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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

113 works between 2008 and 2025

81 - 100 of 113 works

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

Dolphin sociality, distribution and calving as important behavioural patterns informing management

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.

Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra - Woodnam to Curra

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.

Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra - Tinana Koala surveys

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

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

2015

Journal Article

Regional vegetation change and implications for local conservation: An example from West Cornwall (United Kingdom)

Kosanic, A., Anderson, K., Frère, C. H. and Harrison, S. (2015). Regional vegetation change and implications for local conservation: An example from West Cornwall (United Kingdom). Global Ecology and Conservation, 4, 405-413. doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2015.08.006

Regional vegetation change and implications for local conservation: An example from West Cornwall (United Kingdom)

2015

Journal Article

Correction: Potential 'Ecological Traps' of restored landscapes: Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus re-occupy a rehabilitated mine site

Cristescu, Romane H., Banks, Peter B., Carrick, Frank N. and Frère, Céline (2015). Correction: Potential 'Ecological Traps' of restored landscapes: Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus re-occupy a rehabilitated mine site. PLoS ONE, 10 (6) e0130115. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130115

Correction: Potential 'Ecological Traps' of restored landscapes: Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus re-occupy a rehabilitated mine site

2015

Journal Article

Polyandry in dragon lizards: inbred paternal genotypes sire fewer offspring

Frere, Celine H., Chandrasoma, Dani and Whiting, Martin J. (2015). Polyandry in dragon lizards: inbred paternal genotypes sire fewer offspring. Ecology and Evolution, 5 (8), 1686-1692. doi: 10.1002/ece3.1447

Polyandry in dragon lizards: inbred paternal genotypes sire fewer offspring

2015

Journal Article

Accuracy and efficiency of detection dogs: a powerful new tool for koala conservation and management

Cristescu, Romane H., Foley, Emily, Markula, Anna, Jackson, Gary, Jones, Darryl and Frere, Celine (2015). Accuracy and efficiency of detection dogs: a powerful new tool for koala conservation and management. Scientific Reports, 5 (1) 8349. doi: 10.1038/srep08349

Accuracy and efficiency of detection dogs: a powerful new tool for koala conservation and management

2015

Journal Article

Intellagama lesueurii Eastern water dragon: cannibalism

Frère, Celine H., Nugent, Daniel R., Littleford-Colquhoun, Bethan and Strickland, Kasha (2015) Intellagama lesueurii Eastern water dragon: cannibalism. Herpetological Bulletin, 133: 38-39.

Intellagama lesueurii Eastern water dragon: cannibalism

2014

Journal Article

The social life of eastern water dragons: sex differences, spatial overlap and genetic relatedness

Strickland, K., Gardiner, R., Schultz, A. J. and Frere, C. H. (2014). The social life of eastern water dragons: sex differences, spatial overlap and genetic relatedness. Animal Behaviour, 97, 53-61. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.08.009

The social life of eastern water dragons: sex differences, spatial overlap and genetic relatedness

2014

Journal Article

Population differentiation and hybridisation of Australian snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) and Indo-Pacific humpback (Sousa chinensis) dolphins in North-Western Australia

Brown, Alexander M., Kopps, Anna M., Allen, Simon J., Bejder, Lars, Littleford-Colquhoun, Bethan, Parra, Guido J., Cagnazzi, Daniele, Thiele, Deborah, Palmer, Carol and Frere, Celine H. (2014). Population differentiation and hybridisation of Australian snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) and Indo-Pacific humpback (Sousa chinensis) dolphins in North-Western Australia. PloS One, 9 (7) e101427, e101427. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101427

Population differentiation and hybridisation of Australian snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) and Indo-Pacific humpback (Sousa chinensis) dolphins in North-Western Australia

2014

Journal Article

A face in the crowd: a non-invasive and cost effective photo-identification methodology to understand the fine scale movement of eastern water dragons

Gardiner, Riana Zanarivero, Doran, Erik, Strickland, Kasha, Carpenter-Bundhoo, Luke and Frere, Celine (2014). A face in the crowd: a non-invasive and cost effective photo-identification methodology to understand the fine scale movement of eastern water dragons. PLoS ONE, 9 (5) e96992, e96992. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096992

A face in the crowd: a non-invasive and cost effective photo-identification methodology to understand the fine scale movement of eastern water dragons

2014

Journal Article

Phylogeography of the finless porpoise (genus Neophocaena): Testing the stepwise divergence hypothesis in the northwestern Pacific

Lin, Wenzhi, Frère, Céline H., Karczmarski, Leszek, Xia, Jia, Gui, Duan and Wu, Yuping (2014). Phylogeography of the finless porpoise (genus Neophocaena): Testing the stepwise divergence hypothesis in the northwestern Pacific. Scientific Reports, 4 (1) 6572. doi: 10.1038/srep06572

Phylogeography of the finless porpoise (genus Neophocaena): Testing the stepwise divergence hypothesis in the northwestern Pacific

2013

Journal Article

Potential 'Ecological Traps' of restored landscapes: koalas Phascolarctos cinereus re-occupy a rehabilitated mine site

Cristescu, Romane H., Banks, Peter B., Carrick, Frank N. and Frere, Celine (2013). Potential 'Ecological Traps' of restored landscapes: koalas Phascolarctos cinereus re-occupy a rehabilitated mine site. PLoS One, 8 (11) e80469, e80469.1-e80469.12. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080469

Potential 'Ecological Traps' of restored landscapes: koalas Phascolarctos cinereus re-occupy a rehabilitated mine site

2013

Journal Article

Is restoring flora the same as restoring fauna? Lessons learned from koalas and mining rehabilitation

Cristescu, Romane H., Rhodes, Jonathan, Frere, Celine and Banks, Peter B. (2013). Is restoring flora the same as restoring fauna? Lessons learned from koalas and mining rehabilitation. Journal of Applied Ecology, 50 (2), 423-431. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12046

Is restoring flora the same as restoring fauna? Lessons learned from koalas and mining rehabilitation

2013

Journal Article

Fission-fusion dynamics in wild giraffes may be driven by kinship, spatial overlap and individual social preferences

Carter, Kerryn D., Seddon, Jennifer M., Frère, Celine H., Carter, John K. and Goldizen, Anne W. (2013). Fission-fusion dynamics in wild giraffes may be driven by kinship, spatial overlap and individual social preferences. Animal Behaviour, 85 (2), 385-394. doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.11.011

Fission-fusion dynamics in wild giraffes may be driven by kinship, spatial overlap and individual social preferences

2013

Book Chapter

Molecular markers in plant improvement

Prentis, Peter J., Gilding, Edward K., Pavasovic, Ana, Frere, Celine H. and Godwin, Ian D. (2013). Molecular markers in plant improvement. Molecular markers in plants. (pp. 67-78) edited by Robert J. Henry. Ames, IA, United States: John Wiley and Sons. doi: 10.1002/9781118473023.ch5

Molecular markers in plant improvement

2013

Conference Publication

Ecoturf - a case study on genetic variation and agronomic potential of bermudagrass (cynodon spp.) germplasm collected from Australian biodiversity

Lambrides, Christopher J., Zhou, Yi, Fukai, Shu, Jewell, Margaret, Loch, Don, Godwin, Ian, Holton, Tim, Innes, David, Frere, Celine, Hanna, Wayne, Ye, Changrong, Van Tran, Thinh, Le, Thu, Cao, Ninh, Al Dabbagh, Haider, O'Brien, Chris, Roche, Matt, Fullelove, Garry, Ballard, Emma, Kearns, Ryan, Pearce, Will, Hacker, Andrew, Puachuay, Meena, Shelton, Max, Dalzell, Scott, Anderson, Bill, Harris-Shultz, Karen and Cremer, Julia (2013). Ecoturf - a case study on genetic variation and agronomic potential of bermudagrass (cynodon spp.) germplasm collected from Australian biodiversity. ITRC 2013: 12th International Turfgrass Research Conference, Beijing, China, 14-19 July 2013. Overland Park, KS, USA: Intertec Publishing.

Ecoturf - a case study on genetic variation and agronomic potential of bermudagrass (cynodon spp.) germplasm collected from Australian biodiversity

2012

Journal Article

Phylogenetic analysis reveals multiple introductions of Cynodon species in Australia

Jewell, M., Frere, C. H., Harris-Shultz, K., Anderson, W. F., Godwin, I. D. and Lambrides, C. J. (2012). Phylogenetic analysis reveals multiple introductions of Cynodon species in Australia. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 65 (2), 390-396. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2012.06.026

Phylogenetic analysis reveals multiple introductions of Cynodon species in Australia

2012

Journal Article

Experimental Evaluation of Koala Scat Persistence and Detectability with Implications for Pellet-Based Fauna Census

Cristescu, Romane H., Goethals, Klara, Banks, Peter B., Carrick, Frank N. and Frere, Celine (2012). Experimental Evaluation of Koala Scat Persistence and Detectability with Implications for Pellet-Based Fauna Census. International Journal of Zoology, 2012 (Article Number631856) 631856, 1-12. doi: 10.1155/2012/631856

Experimental Evaluation of Koala Scat Persistence and Detectability with Implications for Pellet-Based Fauna Census

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Airborne eDNA for northern bettongs
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 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 - 2026
    Developing a non-invasive Koala Health diagnostic framework
    NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Comparing aquatic to airborne eDNA for the monitoring of terrestrial vertebrate species
    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 - 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
    Aquatic versus airborne eDNA for the monitoring of terrestrial vertebrate diversity - Part 1
    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
  • 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

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Urban Evolution and Emerging Infectious Diseases

    I have PhD projects investigating links between urbanisation, animals' immunity and emerging fungal diseases.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Urbanisation and the emergence of wildlife fungal diseases

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Rebecca Cramp, Professor Craig Franklin

  • Doctor Philosophy

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

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Nicola Jackson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Social plasticity and maternal effects in dolphins

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Rebecca Dunlop

  • Doctor Philosophy

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

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Franklin

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Urbanisation and the emergence of wildlife fungal diseases

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Rebecca Cramp, Professor Craig Franklin

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Social behaviour and emerging fungal diseases in eastern water dragons.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Rebecca Cramp

  • Doctor Philosophy

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

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Franklin

  • Doctor Philosophy

    airborne eDNA for the management of terrestrial biodiversity

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Nicola Jackson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Estimating disease susceptibility to fungal pathogen in animals

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Katrina McGuigan

  • Doctor Philosophy

    behaviour, fitness and emerging wildlife fungal diseases

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Rebecca Cramp

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mechanisms of disease avoidance in eastern water dragons.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Nicola Jackson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding fungal infections in wild reptiles

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Viviana Gonzalez Astudillo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Behavioural and physiological responses of a large ectotherm 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