Overview
Background
I am a quantitative wildlife ecologist who uses and develops novel statistical methods coupled with research computing to understand species interactions and how wildlife communities are impacted by a wide range of contemporary disturbances.
I am currently a Principal Data Scientist working on developing the Wildlife Observatory of Australia (WildObs) that aims to bring together siloed camera trap data into a user-friendly continental database. I recently completed my PhD in wildlife ecology and conservation at the University of Queensland in the Ecological Cascades Lab where I studied food web dynamics among Southeast Asian tropical forest vertebrates. Before moving to Australia, I worked towards the conservation of several different threatend reptile and amphibian species in the USA. When I am not stuck behind my computer, you can find me outdoors looking for wildlife, biking, hiking, camping, and surfing.
Availability
- Dr Zachary Amir is:
- Available for supervision
Works
Search Professor Zachary Amir’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
<scp>OccuGAMs</scp> : Non‐linear occupancy and abundance modelling with imperfect detection
Sassen, Johannes Maria, Amir, Zachary, Clark, Nicholas and Luskin, Matthew Scott (2026). OccuGAMs : Non‐linear occupancy and abundance modelling with imperfect detection. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 17 (3) 2041-210x.70252, 929-946. doi: 10.1111/2041-210x.70252
2026
Journal Article
Sun Bear Ecology and Conservation: Multiscale Habitat Associations in Southeast Asia 马来熊的生态与保护:东南亚地区的多尺度生境关联研究
Hendry, Alexander, Pahuja, Harsh K., Amir, Zachary, Nursamsi, Ilyas, Moore, Jonathan H. and Luskin, Matthew Scott (2026). Sun Bear Ecology and Conservation: Multiscale Habitat Associations in Southeast Asia 马来熊的生态与保护:东南亚地区的多尺度生境关联研究. Integrative Conservation, 5 (1) inc3.70071, 125-136. doi: 10.1002/inc3.70071
2025
Journal Article
Human disturbance thresholds determine the ecological role of an apex predator
Preiss-Bloom, Shlomo, Shamon, Hila, Amir, Zachary, Ben-Ami, Dror and Dayan, Tamar (2025). Human disturbance thresholds determine the ecological role of an apex predator. Scientific Reports, 15 (1) 37604, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-21402-x
2025
Journal Article
Range-wide camera trapping for the Australian cassowary reveals habitat associations with rainfall and forest quality
Anderson, Skye Elise, Amir, Zachary, Bruce, Tom and Luskin, Matthew Scott (2025). Range-wide camera trapping for the Australian cassowary reveals habitat associations with rainfall and forest quality. Ecology and Evolution, 15 (6) e71464, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/ece3.71464
2025
Journal Article
Geographic variation in mammal and reptile responses to fire and livestock grazing regimes
Rew-Duffy, Miranda, Maron, Martine, Diete, Rebecca, Leung, Luke, Hunter, John, Amir, Zachary and Reside, April (2025). Geographic variation in mammal and reptile responses to fire and livestock grazing regimes. Journal of Applied Ecology, 62 (4), 834-847. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.70011
2025
Journal Article
Large‐scale and long‐term wildlife research and monitoring using camera traps: a continental synthesis
Bruce, Tom, Amir, Zachary, Allen, Benjamin L, Alting, Brendan F., Amos, Matt, Augusteyn, John, Ballard, Guy‐Anthony, Behrendorff, Linda M., Bell, Kristian, Bengsen, Andrew J., Bennett, Ami, Benshemesh, Joe S., Bentley, Joss, Blackmore, Caroline J., Boscarino‐Gaetano, Remo, Bourke, Lachlan A., Brewster, Rob, Brook, Barry W., Broughton, Colin, Buettel, Jessie C., Carter, Andrew, Chiu‐Werner, Antje, Claridge, Andrew W., Comer, Sarah, Comte, Sebastien, Connolly, Rod M., Cowan, Mitchell A., Cross, Sophie L., Cunningham, Calum X. ... Luskin, Matthew S. (2025). Large‐scale and long‐term wildlife research and monitoring using camera traps: a continental synthesis. Biological Reviews, 100 (2), 530-555. doi: 10.1111/brv.13152
2024
Other Outputs
Megafauna losses and predatory interactions in tropical forests
Amir, Zachary (2024). Megafauna losses and predatory interactions in tropical forests. PhD Thesis, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/2f2f18f
2024
Journal Article
Mammal responses to global changes in human activity vary by trophic group and landscape
Burton, A. Cole, Beirne, Christopher, Gaynor, Kaitlyn M., Sun, Catherine, Granados, Alys, Allen, Maximilian L., Alston, Jesse M., Alvarenga, Guilherme C., Calderón, Francisco Samuel Álvarez, Amir, Zachary, Anhalt-Depies, Christine, Appel, Cara, Arroyo-Arce, Stephanny, Balme, Guy, Bar-Massada, Avi, Barcelos, Daniele, Barr, Evan, Barthelmess, Erika L., Baruzzi, Carolina, Basak, Sayantani M., Beenaerts, Natalie, Belmaker, Jonathan, Belova, Olgirda, Bezarević, Branko, Bird, Tori, Bogan, Daniel A., Bogdanović, Neda, Boyce, Andy, Boyce, Mark ... Kays, Roland (2024). Mammal responses to global changes in human activity vary by trophic group and landscape. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 8 (5), 924-935. doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02363-2
Featured
2024
Journal Article
CamTrapAsia: A dataset of tropical forest vertebrate communities from 239 camera trapping studies
Mendes, Calebe P., Albert, Wido R., Amir, Zachary, Ancrenaz, Marc, Ash, Eric, Azhar, Badrul, Bernard, Henry, Brodie, Jedediah, Bruce, Tom, Carr, Elliot, Clements, Gopalasamy Reuben, Davies, Glyn, Deere, Nicolas J., Dinata, Yoan, Donnelly, Christl A., Duangchantrasiri, Somphot, Fredriksson, Gabriella, Goossens, Benoit, Granados, Alys, Hearn, Andrew, Hon, Jason, Hughes, Tom, Jansen, Patrick, Kawanishi, Kae, Kinnaird, Margaret, Koh, Sharon, Latinne, Alice, Linkie, Matthew, Loi, Federica ... Luskin, Matthew Scott (2024). CamTrapAsia: A dataset of tropical forest vertebrate communities from 239 camera trapping studies. Ecology, 105 (6) e4299, 1-3. doi: 10.1002/ecy.4299
2024
Journal Article
Effects of human disturbances on wildlife behaviour and consequences for predator-prey overlap in Southeast Asia
Lee, Samuel Xin Tham, Amir, Zachary, Moore, Jonathan H., Gaynor, Kaitlyn M. and Luskin, Matthew Scott (2024). Effects of human disturbances on wildlife behaviour and consequences for predator-prey overlap in Southeast Asia. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 1521, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-45905-9
2024
Journal Article
A multi-scale synthesis of mousedeer habitat associations in Southeast Asia reveals declining abundance but few extirpations in fragments and edges
Mendes, Calebe P., Liu, Xiaohan, Amir, Zachary, Moore, Jonathan H. and Luskin, Matthew Scott (2024). A multi-scale synthesis of mousedeer habitat associations in Southeast Asia reveals declining abundance but few extirpations in fragments and edges. Austral Ecology, 49 (2) e13470, 1-17. doi: 10.1111/aec.13470
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Mesopredators in forest edges
Luskin, Matthew Scott, Arnold, Lindsey, Sovie, Adia, Amir, Zachary, Chua, Marcus Aik Hwee, Dehaudt, Bastien, Dunn, Ashlea, Nursamsi, Ilyas, Moore, Jonathan H. and Mendes, Calebe P. (2023). Mesopredators in forest edges. Wildlife Letters, 1 (3), 107-118. doi: 10.1002/wll2.12023
Featured
2023
Journal Article
The rise of hyperabundant native generalists threatens both humans and nature
Moore, Jonathan H., Gibson, Luke, Amir, Zachary, Chanthorn, Wirong, Ahmad, Abdul Hamid, Jansen, Patrick A., Mendes, Calebe P., Onuma, Manabu, Peres, Carlos A. and Luskin, Matthew Scott (2023). The rise of hyperabundant native generalists threatens both humans and nature. Biological Reviews, 98 (5), 1829-1844. doi: 10.1111/brv.12985
2023
Conference Publication
Combining Camera Trap Data and Environmental Data to Estimate the Effects of Environmental Gradients on Abundance of the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus in Cambodia
Thaung, Ret, Frechette, Jackson, Luskin, Matthew and Amir, Zachary (2023). Combining Camera Trap Data and Environmental Data to Estimate the Effects of Environmental Gradients on Abundance of the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus in Cambodia. TDWG 2023, Hobart, TAS Australia, 9-13 October 2023. Sofia, Bulgaria: Pensoft Publishers. doi: 10.3897/biss.7.112100
2023
Journal Article
Binturong ecology and conservation in pristine, fragmented and degraded tropical forests—ERRATUM
Honda, Arata, Amir, Zachary, Mendes, Calebe P., Moore, Jonathan H. and Luskin, Matthew Scott (2023). Binturong ecology and conservation in pristine, fragmented and degraded tropical forests—ERRATUM. Oryx, 58 (2), 1-1. doi: 10.1017/s0030605323000935
2023
Journal Article
Binturong ecology and conservation in pristine, fragmented and degraded tropical forests
Honda, Arata, Amir, Zachary, Mendes, Calebe P., Moore, Jonathan H. and Luskin, Matthew Scott (2023). Binturong ecology and conservation in pristine, fragmented and degraded tropical forests. Oryx, 58 (2), 218-227. doi: 10.1017/s0030605322001491
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Mid-sized felids threatened by habitat degradation in Southeast Asia
Decœur, Henri, Amir, Zachary, Mendes, Calebe P., Moore, Jonathan H. and Luskin, Matthew Scott (2023). Mid-sized felids threatened by habitat degradation in Southeast Asia. Biological Conservation, 283 110103, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110103
2023
Journal Article
The highs and lows of serow (Capricornis sumatraensis): multi-scale habitat associations inform large mammal conservation strategies in the face of synergistic threats of deforestation, hunting, and climate change
Carr, Elliot, Amir, Zachary, Mendes, Calebe P., Moore, Jonathan H., Nursamsi, Ilyas and Luskin, Matthew Scott (2023). The highs and lows of serow (Capricornis sumatraensis): multi-scale habitat associations inform large mammal conservation strategies in the face of synergistic threats of deforestation, hunting, and climate change. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 71, 400-416. doi: 10.26107/RBZ-2023-0030
2023
Journal Article
Sunda pangolins show inconsistent responses to disturbances across multiple scales
Nursamsi, Ilyas, Amir, Zachary, Decoeur, Henri, Moore, Jonathan H. and Luskin, Matthew Scott (2023). Sunda pangolins show inconsistent responses to disturbances across multiple scales. Wildlife Letters, 1 (2), 59-70. doi: 10.1002/wll2.12010
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Rewilding in Southeast Asia: Singapore as a case study
Lamperty, Therese, Chiok, Wen Xuan, Khoo, Max D. Y., Amir, Zachary, Baker, Nick, Chua, Marcus A. H., Chung, Yi Fei, Chua, Yen Kheng, Koh, Joshua J.‐M., Lee, Benjamin P. Y.‐H., Lum, Shawn K. Y., Mendes, Calebe P., Ngiam, Jonathan, ODempsey, Anthony, Png, Kenny G. C., Sophie, Adia R., Tan, Lorraine, Teo, Robert, Thomas, Noel, Tianjiao, Li, Tze‐Ming, Bryan Lim, Loo, Adrian H. B., Wardle, David A. and Luskin, Matthew Scott (2023). Rewilding in Southeast Asia: Singapore as a case study. Conservation Science and Practice, 5 (3) e12899, 1-11. doi: 10.1111/csp2.12899
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Zachary Amir is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
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