Diana Fisher

Ecological resilience and life history adaptation of brush-tailed phascogales in south east Queensland

Brush-tailed phascogales are insect-eating, arboreal, forest-dependent marsupials restricted to southern Australia. They are threatened in all states where they occur except Queensland. At UQ Hidden Vale Research Station, brush-tailed phascogales are are some of the most frequent occupants of our recently established nest boxes. This species has a peculiar life history likely to underpin population dynamics: it is one of very few animals in which all males die after breeding. This field-based project includes field ecology, evolutionary ecology experiments, and practical conservation. You will test hypotheses to advance theory in life history evolution, understand why brush-tailed phascogales appear to be doing better in south east Queensland than elsewhere, and find how we can protect them.

You will work with researchers conducting landscape scale habitat restoration, fire and tree-thinning experiments at UQ Hidden Vale Research Station. Experiments include adding nest boxes, leaf litter and fallen timber to plots in phascogale habitat. You will 1) follow the fate and behaviour of individually identifiable phascogales to investigate how the timing and quality of food, nest site attributes, male competition, and predation risk influence recruitment and adult survival. 2) Find how environmental productivity and predictability influence mating systems, life history adaptations and constraints in dasyurids, focusing on male and female phascogales.

Applicants should submit a cover letter explaining their experience and research interests, CV, academic transcripts, and the names of two referees to Assoc. Prof. Diana Fisher <d.fisher@uq.edu.au>. You will be based in the School of the Environment at the University of Queensland, St Lucia (Brisbane), Australia. UQ Hidden Vale Research Station is an hour by car from UQ St Lucia campus.

All research costs of this project are funded. You will need to apply for a PhD scholarship. The next Graduate School Scholarship (UQGSS, including tuition fees) in the University of Queensland domestic round opens in August 2024, for commencement in RQ1 2025.

Evolution of semelparity

A handful of animals (some arthropods and Australian marsupials) have iteroparous females- that reproduce repeatedly, but semelparous males- that inevitably die during or soon after mating. This ARC-funded project is using multi-species comparative approaches, behavioural ecology, population ecology methods, and quantitative modelling to test evolutionary explanations. Multiple projects are available on the causes and cnsequences of semelparity in animals and plants. Rob Salguero-Gomez at the University of Oxford, UK will be a co-supervisor.

Mammal conservation and ecological refuges in Far North Queensland

We are seeking a PhD student to investigate mechanisms of decline and persistence of the Endangered northern quoll, Black-footed tree rat, and other mammals of Cape York Peninsula. The South Endeavour Trust (NGO partner) manages highly biodiverse potential refuges for mammals where three biomes meet- Cape York, Einasleigh uplands, and the Wet Tropics. Environments in Australia's dry tropics have experienced worrying declines in mammal abundance in recent decades, however most research has focused on NT and WA environments, and the mechanisms and solutions in the varied climates and landscapes of north Queensland are poorly understood.

The student will use population and landscape ecology approaches in the field, and distribution modelling to understand ecological refuges in tropical Queensland and improve conservation of their threatened species.

The candidate will need some experience of ecological field work, and data analysis in R. Some familiarity with GIS and / or remote sensing would be an advantage. The student will gain practical skills in conservation management and GIS / remote sensing methods, and NGO and environmental industry networks. South Endeavour Trust has extensive established camera trapping grids, will provide background data, and logistical support including field vehicle use and field accommodation. The candidate will be supervised by Assoc. Prof. Diana Fisher (UQ School of the Environment) and Dr Lorna Hernandez-Santin (UQ Sustainable Minerals Institute), with industry partner Dr. Carly Starr.

The candidate will need to apply for a scholarship. UQ Domestic scholarship round one to start in semester one 2025 closes on the 8th of September 2024. Domestic PhD applicants or on-site international students who have completed an undergraduate degree at UQ should contact us before applying through the UQ Postgraduate School (https://study.uq.edu.au/admissions/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate).

Please email <d.fisher@uq.edu.au> or <l.hernandezsantin@uq.edu.au> explaining your experience and research interests, attaching a CV, academic transcripts, and the names of two referees. Please contact Diana Fisher <d.fisher@uq.edu.au> for more information.