I am a Principal Research Scientist in the Fauna Conservation Program. I conduct research projects aimed at improving the conservation status of specific threatened marsupials. Currently most of my research effort is involved in the recovery program for Gilbert’s potoroo, but I also supervise research aspects of the Dibbler and Numbat recovery programs.
I chair the Numbat and Dibbler Recovery Teams.
Academic Qualifications
B.Sc. (Hons) (Tasmania) 1975
Ph.D. (Tasmania) 1981
Awards and scholarships
Research Experience
My postgraduate and postdoctoral research focused on taxonomy and aspects of the ecology of terrestrial amphipods. My appointment to my current position led to a major change in direction, towards the recovery of threatened mammals in Western Australia. This has involved projects on a number of species, including the numbat, western barred bandicoot and other Shark Bay island mammals, quenda, red-tailed phascogale, Gilbert's potoroo, dibbler and quokka. I conceived, initiated and for five years ran the Return to Dryandra project, to bring locally extinct marsupials back to the western agricultural area by breeding in a 20 hectare enclosure at Dryandra.
Currently my input into the Gilbert's potoroo recovery program involves studies of population dynamics, habitat preferences, spatial dynamics, reproductive biology, nutritional biology, captive breeding and cross-fostering.
