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
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Urban evolutionary ecology
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Social evolution
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Behavioural adaptation
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Conservation
Works
Search Professor Celine Frere’s works on UQ eSpace
2022
Other Outputs
A species-specific qPCR assay for the reptile pathogen Nannizziopsis barbatae and mitochondrial genomes of Nannizziopsis and Paranannizziopsis
Powell, Daniel, Schwessinger, Benjamin and Frere, Celine (2022). A species-specific qPCR assay for the reptile pathogen Nannizziopsis barbatae and mitochondrial genomes of Nannizziopsis and Paranannizziopsis. doi: 10.22541/au.166385168.88835660/v1
2022
Journal Article
Susceptibility to a sexually transmitted disease in a wild koala population shows heritable genetic variance but no inbreeding depression
Cristescu, Romane H., Strickland, Kasha, Schultz, Anthony J., Kruuk, Loeske E. B., de Villiers, Deidre and Frère, Céline H. (2022). Susceptibility to a sexually transmitted disease in a wild koala population shows heritable genetic variance but no inbreeding depression. Molecular Ecology, 31 (21), 5455-5467. doi: 10.1111/mec.16676
2022
Journal Article
Reproductive timing as an explanation for skewed parentage assignment ratio in a bisexually philopatric population
Foroughirad, Vivienne, McEntee, Molly, Kopps, Anna M., Levengood, Alexis, Frère, Celine and Mann, Janet (2022). Reproductive timing as an explanation for skewed parentage assignment ratio in a bisexually philopatric population. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 76 (9) 129. doi: 10.1007/s00265-022-03233-2
2022
Other Outputs
Changes in social position predict survival in bottlenose dolphins
Rankin, Robert William, Jilla Foroughirad, Vivienne, Krzyszczyk, Ewa Beata, Frère, Céline H. and Mann, Janet (2022). Changes in social position predict survival in bottlenose dolphins. doi: 10.1101/2022.08.25.505273
2022
Journal Article
Genetic erosion detected in a specialist mammal living in a fast-developing environment
Hohwieler, Katrin R., de Villiers, Deidre L., Cristescu, Romane H. and Frere, Celine H. (2022). Genetic erosion detected in a specialist mammal living in a fast-developing environment. Conservation Science and Practice, 4 (7) e12738, 1-17. doi: 10.1111/csp2.12738
2022
Other Outputs
Methods for detection of recent population subdivisions
O'Reilly, Gabe, Frere, Celine, Schultz, Anthony, Kirkland, Layla and Sherwin, William (2022). Methods for detection of recent population subdivisions.
2022
Journal Article
Correction to: A framework for the identification of long-term social avoidance in longitudinal datasets
Strickland, K., Levengood, A., Foroughirad, V., Mann, J., Krzyszczyk, E. and Frère, C. H. (2022). Correction to: A framework for the identification of long-term social avoidance in longitudinal datasets. Royal Society Open Science, 9 (1), 220017. doi: 10.1098/rsos.220017
2022
Journal Article
Australian magpies Gymnorhina tibicen cooperate to remove tracking devices
Crampton, Joel, Frère, Celine and Potvin, Dominique (2022). Australian magpies Gymnorhina tibicen cooperate to remove tracking devices. Australian Field Ornithology, 39, 7-11. doi: 10.20938/afo39007011
2022
Journal Article
Testing the effectiveness of genetic monitoring using genetic non‐invasive sampling
Schultz, Anthony James, Strickland, Kasha, Cristescu, Romane H., Hanger, Jonathan, Villiers, Deidre and Frère, Céline H. (2022). Testing the effectiveness of genetic monitoring using genetic non‐invasive sampling. Ecology and Evolution, 12 (1) e8459, e8459. doi: 10.1002/ece3.8459
2021
Journal Article
Publisher Correction: Cross-continental emergence of Nannizziopsis barbatae disease may threaten wild Australian lizards (Scientific Reports, (2020), 10, 1, (20976), 10.1038/s41598-020-77865-7)
Peterson, Nicola R., Rose, Karrie, Shaw, Stephanie, Hyndman, Tim H., Sigler, Lynne, Kurtböke, D. İpek, Llinas, Josh, Littleford‑Colquhoun, Bethan L., Cristescu, Romane and Frère, Celine (2021). Publisher Correction: Cross-continental emergence of Nannizziopsis barbatae disease may threaten wild Australian lizards (Scientific Reports, (2020), 10, 1, (20976), 10.1038/s41598-020-77865-7). Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 6871. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-86463-0
2021
Journal Article
From flames to inflammation: how wildfires affect patterns of wildlife disease
Albery, Gregory F., Turilli, Isabella, Joseph, Maxwell B., Foley, Janet, Frere, Celine H. and Bansal, Shweta (2021). From flames to inflammation: how wildfires affect patterns of wildlife disease. Fire Ecology, 17 (1) 23. doi: 10.1186/s42408-021-00113-4
2021
Other Outputs
The epidemiology and genomics of a virulent emerging fungal pathogen in an Australian reptile
Class, B., Powell, D., Terraube, J., Albery, G., Delmé, C., Bansal, S. and Frère, C.H. (2021). The epidemiology and genomics of a virulent emerging fungal pathogen in an Australian reptile. doi: 10.1101/2021.10.22.465237
2021
Journal Article
Maternal effects and fitness consequences of individual variation in bottlenose dolphins' ecological niche
Strickland, Kasha, Mann, Janet, Foroughirad, Vivienne, Levengood, Alexis L. and Frère, Céline H. (2021). Maternal effects and fitness consequences of individual variation in bottlenose dolphins' ecological niche. Journal of Animal Ecology, 90 (8) 1365-2656.13513, 1-13. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.13513
2021
Other Outputs
Immediate and long-term genetic consequences of linear transport infrastructure: can fauna crossing mitigate its cost?
Frere, Celine, O'Reilly, Gabe, Strickland, Kasha, Schultz, Anthony , Hohwieler, K., Hanger, J., de Villiers, D., Cristescu, R., Powell, D. and Sherwin, W. (2021). Immediate and long-term genetic consequences of linear transport infrastructure: can fauna crossing mitigate its cost?. doi: 10.22541/au.164787523.38878185/v1
2021
Journal Article
Genome sequence of the fungus Nannizziopsis barbatae, an emerging reptile pathogen
Powell, Daniel, Jones, Ashley, Kent, Nicola, Kaur, Parwinder, Bar, Ido, Schwessinger, Benjamin and Frère, Céline H. (2021). Genome sequence of the fungus Nannizziopsis barbatae, an emerging reptile pathogen. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 10 (1) e0121320. doi: 10.1128/mra.01213-20
2021
Journal Article
Difficulties of assessing the impacts of the 2019–2020 bushfires on koalas
Cristescu, Romane H., Gardiner, Riana, Terraube, Julien, McDonald, Kye, Powell, Dan, Levengood, Alexis L. and Frère, Céline H. (2021). Difficulties of assessing the impacts of the 2019–2020 bushfires on koalas. Austral Ecology, 48 (1), 12-18. doi: 10.1111/aec.13120
2020
Journal Article
Cross-continental emergence of Nannizziopsis barbatae disease may threaten wild Australian lizards
Peterson, Nicola R., Rose, Karrie, Shaw, Stephanie, Hyndman, Tim H., Sigler, Lynne, Kurtböke, D. İpek, Llinas, Josh, Littleford-Colquhoun, Bethan L., Cristescu, Romane and Frère, Celine (2020). Cross-continental emergence of Nannizziopsis barbatae disease may threaten wild Australian lizards. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) 20976, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-77865-7
2020
Journal Article
Shrinking into the big city: influence of genetic and environmental factors on urban dragon lizard morphology and performance capacity
Baxter-Gilbert, James, Riley, Julia L., Frère, Celine H. and Whiting, Martin J. (2020). Shrinking into the big city: influence of genetic and environmental factors on urban dragon lizard morphology and performance capacity. Urban Ecosystems, 24 (4), 661-674. doi: 10.1007/s11252-020-01065-4
2020
Other Outputs
Does landscape connectivity translate into genetic connectivity of koalas?
Hohwieler, Katrin, Chudleigh, Sally, Frere, Celine and Cristescu, Romane (2020). Does landscape connectivity translate into genetic connectivity of koalas?. Interim Report Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia: Noosa Biosphere.
2020
Journal Article
Juvenile social dynamics reflect adult reproductive strategies in bottlenose dolphins
Galezo, Allison A., Foroughirad, Vivienne, Krzyszczyk, Ewa, Frère, Céline H. and Mann, Janet (2020). Juvenile social dynamics reflect adult reproductive strategies in bottlenose dolphins. Behavioral Ecology, 31 (5), 1159-1171. doi: 10.1093/beheco/araa068
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Celine Frere is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Threatened species conservation
I have PhD projects available which focus on developing new and innovative tools for the conservation of threatened species. These include airborne eDNA and microbiome analyses. Contact me if you are interested in applying genomic tools to advance conservation of animals.
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Social Evolution
I have PhD projects available to study the evolution of sociality using long-term datasets on individuals which include, but not limited to, species like eastern water dragons, dolphins, koalas and many others. I seek PhD students which are keen to work across species using publically available datasets to answer important questions about the evolution of the sharing of relationships.
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Urban Evolution and Emerging Infectious Diseases
I have PhD projects investigating links between urbanisation, animals' immunity and emerging fungal diseases.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
airborne eDNA for the management of terrestrial biodiversity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicola Jackson
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Doctor Philosophy
Estimating disease susceptibility to fungal pathogen in animals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Katrina McGuigan
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Doctor Philosophy
Social behaviour and emerging fungal diseases in eastern water dragons.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rebecca Cramp
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Doctor Philosophy
Mechanisms of disease avoidance in eastern water dragons.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicola Jackson
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Doctor Philosophy
the role of urbanisation on the emergence of reptile fungal pathogens in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicola Jackson
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Doctor Philosophy
Social plasticity and maternal effects in dolphins
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Rebecca Dunlop
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Doctor Philosophy
Urbanisation and the emergence of wildlife fungal diseases
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rebecca Cramp, Professor Craig Franklin
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Doctor Philosophy
Koalas Poop Plenty: Harnessing the Scat Microbiome as a Conservation Tool
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Franklin
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Doctor Philosophy
Behavioural and physiological responses of a large ectotherm to environmental conditions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Franklin
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding fungal infections in wild reptiles
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Viviana Gonzalez Astudillo, Dr Laura Grogan
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Using spatial ecology to reveal sociality: The movement ecology, behaviour, and social structure of the estuarine crocodile, Crocodylus porosus
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Franklin
Media
Enquiries
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