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
2019
Other Outputs
Ormiston Koala Population Monitoring & Community Engagement: 2019 Progress Report
Gardnier, Riana, McDonald, Kye, Hohwieler, Katrin, Frere, Céline and Cristescu, Romane (2019). Ormiston Koala Population Monitoring & Community Engagement: 2019 Progress Report. Redland City Council Website: Redland City Council.
2019
Journal Article
Presence of kin-biased social associations in a lizard with no parental care: the eastern water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii)
Piza-Roca, Carme, Strickland, Kasha, Kent, Nicola and Frere, Celine H (2019). Presence of kin-biased social associations in a lizard with no parental care: the eastern water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii). Behavioral Ecology, 30 (5), 1406-1415. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arz093
2019
Journal Article
Parthenogenesis in a captive Asian water dragon (Physignathus cocincinus) identified with novel microsatellites
Miller, Kyle L., Castañeda Rico, Susette, Muletz-Wolz, Carly R., Campana, Michael G., McInerney, Nancy, Augustine, Lauren, Frere, Celine, Peters, Alan M. and Fleischer, Robert C. (2019). Parthenogenesis in a captive Asian water dragon (Physignathus cocincinus) identified with novel microsatellites. PLoS One, 14 (6) e0217489, e0217489. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217489
2019
Journal Article
Is MHC diversity a better marker for conservation than neutral genetic diversity? A case study of two contrasting dolphin populations
Manlik, Oliver, Krützen, Michael, Kopps, Anna M., Mann, Janet, Bejder, Lars, Allen, Simon J., Frère, Celine, Connor, Richard C. and Sherwin, William B. (2019). Is MHC diversity a better marker for conservation than neutral genetic diversity? A case study of two contrasting dolphin populations. Ecology and Evolution, 9 (12), 6986-6998. doi: 10.1002/ece3.5265
2019
Other Outputs
Cool Country Koala project 2018/2019 Final Report
Cristescu, Romane, Hohwieler, Katrin, Gardiner, Riana, deVilliers, Deidre, Vincent, Ben and Frere, Celine (2019). Cool Country Koala project 2018/2019 Final Report. https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au: NSW government.
2019
Journal Article
Developing non-invasive methodologies to assess koala population health through detecting Chlamydia from scats
Cristescu, Romane H., Miller, Russell L., Schultz, Anthony J., Hulse, Lyndal, Jaccoud, Damian, Johnston, Stephen, Hanger, Jon, Booth, Rosie and Frère, Céline H. (2019). Developing non-invasive methodologies to assess koala population health through detecting Chlamydia from scats. Molecular Ecology Resources, 19 (4) 1755-0998.12999, 957-969. doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.12999
2019
Other Outputs
Cool Country Koala project 2018/2019 Final Report
Cristescu, Romane , Hohwieler, Katrin , Gardiner, Riana , deVilliers, Deidre , Vincent, Ben and Frere, Celine (2019). Cool Country Koala project 2018/2019 Final Report. Final Report NSW, Australia: NSW Government.
2019
Journal Article
Maternal nesting behaviour in city dragons: a species with temperature-dependent sex determination
Kent, Nicola, Cristescu, Romane H., Piza-Roca, Carme, Littleford-Colquhoun, Bethan L., Strickland, Kasha and Frère, Céline H. (2019). Maternal nesting behaviour in city dragons: a species with temperature-dependent sex determination. Journal of Urban Ecology, 5 (1) juz005. doi: 10.1093/jue/juz005
2018
Journal Article
Eastern water dragons modify their social tactics with respect to the location within their home range
Piza-Roca, Carme, Strickland, Kasha, Schoeman, David and Frere, Celine H. (2018). Eastern water dragons modify their social tactics with respect to the location within their home range. Animal Behaviour, 144, 27-36. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.08.001
2018
Journal Article
Eastern water dragons use alternative social tactics at different local densities
Strickland, Kasha, Patterson, Eric M. and Frère, Céline H. (2018). Eastern water dragons use alternative social tactics at different local densities. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 72 (9) 148. doi: 10.1007/s00265-018-2563-x
2018
Journal Article
Low genetic diversity, limited gene flow and widespread genetic bottleneck effects in a threatened dolphin species, the Australian humpback dolphin
Parra, Guido J., Cagnazzi, Daniele, Jedensjö, Maria, Ackermann, Corinne, Frere, Celine, Seddon, Jennifer, Nikolic, Natacha and Krützen, Michael (2018). Low genetic diversity, limited gene flow and widespread genetic bottleneck effects in a threatened dolphin species, the Australian humpback dolphin. Biological Conservation, 220, 192-200. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.12.028
2018
Journal Article
Fresh is best: accurate SNP genotyping from koala scats
Schultz, Anthony J., Cristescu, Romane H., Littleford-Colquhoun, Bethan L., Jaccoud, Damian and Frère, Céline H. (2018). Fresh is best: accurate SNP genotyping from koala scats. Ecology and Evolution, 8 (6), 3139-3151. doi: 10.1002/ece3.3765
2018
Journal Article
Predictable males and unpredictable females: repeatability of sociability in eastern water dragons
Strickland, Kasha and Frère, Céline H. (2018). Predictable males and unpredictable females: repeatability of sociability in eastern water dragons. Behavioral Ecology, 29 (1), 236-243. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arx148
2017
Journal Article
Genomic DNA variation confirmed Seriola lalandi comprises three different populations in the Pacific, but with recent divergence
Premachandra, H. K.A., La Cruz, Fabiola Lafarga-De, Takeuchi, Yutaka, Miller, Adam, Fielder, Stewart, O'Connor, Wayne, Frère, Celine H., Nguyen, Nguyen Hong, Bar, Ido and Knibb, Wayne (2017). Genomic DNA variation confirmed Seriola lalandi comprises three different populations in the Pacific, but with recent divergence. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 9386. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07419-x
2017
Other Outputs
Cool Country Koala project 2016/2017 Northern Section
Frere, Celine and Cristescu, Romane (2017). Cool Country Koala project 2016/2017 Northern Section. Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia: University of the Sunshine Coast.
2017
Journal Article
A framework for the identification of long-term social avoidance in longitudinal datasets
Strickland, Kasha, Levengood, Alexis, Foroughirad, Vivienne, Mann, Janet, Krzyszczyk, Ewa and Frère, Celine H. (2017). A framework for the identification of long-term social avoidance in longitudinal datasets. Royal Society Open Science, 4 (8) 170641, 170641. doi: 10.1098/rsos.170641
2016
Journal Article
Dolphin sociality, distribution and calving as important behavioural patterns informing management
Smith, H., Frère, C., Kobryn, H. and Bejder, L. (2016). Dolphin sociality, distribution and calving as important behavioural patterns informing management. Animal Conservation, 19 (5), 462-471. doi: 10.1111/acv.12263
2016
Other Outputs
Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra - Woodnam to Curra
Frere, Celine and Cristescu, Romane (2016). Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra - Woodnam to Curra. Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia: University of the Sunshine Coast.
2016
Other Outputs
Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra - Tinana Koala surveys
Frere, Celine H. and Cristescu, Romane (2016). Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra - Tinana Koala surveys. Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia: University of the Sunshine Coast.
2015
Journal Article
Influence of putative forest refugia and biogeographic barriers on the level and distribution of genetic variation in an African savannah tree, Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss
Sexton, Gary J., Frere, C.H., Kalinganire, A., Uwamariya, A., Lowe, A.J., Godwin, I.D., Prentis, P.J. and Dieters, M.J. (2015). Influence of putative forest refugia and biogeographic barriers on the level and distribution of genetic variation in an African savannah tree, Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss. Tree Genetics and Genomes, 11 (103) 103. doi: 10.1007/s11295-015-0933-3
Funding
Current 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
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
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
Understanding fungal infections in wild reptiles
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Viviana Gonzalez Astudillo, Dr Laura Grogan
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Doctor Philosophy
Behavioural and physiological responses of a large ectotherm to environmental conditions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Franklin
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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