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Associate Professor Celine Frere
Associate Professor

Celine Frere

Email: 

Overview

Background

I am an ARC Future Fellow with 13 years as an active researcher (2 years academic interruption). My research seeks to bring significant fundamental advances about how animals adapt to changing environments and see its translation into industry and government as a critical aspect of my academic career. A critical part of my research has been the development of innovative genomic tools to enhance the conservation of Australian animals, including the development and validation of [1] non-invasive molecular disease diagnostics tools, [2] next generation sequencing for improved genotyping of DNA extracted from faecal samples , [3] metagenomics as tool for the identification of meta-populations, and most recently [4] airborne eDNA as a tool to monitor threatened species (e.g. koalas and its surrounding mammalian community). I am also a passionate advocate for women in STEM and was named Queensland Tall Poppy Scientist of the Year in 2020 and SuperStar of STEM Science and Technology Australia (2017).

Availability

Associate Professor Celine Frere is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales

Research interests

  • Urban evolutionary ecology

  • Social evolution

  • Behavioural adaptation

  • Conservation

Works

Search Professor Celine Frere’s works on UQ eSpace

129 works between 2008 and 2025

21 - 40 of 129 works

2024

Other Outputs

Detection of koala hotspots along the Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra Section C for the prioritization of fence maintenance

Frere, Celine, Moreno, Jarred and Zdenek, Christina (2024). Detection of koala hotspots along the Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra Section C for the prioritization of fence maintenance. https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au: QLD TMR.

Detection of koala hotspots along the Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra Section C for the prioritization of fence maintenance

2024

Journal Article

Koalas, friends and foes—The application of airborne eDNA for the biomonitoring of threatened species

Frere, Celine, Jackson, Nicola, Moreno, Jarred, Oliveros Sandino, Alejandro, Ball, Sarah and Powell, Daniel (2024). Koalas, friends and foes—The application of airborne eDNA for the biomonitoring of threatened species. Journal of Applied Ecology, 61 (11), 2837-2847. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.14784

Koalas, friends and foes—The application of airborne eDNA for the biomonitoring of threatened species

2024

Journal Article

Sex-specific associations between social behavior, its predictability and fitness in a wild lizard

Class, Barbara, Strickland, Kasha, Potvin, Dominique, Jackson, Nicola, Nakagawa, Shinichi and Frere, Celine (2024). Sex-specific associations between social behavior, its predictability and fitness in a wild lizard. The American Naturalist, 204 (5), 501-516. doi: 10.1086/732178

Sex-specific associations between social behavior, its predictability and fitness in a wild lizard

2024

Journal Article

Cooling down is as important as warming up for a large-bodied tropical reptile

Barham, Kaitlin E., Dwyer, Ross G., Frere, Celine H., Bentley, Lily K., Baker, Cameron J., Campbell, Hamish A., Irwin, Terri R. and Franklin, Craig E. (2024). Cooling down is as important as warming up for a large-bodied tropical reptile. Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences, 291 (2034) 20241804, 1-12. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.1804

Cooling down is as important as warming up for a large-bodied tropical reptile

2024

Journal Article

Active crocodiles are less sociable

Baker, Cameron J., Class, Barbara, Dwyer, Ross G., Franklin, Craig E., Campbell, Hamish A., Irwin, Terri R. and Frère, Céline H. (2024). Active crocodiles are less sociable. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 379 (1912) 20220528, 20220528. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0528

Active crocodiles are less sociable

2024

Journal Article

Century-old chromatin architecture revealed in formalin-fixed vertebrates

Hahn, Erin E., Stiller, Jiri, Alexander, Marina R., Grealy, Alicia, Taylor, Jennifer M., Jackson, Nicola, Frere, Celine H. and Holleley, Clare E. (2024). Century-old chromatin architecture revealed in formalin-fixed vertebrates. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 6378, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-50668-4

Century-old chromatin architecture revealed in formalin-fixed vertebrates

2024

Other Outputs

How does Koala health differ across the Redland Coast? Linking koala gut microbiome and diet.

Frere, Celine, Zdenek, Christina, Joseph, Joe, Becker, Samuel and Oliveros Sandino, Alejandro (2024). How does Koala health differ across the Redland Coast? Linking koala gut microbiome and diet.. Redland City Council Website: Redland City Council.

How does Koala health differ across the Redland Coast? Linking koala gut microbiome and diet.

2024

Other Outputs

Using AirDNA to detect koala and greater glider activity along the proposed forest wind transmission line corridor

Frere, Celine and Jackson, Nicola (2024). Using AirDNA to detect koala and greater glider activity along the proposed forest wind transmission line corridor. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Forest Wind.

Using AirDNA to detect koala and greater glider activity along the proposed forest wind transmission line corridor

2024

Journal Article

Social inheritance of avoidances shapes the structure of animal social networks

Frère, Celine H, Class, Barbara, Potvin, Dominique A and Ilany, Amiyaal (2024). Social inheritance of avoidances shapes the structure of animal social networks. Behavioral Ecology, 35 (1) arad088, 1-8. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arad088

Social inheritance of avoidances shapes the structure of animal social networks

2024

Book Chapter

Urbanization, Animals, and Evolution

Jackson, Nicola, Potvin, Dominique, Braham, Kaitlin, Strickland, Kasha and Frère, Celine (2024). Urbanization, Animals, and Evolution. Reference Module in Life Sciences. (pp. 1-1) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-443-15750-9.00060-4

Urbanization, Animals, and Evolution

2024

Other Outputs

Data associated with `Crocodiles are heating up: climate-induced shifts in body temperature impact behavior and performance`

Barham, Kaitlin, Frere, Celine, Dwyer, Ross, Baker, Cameron, Campbell, Hamish, Irwin, Terri and Franklin, Craig (2024). Data associated with `Crocodiles are heating up: climate-induced shifts in body temperature impact behavior and performance`. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/72e7401

Data associated with `Crocodiles are heating up: climate-induced shifts in body temperature impact behavior and performance`

2023

Other Outputs

Data associated with "Cooling down is as important as warming up for a large-bodied tropical reptile"

Barham, Kaitlin E, Dwyer, Ross G, Frere, Celine H, Bentley, Lily K, Baker, Cameron J, Campbell, Hamish A, Irwin, Terri R and Franklin, Craig E (2023). Data associated with "Cooling down is as important as warming up for a large-bodied tropical reptile". The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/b15b7b4

Data associated with "Cooling down is as important as warming up for a large-bodied tropical reptile"

2023

Journal Article

Influence of scat ageing on the gut microbiome: how old is too old?

Oliveros, Alejandro, Terraube, Julien, Levengood, Alexis L., Powell, Daniel and Frère, Céline H. (2023). Influence of scat ageing on the gut microbiome: how old is too old?. BMC Genomics, 24 (1) 427, 427. doi: 10.1186/s12864-023-09520-0

Influence of scat ageing on the gut microbiome: how old is too old?

2023

Other Outputs

Improving current non-invasive tools to better manage Redlands coast koalas using airborne eDNA and faecal microbiome approaches

Frere, Celine, Jackson, Nicola, Moreno, Jarred, Oliveros Sandino, Alejandro and Powell, Daniel (2023). Improving current non-invasive tools to better manage Redlands coast koalas using airborne eDNA and faecal microbiome approaches. Redland City Council Website: Redland City Council.

Improving current non-invasive tools to better manage Redlands coast koalas using airborne eDNA and faecal microbiome approaches

2023

Journal Article

Adaptive significance of affiliative behaviour differs between sexes in a wild reptile population

Delmé, C., Jackson, N., Class, B., Strickland, K., Potvin, D. A. and Frère, C. H. (2023). Adaptive significance of affiliative behaviour differs between sexes in a wild reptile population. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 290 (2001) 20230805, 1-9. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0805

Adaptive significance of affiliative behaviour differs between sexes in a wild reptile population

2023

Journal Article

Agonism does not covary with territoriality in a gregarious reptile

Ball, Sarah, Potvin, Dominique A., Class, Barbara and Frère, Celine H. (2023). Agonism does not covary with territoriality in a gregarious reptile. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 77 (6) 73, 1-8. doi: 10.1007/s00265-023-03348-0

Agonism does not covary with territoriality in a gregarious reptile

2023

Journal Article

Impacts of fungal disease on dyadic social interactions in a wild agamid lizard

Tacey, J., Class, B., Delmé, C., Powell, D. and Frère, C. H. (2023). Impacts of fungal disease on dyadic social interactions in a wild agamid lizard. Animal Behaviour, 200, 125-136. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.04.002

Impacts of fungal disease on dyadic social interactions in a wild agamid lizard

2023

Journal Article

Protected area coverage has a positive effect on koala occurrence in Eastern Australia

Terraube, J., Gardiner, R., Hohwieler, K., Frère, C. H. and Cristescu, R. H. (2023). Protected area coverage has a positive effect on koala occurrence in Eastern Australia. Biodiversity and Conservation, 32 (7), 2495-2511. doi: 10.1007/s10531-023-02615-w

Protected area coverage has a positive effect on koala occurrence in Eastern Australia

2023

Journal Article

Long-term tracking reveals a dynamic crocodylian social system

Baker, Cameron J., Frère, Céline H., Franklin, Craig E., Campbell, Hamish A., Irwin, Terri R. and Dwyer, Ross G. (2023). Long-term tracking reveals a dynamic crocodylian social system. Animal Behaviour, 199, 59-78. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.02.015

Long-term tracking reveals a dynamic crocodylian social system

2023

Journal Article

Conditional alternative movement tactics in male crocodiles

Barham, Kaitlin E., Baker, Cameron J., Franklin, Craig E., Campbell, Hamish A., Frére, Celine H., Irwin, Terri R. and Dwyer, Ross G. (2023). Conditional alternative movement tactics in male crocodiles. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 77 (3) 31. doi: 10.1007/s00265-023-03303-z

Conditional alternative movement tactics in male crocodiles

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Airborne eDNA for northern bettongs
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Developing a non-invasive Koala Health diagnostic framework
    NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    The application of airborne eDNA for the cataloguing of Gorton Forest Sanctuary's wildlife
    Australian Wildlife Conservancy
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    Animal social behaviour and emerging infectious fungal diseases in nature
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Understanding the links between the koala gut microbiome, diet and nutritional ecology of the northern and southern koala populations across mainland's Redland Coast
    Redland City Council
    Open grant
  • 2024
    Aquatic versus airborne eDNA for the monitoring of terrestrial vertebrate diversity - Part 1
    Logan City Council
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Comparing aquatic to airborne eDNA for the monitoring of terrestrial vertebrate species
    Logan City Council
    Open grant
  • 2024
    Linking koala gut microbiome, diet and Chlamydia and comparing health between northern and southern populations across mainlands Redland Coast
    Redland City Council
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Improving our understanding of Queensland's terrestrial threatened species use of privately held land using airborne eDNA and citizen scientists
    Logan City Council
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Airborne eDNA for the detection of koalas and co-occurring mammals along the Wind Forest's proposed transmission line route
    Forest Wind Stage 1 Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Koala management impacted by linear infrastructure building and construction
    Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Design and delivery of a Victorian Koala population, genetics and health status survey (Vic Govt. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action grant administered by Federation University)
    Federation University Australia
    Open grant
  • 2023
    Testing the use of eDNA for the monitoring of terrestrial communities in the Redlands
    Redland City Council
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Celine Frere is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Social plasticity and maternal effects in dolphins

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Rebecca Dunlop

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Social behaviour and emerging fungal diseases in eastern water dragons.

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Estimating disease susceptibility to fungal pathogen in animals

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Katrina McGuigan

  • Doctor Philosophy

    the role of urbanisation on the emergence of reptile fungal pathogens in Australia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Nicola Jackson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    airborne eDNA for the management of terrestrial biodiversity

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Nicola Jackson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Urbanisation and the emergence of wildlife fungal diseases

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Franklin

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mechanisms of disease avoidance in eastern water dragons.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Nicola Jackson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    airborne eDNA and northern bettongs

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Nicola Jackson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Koalas Poop Plenty: Harnessing the Scat Microbiome as a Conservation Tool

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Franklin

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding fungal infections in wild reptiles

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Viviana Gonzalez Astudillo, Dr Laura Grogan

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Behavioural and physiological responses of estuarine crocodiles to environmental conditions

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Franklin

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Associate Professor Celine Frere's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au