., Woodworth, Bradley K., Lees, Alexander C., Naves, Liliana C., Yong, Ding Li, Choi, Chi-Yeung, Mundkur, Taej, Bird, Jeremy, Jain, Anuj, Klokov, Konstantin, Syroechkovskiy, Evgeny, Chowdhury, Sayam U., Fu, Vivian Wing Kan, Watson, James E.M. and Fuller, Richard A. (2020). Extent and potential impact of hunting on migratory shorebirds in the Asia-Pacific. Biological Conservation, 246 108582, 108582. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108582
2020
Journal Article
Global conservation of species’ niches
Hanson, Jeffrey O., Rhodes, Jonathan R., Butchart, Stuart H. M., Buchanan, Graeme M., Rondinini, Carlo, Ficetola, Gentile F. and Fuller, Richard A. (2020). Global conservation of species’ niches. Nature, 580 (7802), 232-234. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2138-7
2020
Journal Article
A simple method for assessing the completeness of a geographic range size estimate
Gupta, Garima, Dunn, Jonathon, Sanderson, Roy, Fuller, Richard and McGowan, P. J.K. (2020). A simple method for assessing the completeness of a geographic range size estimate. Global Ecology and Conservation, 21 e00788, e00788. doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00788
2020
Journal Article
Decision-making of municipal urban forest managers through the lens of governance
Ordóñez, Camilo, Threlfall, Caragh G., Livesley, Stephen J., Kendal, Dave, Fuller, Richard A., Davern, Melanie, van der Ree, Rodney and Hochuli, Dieter F. (2020). Decision-making of municipal urban forest managers through the lens of governance. Environmental Science and Policy, 104, 136-147. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2019.11.008
2020
Journal Article
An artificial site provides valuable additional habitat to migratory shorebirds in a tropical harbour
Lilleyman, Amanda, Rogers, Danny I., Jackson, Micha V., Fuller, Richard A., O'Brien, Gavin and Garnett, Stephen T. (2020). An artificial site provides valuable additional habitat to migratory shorebirds in a tropical harbour. Pacific Conservation Biology, 26 (3), 249-257. doi: 10.1071/pc19036
2020
Other Outputs
1996 Survey Data
Oh, Rachel and Fuller, Richard (2020). 1996 Survey Data. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/834ba6f
2019
Journal Article
Urban forest governance and decision-making: A systematic review and synthesis of the perspectives of municipal managers
Ordóñez, Camilo, Threlfall, Caragh G., Kendal, Dave, Hochuli, Dieter F., Davern, Melanie, Fuller, Richard A., van der Ree, Rodney and Livesley, Stephen J. (2019). Urban forest governance and decision-making: A systematic review and synthesis of the perspectives of municipal managers. Landscape and Urban Planning, 189, 166-180. doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2019.04.020
2019
Journal Article
Aligning citizen science with best practice: threatened species conservation in Australia
Steven, Rochelle, Barnes, Megan, Garnett, Stephen T., Garrard, Georgia, O'Connor, James, Oliver, Jessica L., Robinson, Cathy, Tulloch, Ayesha and Fuller, Richard A. (2019). Aligning citizen science with best practice: threatened species conservation in Australia. Conservation Science and Practice, 1 (10) e100, 1-12. doi: 10.1111/csp2.100
2019
Journal Article
Measuring avian specialization
Morelli, Federico, Benedetti, Yanina, Møller, Anders Pape and Fuller, Richard A. (2019). Measuring avian specialization. Ecology and Evolution, 9 (14) ece3.5419, 8378-8386. doi: 10.1002/ece3.5419
2019
Journal Article
Nature–based interventions for improving health and wellbeing: the purpose, the people and the outcomes
Shanahan, Danielle F., Astell–Burt, Thomas, Barber, Elizabeth A., Brymer, Eric, Cox, Daniel T.C., Dean, Julie, Depledge, Michael, Fuller, Richard A., Hartig, Terry, Irvine, Katherine N., Jones, Andy, Kikillus, Heidy, Lovell, Rebecca, Mitchell, Richard, Niemelä, Jari, Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark, Pretty, Jules, Townsend, Mardie, van Heezik, Yolanda, Warber, Sara and Gaston, Kevin J. (2019). Nature–based interventions for improving health and wellbeing: the purpose, the people and the outcomes. Sports, 7 (6) 141, 141. doi: 10.3390/sports7060141
2019
Journal Article
Where to draw the line?: using movement data to inform protected area design and conserve mobile species
Choi, Chi-Yeung, Peng, He-Bo, He, Peng, Ren, Xiao-Tong, Zhang, Shen, Jackson, Micha V., Gan, Xiaojing, Chen, Ying, Jia,Yifei, Christie, Maureen, Flaherty, Tony, Leung, Kar-Sin Katherine, Yun, Chenxing, Murray, Nicholas J., Piersma, Theunis, Fuller, Richard A. and Ma, Zhijun (2019). Where to draw the line?: using movement data to inform protected area design and conserve mobile species. Biological Conservation, 234, 64-71. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.03.025
2019
Journal Article
Stochastic simulations reveal few green wave surfing populations among spring migrating herbivorous waterfowl
Wang, Xin, Cao, Lei, Fox, Anthony D., Fuller, Richard, Griffin, Larry, Mitchell, Carl, Zhao, Yunlin, Moon, Oun-Kyong, Cabot, David, Xu, Zhenggang, Batbayar, Nyambayar, Kölzsch, Andrea, van der Jeugd, Henk P., Madsen, Jesper, Chen, Liding and Nathan, Ran (2019). Stochastic simulations reveal few green wave surfing populations among spring migrating herbivorous waterfowl. Nature Communications, 10 (1) 2187, 3191. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09971-8
2019
Journal Article
Global environmental governance for conserving migratory shorebirds in the Asia-Pacific
Gallo-Cajiao, Eduardo, Morrison, Tiffany H., Fidelman, Pedro, Kark, Salit and Fuller, Richard A. (2019). Global environmental governance for conserving migratory shorebirds in the Asia-Pacific. Regional Environmental Change, 19 (4), 1113-1129. doi: 10.1007/s10113-019-01461-3
2019
Journal Article
Highlights from international meetings on migratory waterbird conservation in the Asia-Pacific
Gallo-Cajiao, Eduardo, Jackson, Micha V., Mu, Tong and Fuller, Richard A. (2019). Highlights from international meetings on migratory waterbird conservation in the Asia-Pacific. Oryx, 53 (2), 211-212. doi: 10.1017/S0030605319000048
2019
Journal Article
Conventional methods for enhancing connectivity in conservation planning do not always maintain gene flow
Hanson, Jeffrey O., Fuller, Richard A. and Rhodes, Jonathan R. (2019). Conventional methods for enhancing connectivity in conservation planning do not always maintain gene flow. Journal of Applied Ecology, 56 (4), 913-922. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.13315
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Richard Fuller is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Urban greenspaces and biodiversity
Principal Advisor
-
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
The role of wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release in conservation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ella Kuskoff
-
Doctor Philosophy
Cultural variation in connection to urban nature
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Renee Zahnow
-
Doctor Philosophy
Distributional Shifts and Conservation of Avian Migrants
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Conserving migratory species
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham, Professor James Watson
-
Doctor Philosophy
No place like home: Urban nuisance wildlife management and the impacts of relocation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Hall
-
Doctor Philosophy
Learning from success: Recovery of the Black-faced Spoonbill, an endangered migratory waterbird in East Asia
Principal Advisor
-
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
Enhancing International Collaboration for Migratory Bird Conservation
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
Conserving Urban Parrots in Indonesian Urban Setting
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr April Reside
-
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
Why are waterbirds declining globally?
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano
-
Doctor Philosophy
Language barriers in the environmental sciences in Japan: causes, consequences, and solutions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano
-
Doctor Philosophy
Tapping into non-English-language science in tackling global challenges
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 effects of rapid evolution on ecological dynamics and stability in variable environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Simon Hart
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Reducing Barriers to Drone-Based Bird Surveys
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Mining, Biodiversity, and Area-Based Conservation: Risks and Opportunities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Laura Sonter
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Urban nature health effects moderated by stressful contexts
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Renee Zahnow
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
From Observations to Indicators: The Status and Conservation of Taiwan's Birds
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Martine Maron, Associate Professor Tatsuya Amano
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
The interplay among nature experiences, nature connection and wellbeing
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kelly Fielding
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Insect migration and conservation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Myron Zalucki
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
The conservation ecology of burrowing petrels on Macquarie Island
Principal Advisor
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Global environmental governance for conserving migratory birds
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Salit Kark
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Conserving shorebirds in human-dominated landscapes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Martine Maron
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Conserving Antarctic biodiversity in the Anthropocene
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
-
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Green is the new gold: Examining the human-nature relationship
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Courtney von Hippel
-
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Conserving Australia's predator-threatened mammals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Diana Fisher
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Threats to migratory birds, and actions for their conservation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Conserving migratory and nomadic species
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Identifying threats and conservation priorities across an international migration pathway
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn, Professor Hugh Possingham
-
2011
Master Philosophy
Urban growth, biodiversity, and the extinction of experience
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Conservation Biogeography of the Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Watson
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Nest Ecology of an Endangered Woodland Avifauna
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Plastic pollution and conservation of imperilled seabird species
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing Bird Migrations
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Simone Blomberg, Professor Hugh Possingham
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Growing up healthy in the city: Pathways to child health and development benefits from nature
Associate Advisor
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Seed dispersal and seedling establishment during early-stage tropical forest recovery within old-fields
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Dwyer
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Predicting the diversity and functional composition of woody plant communities under climate change
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Dwyer
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
The Dynamics and Resilience of Coral Reefs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Mumby
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Conserving migratory species under human impacts and climate change
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
How do herbivorous mammals adjust their trade-off between food and safety?
Associate Advisor
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Conservation in naturally fragmented landscapes: the Mexican cloud forest and Vanuatu archipelago
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Spatial conservation prioritisation under global threats
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Improving measurements of protected area effectiveness
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham
Media
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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