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
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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
2010
Journal Article
Genetic variation and structuring in the threatened koala populations of Southeast Queensland
Lee, Kristen E., Seddon, Jennifer M., Corley, Sean W., Ellis, William A. H., Johnston, Stephen D., de Villiers, Deidré L., Preece, Harriet J. and Carrick, Frank N. (2010). Genetic variation and structuring in the threatened koala populations of Southeast Queensland. Conservation Genetics, 11 (6), 2091-2103. doi: 10.1007/s10592-009-9987-9
2010
Journal Article
Observations of male-on-male aggression among Queensland koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) from central Queensland
Melzer, A., Ellis, W. A. and Bercovitch, F. B. (2010). Observations of male-on-male aggression among Queensland koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) from central Queensland. Queensland Naturalist, 48 (1-3), 36-44.
2010
Journal Article
Climate change and the koala Phascolarctos cinereus: energy and water
Ellis, W., Melzer, A., Clifton, I.D. and Carrick, F.N. (2010). Climate change and the koala Phascolarctos cinereus: energy and water. Australian Zoologist, 35 (2), 369-377. doi: 10.7882/AZ.2010.025
2010
Journal Article
Koala birth seasonality and sex ratios across multiple sites in Queensland, Australia
Ellis, William, Bercovitch, Fred, Fitzgibbon, Sean, Melzer, Alistair, De Villiers, Diedre and Dique, David (2010). Koala birth seasonality and sex ratios across multiple sites in Queensland, Australia. Journal of Mammalogy, 91 (1), 177-182. doi: 10.1644/08-MAMM-A-358R.1.
2010
Journal Article
Koala birth seasonality and sex ratios across multiple sites in Queensland, Australia
Ellis, William, Bercovitch, Fred, FitzGibbon, Sean, Melzer, Alistair, de Villiers, Diedre and Dique, David (2010). Koala birth seasonality and sex ratios across multiple sites in Queensland, Australia. Journal of Mammalogy, 91 (1), 177-182. doi: 10.1644/08-MAMM-A-358R.1
2010
Conference Publication
Unraveling the mystery of koala vocalisations: acoustic sensor network and GPS technology reveals males bellow to serenade females
Ellis, WA, Fitzgibbon, SI, Roe, P, Bercovitch, FB and Wilson, R (2010). Unraveling the mystery of koala vocalisations: acoustic sensor network and GPS technology reveals males bellow to serenade females. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology, Seattle WA, JAN 03-07, 2010.
2009
Conference Publication
Integrating research and conservation land management - A case study from koala research in St Bees Island National Park
Melzer, A. and Ellis, W. A. (2009). Integrating research and conservation land management - A case study from koala research in St Bees Island National Park. 1st Australian Protected Areas Congress (APAC08), Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, 24-28 November, 2008. Australia: Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. doi: 10.1080/14486563.2009.9725239
2008
Journal Article
Koalas on North Stradbroke Island: Diet, tree use and reconstructed landscapes
Woodward, W., Ellis, W.A., Carrick, F.N., Tanizaki, M., Bowen, D. and Smith, P. (2008). Koalas on North Stradbroke Island: Diet, tree use and reconstructed landscapes. Wildlife Research, 35 (7), 606-611. doi: 10.1071/WR07172
2008
Conference Publication
Incorporating spatial data into analysis of koala populations in South-East Queensland
Seddon, J., Lee, K., Ellis, W., Johnston, S., De Villiers, D., Preece, H. and Carrick, F. (2008). Incorporating spatial data into analysis of koala populations in South-East Queensland. Annual Meeting of the Society of Molecular Biology and Evolution 2008, Barcelona, Spain, 5-8 June, 2008. Society of Molecular Biology and Evolution.
2007
Journal Article
Water turnover and the northern range of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Clifton, I. D., Ellis, W. A. H., Melzer, A. and Tucker, G. (2007). Water turnover and the northern range of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Australian Mammalogy, 29 (1), 85-88. doi: 10.1071/AM07010
2007
Conference Publication
Genetic variation of closed (captive and island) and open (mainland) Koala populations in Queensland
Lee, K., Seddon, J., Ellis, W., Johnston, S. and Carrick, F. N. (2007). Genetic variation of closed (captive and island) and open (mainland) Koala populations in Queensland. 53rd meeting of the Australian Mammal Society Conference, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia, 2-4 July 2007.
2007
Conference Publication
Long-term research on a long-lived species in a variable environment
Carrick, F. N., Fitzgibbon, S. and Ellis, W. A. (2007). Long-term research on a long-lived species in a variable environment. Ecological Society of Australia 2007 Conference: Adapting to Change: Society - Environment - Science, Perth Convention Centre, Perth, Australia, 25-30 November, 2007. Ecological Society of Australia (ESA).
2007
Conference Publication
Planned Long-term Ecological Research Sites Preview Likely Effects of Climate Change on Tropical Koalas
Carrick, Frank, Ellis, Bill, Fitzgibbon, Sean and Melzer, Alistair (2007). Planned Long-term Ecological Research Sites Preview Likely Effects of Climate Change on Tropical Koalas. Ecological Society of Australia Conference 2007: Adapting to Change (EAS 2007), Perth Convention Centre, Perth, Western Australia, 25-30 November 2007.
2007
Journal Article
The development of habitat selection by subadult koalas
Tucker, G., Melzer, A. and Ellis, W. (2007). The development of habitat selection by subadult koalas. Australian Journal of Zoology, 55 (5), 285-289. doi: 10.1071/ZO07035
2007
Conference Publication
Seeing Forest (Fauna) instead of Trees - Lessons from the Long-term Study of an Arid Zone Koala Population
Carrick, F. N., Ellis, W. A. and Fitzgibbon, S. (2007). Seeing Forest (Fauna) instead of Trees - Lessons from the Long-term Study of an Arid Zone Koala Population. Fenner Conference on the Environment, Canberra, ACT, 2nd - 5th December 2007. Australasian Wildlife Management Society.
2007
Conference Publication
Fine-scale genetic variation in declining Koala populations in South-east Queensland
Lee, K., Seddon, J., Ellis, W., Johnston, S., de Villiers, D., Preece, H. and Carrick, Francis N. (2007). Fine-scale genetic variation in declining Koala populations in South-east Queensland. Fenner Conference on the Environment, Canberra, ACT, 2nd - 5th December 2007. Australasian Wildlife Management Society.
2006
Conference Publication
Koala ecology: "Known knowns, known unknowns or unknown unknowns?"
Ellis, Bill and Fitzgibbon, Sean (2006). Koala ecology: "Known knowns, known unknowns or unknown unknowns?". Ecology Across the Tasman - 3rd Joint Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia and the New Zealand Ecological Society, Wellington, New Zealand, 28 August - 1 September 2006.
2005
Conference Publication
Use by koalas of reconstructed landscapes, key inputs for land managers
Woodward, William, Ellis, Bill, Carrick, Frank, Bowen, Dave and Smith, Paul (2005). Use by koalas of reconstructed landscapes, key inputs for land managers. Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference: 18th Scientific Meeting and Annual General Meeting, Hobart, Tasmania, 21-24 November 2005.
2005
Journal Article
Tree use by koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) on St Bees Island, Queensland – report of a pilot study
Pfeiffer, Aubris, Melzer, Alistair, Tucker, Gail, Clifton, Delma and Ellis, William (2005). Tree use by koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) on St Bees Island, Queensland – report of a pilot study. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland, 112, 47-51.
2004
Conference Publication
Koala Research and Management in Queensland
Carrick, F. N., Dique, D., Ellis, W., Thompson, J., Melzer, A. and Gordon, G. (2004). Koala Research and Management in Queensland. 17th Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Wildlife Management Society, Kangaroo Island S.A., 29thNov – 2nd Dec, 2004.
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
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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.
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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
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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
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
The role of urban koalas in maintaining regional population dynamics of koalas in the Koala Coast.
Associate Advisor
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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
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