Overview
Background
Dr Bill Ellis is an ecological researcher based in the School of The Environment. He gained a BSc with honours in Zoology at The Australian National University and holds a Master of Environmental Law from the same institution. Bill graduated with a PhD in Zoology from The University of Queensland in 1998 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at San Diego Zoo's Centre for Research on Endangered Species in 2011.
Availability
- Dr Bill Ellis is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), Australian National University
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Research) of Law, Australian National University
Research interests
-
Koala ecology
research into the biology of koalas, their conservation and management
Research impacts
My research addresses the ecological dilemmas faced by koalas and land managers attending to their requirements, from issues of competing habitat utilisation to climate variability and resource extraction. I am investigating mechanisms of sexual selection and regulators of population dynamics among koala populations across Queensland. As a result, I have direct contact with and support land managers who desire an understanding of the key attributes that feed into a sustainable ecosystem for the koala. As a soft - money researcher, my research is often applied and supplies knowledge that transfers into conservation and management decision making, through the application of local knowledge rather than theoretical propositions.
Works
Search Professor Bill Ellis’s works on UQ eSpace
2018
Journal Article
Is disease a major causal factor in declines? An Evidence Framework and case study on koala chlamydiosis
Grogan, Laura F., Peel, Alison J., Kerlin, Douglas, Ellis, William, Jones, Darryl, Hero, Jean-Marc and McCallum, Hamish (2018). Is disease a major causal factor in declines? An Evidence Framework and case study on koala chlamydiosis. Biological Conservation, 221, 334-344. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.03.030
2017
Journal Article
Current trends and future directions in koala chlamydial disease research
Grogan, Laura F., Ellis, William, Jones, Darryl, Hero, Jean-Marc, Kerlin, Douglas H. and McCallum, Hamish (2017). Current trends and future directions in koala chlamydial disease research. Biological Conservation, 215, 179-188. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.09.001
2017
Journal Article
Do koalas really get the blues? Critique of 'Aversive behaviour by koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) during the course of a music festival in northern New South Wales, Australia'
Fitzgibbon, Sean I. , Gillett, Amber K. , Barth, Ben J. , Taylor, Brendan and Ellis, William A. (2017). Do koalas really get the blues? Critique of 'Aversive behaviour by koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) during the course of a music festival in northern New South Wales, Australia'. Australian Mammalogy, 39 (1), 108-112. doi: 10.1071/AM16016
2016
Journal Article
Daylight saving time can decrease the frequency of wildlife-vehicle collisions
Ellis, William A., FitzGibbon, Sean I., Barth, Benjamin J., Niehaus, Amanda C., David, Gwendolyn K., Taylor, Brendan D., Matsushige, Helena, Melzer, Alistair, Bercovitch, Fred B., Carrick, Frank, Jones, Darryl N., Dexter, Cathryn, Gillett, Amber, Predavec, Martin, Lunney, Dan and Wilson, Robbie S. (2016). Daylight saving time can decrease the frequency of wildlife-vehicle collisions. Biology Letters, 12 (11). doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0632
2016
Journal Article
Surgical implantation of temperature-sensitive transmitters and data-loggers to record body temperature in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Adam, D., Johnston, S. D., Beard, L., Nicholson, V., Lisle, A., Gaughan, J., Larkin, R., Theilemann, P., Mckinnon, A. and Ellis, W. (2016). Surgical implantation of temperature-sensitive transmitters and data-loggers to record body temperature in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Australian Veterinary Journal, 94 (1-2), 42-47. doi: 10.1111/avj.12393
2015
Journal Article
Conserving koalas: a review of the contrasting regional trends, outlooks and policy challenges
McAlpine, Clive, Lunney, Daniel, Melzer, Alistair, Menkhorst, Peter, Phillips, Stephen, Phalen, David, Ellis, William, Foley, William, Baxter, Greg, de Villiers, Deidre, Kavanagh, Rodney, Adams-Hosking, Christine, Todd, Charles, Whisson, Desley, Molsher, Robyn, Walter, Michele, Lawler, Ivan and Close, Robert (2015). Conserving koalas: a review of the contrasting regional trends, outlooks and policy challenges. Biological Conservation, 192, 226-236. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2015.09.020
2015
Journal Article
Genome-wide SNP loci reveal novel insights into koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) population variability across its range
Kjeldsen, Shannon R., Zenger, Kyall R., Leigh, Kellie, Ellis, William, Tobey, Jenifer, Phalen, David, Melzer, Alistair, FitzGibbon, Sean and Raadsma, Herman W. (2015). Genome-wide SNP loci reveal novel insights into koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) population variability across its range. Conservation Genetics, 17 (2), 337-353. doi: 10.1007/s10592-015-0784-3
2015
Book Chapter
Health and disease
Barnes, Tamsin S., Palmieri, Chiara, Blyde, David and Ellis, William (2015). Health and disease. Marsupials and monotremes: nature's enigmatic mammals. (pp. 315-358) edited by Athol Klieve, Lindsay Hogan, Stephen Johnston and Peter Murray. New York, United States: Nova Science.
2015
Journal Article
Cameras, competition and creativity: assessing 1st year ecology in the field
Kuchel, Louise, Wilson, Robbie S. and Ellis, William H. (2015). Cameras, competition and creativity: assessing 1st year ecology in the field. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 23 (2), 34-45.
2014
Journal Article
A 5-year Chlamydia vaccination programme could reverse disease-related koala population decline: predictions from a mathematical model using field data
Craig, Andrew P., Hanger, Jon, Loader, Jo, Ellis, William A. H., Callaghan, John, Dexter, Cathryn, Jones, Darryl, Beagley, Kenneth W., Timms, Peter and Wilson, David P. (2014). A 5-year Chlamydia vaccination programme could reverse disease-related koala population decline: predictions from a mathematical model using field data. Vaccine, 32 (33), 4163-4170. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.05.049
2014
Journal Article
Erratum: Fat-soluble vitamin and mineral comparisons between zoobased and free-ranging koalas (Phascolarctoscinereus) (Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (2014) 44:4 (1079-1082))
Schmidt, Debra A., Pye, Geoffrey W., Dipl, A. C.Z.M., Hamlin-Andrus, Chris C., Ellis, William A., Bercovitch, Fred B., Ellersieck, Mark R., Chen, Tai C. and Holick, Michael F. (2014). Erratum: Fat-soluble vitamin and mineral comparisons between zoobased and free-ranging koalas (Phascolarctoscinereus) (Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (2014) 44:4 (1079-1082)). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 45 (2), 466-466. doi: 10.1638/1042-7260-45.2.466
2014
Journal Article
Faecal particle size and tooth wear of the koala (Phascolartcos cinereus)
Ellis, William, Attard, Rachel, Johnston, Stephen, Theileman, Peter, McKinnon, Allan and Booth, David (2014). Faecal particle size and tooth wear of the koala (Phascolartcos cinereus). Australian Mammalogy, Online Early (1), 1-5. doi: 10.1071/AM13033
2014
Journal Article
Testing the regional genetic representativeness of captive koala populations in South-East Queensland
Seddon, Jennifer M., Lee, Kristen E., Johnston, Stephen D., Nicolson, Vere N., Pyne, Michael, Carrick, Frank N. and Ellis, William A. H. (2014). Testing the regional genetic representativeness of captive koala populations in South-East Queensland. Wildlife Research, 41 (4), 277-286. doi: 10.1071/WR13103
2013
Journal Article
Genetic diversity of Chlamydia pecorum strains in wild koala locations across Australia and the implications for a recombinant C. pecorum major outer membrane protein based vaccine
Kollipara, Avinash, Polkinghorne, Adam, Wan, Charles, Kanyoka, Pride, Hanger, Jon, Loader, Joanne, Callaghan, John, Bell, Alicia, Ellis, William, Fitzgibbon, Sean, Melzer, Alistar, Beagley, Kenneth and Timms, Peter (2013). Genetic diversity of Chlamydia pecorum strains in wild koala locations across Australia and the implications for a recombinant C. pecorum major outer membrane protein based vaccine. Veterinary Microbiology, 167 (3-4), 513-522. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.08.009
2013
Journal Article
Anthropogenic changes to the landscape resulted in colonization of koalas in north-east New South Wales, Australia
Lee, Kristen E., Ellis, William A.H., Carrick, Frank N., Corley, Sean W., Johnston, Stephen D., Baverstock, Peter R., Nock, Catherine J., Rowe, Kevin C. and Seddon, Jennifer M. (2013). Anthropogenic changes to the landscape resulted in colonization of koalas in north-east New South Wales, Australia. Austral Ecology, 38 (3), 355-363. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2012.02414.x
2013
Conference Publication
Koala reproduction and the effect of drought in central Queensland; lessons from the Koala Venture project
FitzGibbon, Sean, Ellis, William and Carrick, Frank (2013). Koala reproduction and the effect of drought in central Queensland; lessons from the Koala Venture project. Conserving Central Queensland's Koalas Workshop, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia, 1–3 February 2012. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland.
2013
Conference Publication
Managing Central Queensland’s koala islands
Melzer, Alistair, Ellis, William, FitzGibbon, Sean and Carrick, Frank (2013). Managing Central Queensland’s koala islands. Conserving Central Queensland's Koalas Workshop, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia, 1–3 February 2012. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland.
2013
Conference Publication
The Koala Venture Partnership: habitat clearing and restoration
FitzGibbon, Sean, Ellis, William and Carrick, Frank (2013). The Koala Venture Partnership: habitat clearing and restoration. Conserving Central Queensland's Koalas Workshop, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia, 1–3 February 2012. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland.
2013
Book Chapter
The role of captive koalas in koala conservation
Johnston, Stephen, Mucci, Al and Ellis, William (2013). The role of captive koalas in koala conservation. Conserving central Queensland's koalas. (pp. 54-59) edited by Nicole Flint and Alistair Melzer. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Central Queensland University.
2013
Journal Article
The success of GPS collar deployments on mammals in Australia
Matthews, Alison, Ruykys, Laura, Ellis, Bill, FitzGibbon, Sean, Lunney, Daniel, Crowther, Mathew S., Glen, Alistair S., Purcell, Brad, Moseby, Katherine, Stott, Jenny, Fletcher, Don, Wimpenny, Claire, Allen, Benjamin L., Van Bommel, Linda, Roberts, Michael, Davies, Nicole, Green, Ken, Newsome, Thomas, Ballard, Guy, Fleming, Peter, Dickman, Christopher R., Eberhart, Achim, Troy, Shannon, Mcmahon, Clive and Wiggins, Natasha (2013). The success of GPS collar deployments on mammals in Australia. Australian Mammalogy, 35 (1), 65-83. doi: 10.1071/AM12021
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Bill Ellis is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Heat load and the koala
This project examines the behaviour and physiology of koalas, in the context of extreme temperatures and changes in climate. We are investigating fine scale microclimatic influences on behavior, broad scale habitat requirements, and the mechanisms and physiology associated with the management of heat load in this species. The project revolves around hands on research with koalas in the field and laboratory in Queensland and skills in modeling heat balance for an arboreal vertebrate.
The project includes the use of surgical techniques and field monitoring of koalas, so it requires field and laboratory capability and the ability to work in remote environments.
This project has a PhD top up grant and has considerable technical assistance available. Short - term projects are available in the Brisbane region and longer - term projects in southern and central Queensland are also available.
-
Pathways of pathogen transfer in the koala
We are investigating the social and spatial dimensions of pathogen transfer in koalas, combining pathogen detection and classification with research into host defense and susceptibility. Following a long-term study population on St Bees Island using state-of-the-art technology is allowing us to establish the social and spatial regulators of koala disease dynamics while revealing unique information on the ecology and biology of the koala.
Students will have the opportunity to investigate disease transmission and host responses or investigate the drivers of social and spatial dynamics in this population, choosing a laboratory or field environment.
Supervision history
Completed supervision
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
The physiological and behavioural adaptations in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in response to climate change
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Steve Johnston
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
The role of urban koalas in maintaining regional population dynamics of koalas in the Koala Coast.
Associate Advisor
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
Conservation genetics of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) in Queensland and northeast New South Wales
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Bill Ellis directly for media enquiries about:
- Breeding koalas
- Evolutionary ecology
- Habitat and koalas
- Koala physiology
- Koalas
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: