Human inputs: urbanisation, and toxic chemicals
With increasing urbanisation across the planet, research that helps us understand the impacts of urban developments on biodiversity is crucial. Our work focuses on understanding disease in urban wildlife, losses in reproductive output and changes in abundance of species. Outside of cities, we are also investigating the impacts of pollution on Australian and Antarctic organisms and the non-target effects of pesticides sprayed to control locust plagues on the Australian ecosystem. Such research enables us to develop guidelines to inform management and remediation efforts.
Work in this research area is currently underway in the laboratories of CSES Members Kris French, Andy Davis, Phillip Byrne, Marian Wong, Dianne Jolley, Kim Maute and Bethany Hoye.
Current projects
- Urban Ecology
- Impacts of Locust Control
- Evolution & Assisted Reproduction Laboratory
- Contamination in Antarctica - Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts blog
Student projects / thesis title
- Sensitivity of subantarctic marine invertebrates to metals under a changing climate - Jessica Hola
Papers
- Toxicity of fuel-contaminated soil to Antarctic moss and terrestrial algae Nydahl, A.C., King, C.K., Wasley, J., Jolley, D.F., Robinson, S.A. 2015 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.
- Differential influence of urbanisation on Coccidian infection in two passerine birds Delgado-V, C.A., French, K. 2015 Parasitology Research, 114 ( 6 ) pp. 2231 - 2235.