Honours Project Booklet Burwood - Deakin University · 2020-01-24 · Honours students also have to...

Honours Project Booklet Burwood School of Life and Environmental Sciences 2020

Deakin University CRICOS Code: 00113B

School of Life and Environmental Sciences Honours 2020 Information Booklet – Burwood Campus

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What is Honours? During Honours, students undertake independent research, under supervision, that forms the majority (75%) of their activity for the year. The research may involve field work, laboratory work and data analysis, depending on the nature of the project. The major assessment component is the written thesis produced at the end of the year. Honours students also have to present their research via oral presentations. There are also two coursework units (comprising the remaining 25% of activity) which vary according to the Honours program you are enrolled in. Why do Honours? An Honours degree provides an important year for further acquisition of scientific skills. In addition to the specialised research training you obtain during your research project, all Honours students gain further competence in critical thinking and data analysis, information technology, computer software, and scientific communication via oral and written presentations. These skills are recognised by external employers as essential in the workplace. Thus, completion of an Honours year will make you more employable. An Honours degree also exposes you to research of national and international significance, and is the springboard to further study as a postgraduate students undertaking Masters or PhD level research. How do I get into Honours? Admission to the Honours program normally require students to have a Bachelor’s degree with an average of at least 65% or greater in their level-3 units. There is an alternative entry pathway with consideration of relevant work experience through an interview process. Furthermore, admission to the Honours program is dependent on a suitable research project and the availability of a supervisor. Honours structure There are three Honours courses:

• S400 Bachelor of Science (Honours) • S401 Bachelor of Forensic Science (Honours) • S494 Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours)

All three Honours courses run on a semester structure, with Honours requiring 2 semesters of study. In each semester you will do 4 credit points. Two of these credit points in semester 1 or semester 2 will be for the two stand-alone coursework units. The remaining 6 credit points will be for your research project running across both semesters. Semester 1 Honours commences on Tuesday 28th January 2020 and finishing in November. Semester 2 Honours commences on Monday 29th June 2020 and finishes the following April. You must be available to commence Honours on the specified start dates. Applications The first step in securing a place in the program for 2020 is to contact supervisors and discuss projects. Once you have met with a supervisor and agreed on a project, please complete the application form on the website. Application forms must be completed and signed by the nominated Supervisor and attached to your online application via the Deakin applicant portal. Applications close on Monday 13 January for the Semester 1, 2020 intake and Monday 15 June for the Semester 2, 2020 intake. Further information can be obtained from your local Honours coordinator (Burwood: Assoc Prof Peter Beech; Waurn Ponds: Dr Annalisa Durdle; Warrnambool: Assoc Prof Julie Mondon) and via the School Honours website at: https://www.deakin.edu.au/students/faculties/sebe/les-students/honours

https://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/1953476/LES-Honours-application-form_20201.pdf

https://applicantportal.deakin.edu.au/connect/webconnect

https://www.deakin.edu.au/students/faculties/sebe/les-students/honours


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Contents

AsPr Bill Borrie…………………………………………………..……………………..3

Prof. Brett Bryan………………………………………………….…………………..4

Dr Adam Cardilini…………………………………….……………….………………5

AsPr Raylene Cooke………………………….…………………..……………...6-8

Dr Bernhard Dichtl…………………………….……………………………………..9

Prof. Don Driscoll……………………………………………………………………10

AsPr Kelly Miller…………………………….…………………………..………11-13

Dr Nick Porch……………………………………………………………..……..14-16

Dr Cristina Pozo-Gonzalo………………………………………………….…….17

Dr Euan Ritchie…………………………………………………………..……..18-19

Dr Matthew Symonds……………………………………………….……….20-21

Dr Susanna Venn…………………………………………………….………….22-23

Dr Mark Warne……………………………………………………………………….24

Dr Liz Weldon…………………………………………………………..………..25-26

AsPr Michael Weston………………………………………………….……..27-29

Dr Tricia Wevill……………………………………………………………..………..30

Dr Desley Whisson……………………………..………………………….……….31

AsPr John White………………………………………………………...………32-34

Dr Kaori Yokochi……………………………………………………………………..35


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AsPr Bill Borrie Project 1

Project Title: Attitudes, ethics, and characteristics of Private Protected Area (PPA) landowners.

Principal Supervisor: AsPr Bill Borrie

Contact details: [email protected]

Start: Semester 1 2020 or Semester 2 2020

Project or research area description:

Private Protected Areas (PPAs) are playing an increasing role in nature conservation around the world, as they fill gaps that government designated nature reserves are increasingly unable to fill (Figgis, Humann, & Looker (2005). Around two-thirds of land in Australia is privately owned, so effective, comprehensive and representative conservation will necessarily require establishment of private land for the primary purpose of protecting and maintaining biodiversity and other conservation values. While PPAs lack a clear and concise definition in Australia, there are nearly 5,000 conservation covenants and around 140 properties owned by private land trusts (Fitzsimons, 2015). Understanding the underlying motivations, attitudes and ethics of these private philanthropists and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will help in the recruitment, co-ordination, and, ultimately, success of PPAs. This project will involve interviews and/or surveys with landowners and offers the opportunity to develop skills in conservation social science.

Project 2

Project Title: The measurement of wildlife values.

Principal Supervisor: AsPr Bill Borrie

Contact details: [email protected]

Co-Supervisor: Associate Professor Kelly Miller



Values are relatively stable and enduring beliefs that underlie many attitudes and behaviours towards nature. Wildlife values, for instance, predict a range of people’s opinions on the management of wildlife. This project offers the opportunity to compare three different approaches to measuring wildlife values: i) Kellert & Berry (1987), Miller & McGee (2000) – Naturalistic, Ecologistic, Humanistic, Aesthetic, Utilitarian, Dominionistic & Negativistic; ii) Stern, Dietz & Kalof (1993) – Egoistic, Social-Altruistic, Biospheric; and iii) Manfredo, Teel, Sullivan & Dietsch (2017) – Domination (Appropriate Use Beliefs, Hunting Beliefs) & Mutualism (Social Affiliation Beliefs, Caring Beliefs).

There could be scope to measure the value orientations of different groups of students at Deakin University, including examining the influence of their educational and career aspirations, demographics (sex, age, income, etc.) and residence while growing up (eg. Urban, rural or urban-rural fringe). This project would suit someone interested in environmental ethics and attitudes towards hunting & fishing. Social science skills developed include survey research methods and multivariate statistical analysis.

mailto:[email protected]



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Prof. Brett Bryan

Title: Quantifying the land-use change using spatio-temporal analysis

Principal Supervisor: Prof. Brett Bryan

Principal Supervisor contact details: [email protected]

Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Ms. Katrina Szetey; [email protected], Dr Enayat A. Moallemi; [email protected]

Start date: Semester 1 2020


The Great Otway National Park is located in south western Victoria along the western end of the Great Ocean Road. Historically, the forests were heavily logged, but in 2008 logging on public land was prohibited. Despite this, there is evidence that the mountain ash ecosystem is in the process of collapse. Aerial photographs and maps for this region exist going back to the 1940s. This project would involve interrogating GIS data from different time periods and quantifying the forest cover change over time, during the periods of logging and after logging had ceased. This can then be used to create a spatio-temporal model to predict future forest recovery in the region, along with a historical set of data for the forest cover.





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Dr Adam Cardilini Title: Do ‘animal people’ care more about the environment? Promoting pro-environmental behaviour through an animal ethic.

Principal Supervisor: Dr Adam Cardilini

Principal Supervisor contact details: 03 924 43083; [email protected]

Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Dr Alexa Hayley; [email protected]; 03 522 78007



Human exploitation of global environments leads to environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and extinction. People’s environmental behaviour and support for pro-environmental policies/systems could make a significant contribution to halting and reversing environmental issues.

Deeply held beliefs about animal ethics, e.g. a vegan ethic, often results in profound personal behaviour change. Such behaviour change is often focused on reducing one’s personal impact on non-human animals.

Arguably, a deep concern for non-human animals might extend beyond the bodies of animals to include the environments and conditions that animals required to survive. Such concern might promote pro-environmental beliefs and behaviour.

This project will investigate whether people with a deep pro-animal ethic are more concerned for the environment, hold pro-environmental beliefs and practice pro-environmental behaviour, compared with other groups.

This work will help determine whether a deep pro-animal ethic provides co-benefits for the environment. The results of this work will suggest whether pro-animal ethic interventions act as an opportunity to promote pro-environmental behaviour change.

This research will require survey based data collection, survey analysis and would suit a student who is interested in behaviour change for environmental benefit.




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AsPr Raylene Cooke Project 1

Title: Home-range and habitat use of powerful owls in urban and urban fringe landscapes across Melbourne

Principal Supervisor: AsPr Raylene Cooke


Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Associate Professor John White; [email protected]



This research will aim to determine the spatial ecology of powerful owls within urban environments using GPS technologies, and develop suitable management strategies to promote their long-term survival in urbanized environments. This research specifically aims to:

1. Establish the occupancy of powerful owls across urban and urban fringe parklands throughout Melbourne;

2. Determine the home range size and use of the different urban habitat elements of powerful owls across a gradient of urban intensification;

3. Model the home range size and habitat use of powerful owls in context of the degree of urbanisation and differing habitat compositions.

4. Based on the findings of this research establish recommendations for the management of urban environments that allow for the maintenance/enhancement of urban powerful owl populations.

This research involves a lot of night work and a willingness to catch and handle powerful owls. Basic GIS skills also required. A car and a willingness to travel to various sites across Melbourne regularly at night are required for this project. A manual driver’s license is preferable.

Project 2

Title: Diet of powerful owls in urban and urban fringe landscapes across Melbourne



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: AsPr John White [email protected]



This research will aim to determine the diet of powerful owls within urban environments through the analysis of regurgitated pellets collected from beneath their roosting sites. This research specifically aims to:

1. Establish the diet of powerful owls across urban and urban fringe parklands throughout Melbourne;

2. Determine what prey is available for powerful owls across urban and urban fringe parklands throughout Melbourne through spotlighting;

3. Determine the potential differences in diet across a gradient of urban intensification;

4. Model the diet of powerful owls in relation to home range size and habitat use in context of the degree of urbanisation and differing habitat compositions;






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5. Determine powerful owl movement patterns in relation to time spent hunting for prey.

A car and a willingness to travel to various sites across Melbourne regularly are required for this project. A manual driver’s license is preferable.

Project 3

Title: Urban powerful owl occupancy in Melbourne compared to Sydney



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: AsPr John White; [email protected]



This research will aim to determine what factors influence whether powerful owls are present in particular urban / urban fringe areas in Melbourne compared to Sydney. This research specifically aims to:

1. Establish distribution maps for powerful owls in Melbourne and Sydney (based on existing data);

2. Determine the land-use characteristics used by powerful owls;

3. Determine the potential differences in these land-use characteristics in Melbourne birds compared to Sydney birds;

4. Model the powerful owl distributions in both locations to create Species Distribution Models.

This project requires GIS skills and a willingness to learn greater GIS modelling techniques.

Project 4

Title: The occurrence of raptors in scientific literature

Principal Supervisor: Associate Professor Raylene Cooke


Associate Supervisors: AsPr Mike Weston; [email protected] and AsPr John White; [email protected]



Raptors are an important group of birds that play an integral role in ecosystem function. Their presence in scientific literature, therefore should, in theory, reflect this importance. This research will examine the occurrence of raptor publications in leading bird journals (both in Australia and internationally) to determine both the level of coverage these birds receive and type of research the journals are particularly interested in (e.g. diet, breeding, home range etc.). Another aspect that will be investigated is change over time, for instance, has the rate of raptor focused publications increased or decreased over time and has the specific topics of interested also changed (e.g. a move away from diet and into modern technologies?).







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Project 5

Title: The relatedness of Tawny Frogmouths



Associate Supervisor: AsPr John White; [email protected]



Tawny Frogmouths are present throughout many of Melbourne’s parks and gardens, often living in close proximity to each other. This research will investigate the relationship of birds living in close proximity to each other through the analysis of genetic material (shed feathers) and explore the level of relatedness these birds display.




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Dr Bernhard Dichtl Project 1

Title: Regulation of alternative polyadenylation

Principal Supervisor: Dr Bernhard Dichtl

Principal Supervisor contact details: [email protected]; 03 9251 7060

Start date: Semester 1 2020 or Semester 2 2020


Alternative polyadenylation (APA) controls stability, localization and translation potential of the majority of mRNA in eukaryotic cells. This is achieved through determination of the length of the 3’ untranslated region (3’ UTR), which is targeted by regulatory miRNAs and RNA binding proteins. Our current research identified the heterodimeric mammalian cleavage factor II (CF IIm) as key regulatory component of APA in breast cancer cells. CF IIm is composed of the RNA kinase hClp1 and the termination factor hPcf11, the latter protein binds to RNA and the RNA polymerase II carboxy terminal domain. To learn more about the regulation of CF IIm activity we performed genetic interaction screening. Intriguingly, several of the newly identified CF IIm interacting proteins perform regulatory roles at gene promoters. This Honours project will analyse the functional significance of the binding of hPcf11 to selected interactors. Major efforts are underway internationally to define the mechanisms of APA in healthy and diseased cells. This research will contribute to these efforts and will push forward the boundaries of this exciting filed of research. More information is available at our website: http://dichtllab.com

Project 2

Title: Molecular Genetic Analysis of novel Set1C interacting proteins

Principal Supervisor: Dr Bernhard Dichtl




Post-translational modification of histone proteins is a central regulatory mechanism that impacts all chromatin-associated processes and we recently linked meiotic recombination to histone methylation (Acquaviva et al., 2013, Science). The yeast Set1C methyltransferase complex is responsible for methylation of lysine 4 on histone 3 (H3K4). Interestingly, chromosomal translocations of the human MLL gene, which encodes a homologue of Set1, give rise to hematological malignancies including acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemia. Studying Set1C regulation and H3K4 methylation in yeast helps thus to obtain important insight for the understanding of human cancer. In order to expand our understanding of H3K4 methylation we performed genetic screening and identified a number of novel protein interactors of Set1C. Honours projects are available to perform molecular genetic characterization of novel Set1C interactors in yeast in order to functionally connect histone methylation to novel cellular pathways. More

Information is available at our website: http://dichtllab.com


http://dichtllab.com/


http://dichtllab.com/


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Prof. Don Driscoll Project 1

Title: Movement ecology of sand goannas in response to invasive predators

Principal Supervisor: Prof Don Driscoll


Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Dr Tim Doherty; [email protected]



This project will experimentally test the mesopredator release hypothesis by studying the movement behaviour of sand goannas (Varanus gouldii) in the presence and absence of introduced predators (cats and foxes). Sand goannas are a native mesopredator (i.e. subordinate predator) that are suppressed by cats and foxes. The mesopredator release hypothesis predicts that goannas should benefit from the removal of larger predators, resulting in changes in their abundance and behaviour. There is some support for these predictions, but the mechanisms are poorly understood.

This project will fit goannas with GPS trackers both inside and outside of a 10,000 ha predator-free exclosure at Mallee Cliffs National Park, operated by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Trackers will be programmed to record a GPS fix every 10 minutes, resulting in high resolution movement data for individual animals. An existing data set from 20 animals tagged in summer 2019/20 is available and the student will expand on this by tagging new animals in spring-summer 2020/21. Analyses will include comparison of home range size, movement rates, activity times and habitat use in the presence and absence of cats and foxes and in relation to different vegetation types and landscape characteristics.

This project is suitable for an independent and motivated student who enjoys fieldwork.




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AsPr Kelly Miller Project 1

Title: Human dimensions of wildlife/environmental management

Principal Supervisor: Dr Kelly Miller


Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Will depend on the project



Projects focusing on sustainable behaviours and the human dimensions of environmental management/sustainability (e.g. human values, attitudes, perceptions) are available and can be developed around the student’s specific interests e.g. wildlife, conservation, sustainability, environmental protection. Previous Honours projects have focused on wildlife/wildlife management e.g. bird feeding, threatened species, wildlife tourism; habitat management/ conservation e.g. gardening practices, park/reserve visitation; and environmental education in a range of contexts.

Project 2

Title: Visitor use and attitudes towards biodiversity conservation – Stanley Park Bushland Reserve, Mt Macedon



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: AsPr Bill Borrie, Sally Joyce (Chair of Stanley Park Bushland Reserve Committee of Management)



Opportunity to work with the Stanley Park Bushland Reserve Committee of Management on a range of projects including: visitor use, visitor/stakeholder attitudes towards park management; park interpretation, etc.

Project 3

Title: Transitioning to plant-based diets to meet sustainability objectives: An exploration of the barriers and benefits



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Dr Michalis Hadjikakou



This project provides an opportunity to develop skills in social science to explore community attitudes towards more sustainable diets.





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Project 4

Title: Human use of coastline in the City of Wyndham



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: AsPr Mike Weston



Wyndham City Council manages a diverse coastline from little River to Skeleton Creek on the western side of Port Phillip Bay. The coast is backed by nature reserve, residential and agricultural development, and recreational infrastructure. The municipality is one of the fastest growing human populations in Australia. This project will quantify human usage of the coastline, explicitly documenting variation in that usage in time and space. The successful student will need to travel to the area frequently (even better if they live nearby), and would ideally have some basic GIS capacity. The results of this project will contribute to sustainable coastal planning in the municipality and offers strong connections with a local government.

Project 5

Title: Social research with Zoos Victoria



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Emily McLeod, Senior Social Science Research Manager, Zoos Victoria



There are opportunities for social research projects in collaboration with Zoos Victoria (Emily McLeod, Senior Social Science Research Manager) as part of their Wildlife Conservation Master Plan 2019-2024. Previous Honours projects completed in collaboration with Zoos Victoria have focused on their ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ (sustainable palm oil and orangutan conservation) and ‘Safe Cat, Safe Wildlife’ campaigns.

Project 6

Title: Human Usage of the Wyndham Coast

Principal Supervisor: Kelly Miller

Principal Supervisor contact details: [email protected] (start by sending a CV)

Associate or External Supervisors: AsPr Michael Weston.

Start date: Semester 1 2020 or Semester 2 2020.


Wyndham City Council manages a diverse coastline from little River to Skeleton Creek on the western side of Port Phillip Bay. The coast is backed by nature reserve, residential and agricultural development, and





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recreational infrastructure. The municipality is one of the fastest growing human populations in Australia. This project will quantify human usage of the coastline, explicitly documenting variation in that usage in time and space. The successful student will need to travel to the area frequently (even better if they live nearby), and would ideally have some basic GIS capacity. The results of this project will contribute to sustainable coastal planning in the municipality and offers strong connections with a local government.


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Dr Nick Porch Project 1

Title: Revealing the lost biota of Indo-Pacific islands using palaeoecology

Principal Supervisor: Dr Nick Porch




The extent of human impact on terrestrial invertebrate faunas has been massively underestimated, and nowhere is this more apparent than on oceanic islands. Humans long ago transformed the biota of most oceanic islands meaning that the best window we have into past diversity often comes not from the remaining extant fauna, but from the very recent 'fossil' record from swamps and sinkholes.

This project will explore the extent of human impact on the beetle fauna of a selected Indo-Pacific island, using recently collected subfossil material. It could focus on a component of the fauna — like a genus or family — and characterise the species present, their record through the last several thousand years, and significance to understanding the history of island biota, or take an ecosystem approach to the history of the fauna. This project would suit someone interested in insect diversity/taxonomy, island biogeography and/or palaeoecology. It could focus on material from Samoa, Hawaii, French Polynesia, or Mauritius.

Project 2

Title: Biogeography of endemic leaf litter invertebrates of the Otway Range





Almost all narrow range endemic species found in the forests of southeastern Australia are terrestrial invertebrates, yet in most regions we have extremely limited knowledge regarding their abundance and distribution. The Otway Range of southwestern Victoria is an isolated upland region that is known to contain wide range of endemic invertebrate species; most of these are know from very few collection events or records.

Using a standardised leaf litter invertebrate sampling protocol, this project will contribute to the development of our knowledge regarding the patterns of distribution of Otway Range endemic species, principally beetles, but potentially including other taxa. Already, many samples for this project are already in hand and there will be opportunity for further fieldwork. Much of the research will be laboratory based and involve sorting and identification of the invertebrate samples and development of species distribution models to understand places of significance for endemic species, especially under future climate.

Project 3

Title: Seasonality of macro-invertebrates on Victoria's coastal beaches and dunes



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: AsPr Mike Weston






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The terrestrial invertebrate fauna of Australia's coasts is relatively poorly known and includes a variety of species found nowhere else. This study will build upon limited research into the ecology of invertebrate life in coastal beaches sand dunes, especially those adjacent to high-energy ocean beaches. Key questions could include:

• Is there zonation in dunes, in terms of habitat and occupancy by invertebrates? • How do invertebrates vary seasonally in abundance and diversity across sandy shores?

The study site - Venus Bay (close to Melbourne in south Gippsland) - represents an ideal study system, and permits for the research are already in hand. The ability to conduct fieldwork, including the capacity to drive, are critical. The project will involve field sampling and extensive laboratory research including sorting and identification of the invertebrate fauna.

Project 4

Title: How resilient is the mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) tree trunk invertebrate fauna to disturbance?



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Prof. Don Driscoll



The invertebrate fauna of mature tree trunks differs markedly from the fauna found in other associated microhabitats, like the surface of fallen logs. Although the tree trunk fauna is relatively poorly known, preliminary research has shown it to contain a wide range of species that specialise in this habitat. This is likely to be especially true of the wet forests of Victoria's Central Highlands where the broader invertebrate fauna is known to contain hundreds of narrow-range endemic invertebrate species.

This project will contribute to a better understanding of the nature of the tree trunk invertebrate fauna by characterising the fauna of larger trees in mature forest and assessing the resilience of this fauna in the context of tree retention during logging. Do retained trees maintain the distinctive tree trunk fauna of trees in mature forest? If not, does the fauna reestablish with time? The project would require fieldwork in the Central Highlands region and extensive laboratory research to sort, quantify and identify the invertebrate samples.

Project 5

Title: Reconstructing the Victorian Volcanic Plains biota



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Ms Tara Lewis






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The Victorian Volcanic Plains (VVP) are one of the most modified (and threatened) ecosystems in south-eastern Australia, reflecting the long history of intensive grazing after European colonisation. Our biodiversity knowledge of the VVP is consequently limited to remnant grassland/grassy woodland patches scattered throughout the region and a sparse historical record.

Using the rich, recent, pre-European fossil record preserved in sediments at the margins of regional lakes including Lakes Gnotuk and Keilambete, this project will reconstruct the nature of the flora —and aspects of the fauna— of these key sites, prior to modern human impacts. Preliminary examination of these materials demonstrate that the fossil material is rich in plant remains (seeds, fruits, leaves, etc.), insects and a smaller range of other invertebrates and, even, some vertebrates. The results will provide baseline data on the former diversity of the VVP that will contextualise the evidence provided by modified remnant habitat across the region. This project would suit someone interested in palaeoecology, biogeography and/or human impact on ecosystems.


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Dr Cristina Pozo-Gonzalo Title: Recovery of valuable metals from spent Li ion batteries

Principal Supervisor: Dr Cristina Pozo-Gonzalo (Institute for Frontier Materials)


Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: AsPr Jenny Pringle, Dr Damien L. Callahan



Electric vehicles are a key technology to decarbonise the road sector, which has been further pushed by several governments (e.g. France, UK and India) by banning the sales of fuel-powered cars. In fact, it is estimated there will be 500,000 tonnes of spent Li-ion batteries in China alone by 2020. Those numbers are a concern for environmental perspective due to both the scarcity of key materials in Li-ion batteries and the innate toxicity to the landfill. Nevertheless, this opens up new research venues since it is estimated that more than 400 million in euros could be recovered from four key materials present in Li-ion batteries, i.e. cobalt, nickel, aluminium and lithium.

Thus, developing a sustainable metal recovery and in turn add infinite lifetimes to those materials is paramount, following what is called circular economy.

Currently, those metals are recovered using hydrometallurgical methods based on their extraction using highly corrosive solvents which also creates a large amount of waste. Therefore, in this project we will investigate and understand the metal cation species existing in solution so that we can move towards an environmentally sustainable recovery route using advanced and cost effective solvents. To study these cation species, this project will use a combination of spectroscopic techniques, such as UV/Vis, FTIR and NMR. Morphological and chemical state of the materials recovered will also be analyzed using SEM, XPS and ICP. This project will provide training in a range of powerful analytical techniques as well as the application of these to an important and rapidly growing research area.



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Dr Euan Ritchie Project 1

Title: The influence of habitat complexity on the foraging behaviour of reintroduced burrowing bettongs

Principal Supervisor: Dr Euan Ritchie


Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Dr Graeme Finlayson (Bush Heritage Australia) [email protected]



This project, a research partnership between Deakin University, Bush Heritage and Arid Recovery, aims to explore the role that artificial habitat can play in the foraging behaviour of burrowing bettongs within Arid Recovery through assessing the habitat use and feeding behaviour of bettongs in open habitats with or without habitat structures. The project will be conducted to assist with the long-term aspirations of Arid Recovery and Bush Heritage Australia, to achieve burrowing bettong survival beyond fenced sanctuaries. Experience with using R and ArcGIS will be advantageous, but is not essential. A manual driver’s licence is essential for this project. Field accommodation will be provided at Arid Recovery.

Project 2

Title: The population ecology and behaviour of eastern barred bandicoots in a newly established island population (French Island)



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Dr Amy Coetsee (Zoos Victoria) [email protected], Dr Duncan Sutherland (Phillip Island Nature Parks) [email protected], Anthony Rendall [email protected], Dr Tim Doherty [email protected]


Eastern Barred Bandicoots will be introduced to French Island in late 2019, as part of a conservation program to recover this species in the wild. This project will examine the population ecology and behaviour of bandicoots post release, including potential interactions with feral cats. Experience with using R and ArcGIS will be advantageous but is not essential. Field accommodation on French Island will be provided.

Project 3

Title: Fox, cat and native mammal interactions in the Grampians National Park



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Hayley Geyle; [email protected]













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This project, a research partnership between Parks Victoria and Deakin University, will examine aspects of fox and cat distribution, density, diet, and interactions with native wildlife within the Grampians National Park. Experience with using R and ArcGIS will be advantageous but is not essential. A manual driver’s licence is essential for this project.

Project 4

Title: Bandicoot Bungalows: What works and what doesn’t?



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Dr Sarah Maclagan (Deakin University); [email protected], Dr Terry Coates (Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne); [email protected]



The Southern Brown Bandicoot is an endangered species persisting in a peri-urban landscape south-east of Melbourne. Given habitat is often limited in extent, marginal in quality and subject to disturbance, land managers are interested in understanding how they can supplement this with artificial bandicoot shelters. Various designs have been installed at a range of sites, but the effectiveness of these has not been properly tested or compared. This project will involve case studies to assess the effectiveness of existing bandicoot shelters, as well as an experimental aspect to trial different designs within a bandicoot stronghold, the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. Criteria to be examined include not only whether the shelter is used by bandicoots, but also practical considerations such as cost and ease of installation. This project will have direct application to the conservation of an iconic mammal in an urbanizing landscape.

Project 5

Title: Backyard Bandicoots: What factors determine habitat suitability?



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Sarah Maclagan (Deakin University); [email protected], Dr Terry Coates (Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne); [email protected], Dr Sera Blair (Victorian National Parks Association); [email protected]



Although endangered, the Southern Brown Bandicoot is a highly adaptable species that can sometimes persist in suburban areas. The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne (RBGC) is an important stronghold for the species that is being rapidly surrounded by urban development. Bandicoots are moving out from the Gardens into surrounding suburbs where there is potential for private landholders to assist with bandicoot conservation. However, our ability to predict which properties will be habitable by bandicoots is currently limited. Using a combination of camera monitoring, landholder surveys and GIS mapping, this project will investigate key factors influencing the occupancy of private properties by bandicoots.









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Dr Matthew Symonds Project 1

Title: Condition dependence of female attractiveness in moths

Principal Supervisor: Dr Matthew Symonds


Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Dr Kathryn McNamara (University of Melbourne); [email protected]



Moths are well-known for having a mating system where females produce a tiny amount of pheromone which can attract males over long distances. Because the amounts of pheromone produced are so small, it is typically assumed that there is no cost to females of such signaling. If that is so, females body condition should play little role in determining how attractive they are to males. However, there is increasing evidence that the costs of pheromone production are not, in fact, small. This project will examine this issue by manipulating the body condition of female moths and examining how this affects the production of their pheromone. The project will involve insect culturing and laboratory assays.

Project 2

Title: Evolution of pheromone composition in moths





Female moths famously produce sex pheromones which attract males for mating. However, the composition of these pheromones varies enormously across species. What are the evolutionary forces driving the composition of these pheromones. This project will use published data and online databases to extract information about cross-species variation in moth sex pheromones, and relate this to their evolutionary history and ecology. The project is largely data-analysis based, but attempts to answer a really fundamental question in the evolution of chemical communication.

Project 3

Title: Using 3D imaging to understand the evolution of bird bill size.










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In addition to their vital role in foraging, bird bills are important areas of heat loss for birds. As such their size is thought to vary in relation to climate, with birds found in cooler climates having small bills (in order to mitigate heat loss). However, tests of this hypothesis (known as Allen’s rule) are often related to crude measure of bill size, like bill length, which may not accurately reflect the actual surface area of the bill available for heat loss. 3D imaging provides an opportunity to accurately estimate the surface area of the bill across a diverse range of birds with very different bill shapes. In this project, you will analyse these images to estimate whether Allen’s rule holds across a wide range of bird species, and more generally investigate the relative influence of diet, life-history and climate on the evolution of bird bill size.

Project 4

Title: Comparative analyses of the evolution of key animal traits





Phylogenetic comparative analyses, where the evolution of key traits is examined across species, are a powerful tool in evolutionary biology. I have a number of ideas for projects that involve analyses of large cross-species datasets – be they on insects (e.g. evolution of host breadth in parasitoid wasps), mammals (e.g. influence of hibernation on mammalian life-history evolution) or other vertebrates. I’m also open to suggestions! Feel free to contact me to ask me more about these.



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Dr Susanna Venn Alpine plant ecology projects: I’m interested in testing ecological theory in the mountains and looking at ways in which alpine plant communities are coping with environmental change. This could involve focusing on community (re) assembly patterns, how snow drives community composition, ecological function or ecological processes in the mountains, tree line dynamics, vegetation responses to heat and frost, regeneration strategies of alpine plants, and experimental manipulations in the field / lab. Have a look through my webpage for some of the topics that I’m interested in, as I’m happy to discuss ideas for honours projects that overlap with any of these topics – or possibly other plant ecology projects in extreme environments. In general, a field based project will require a mid-year (July) start to accommodate the alpine field season over summer.

https://susannavenn.wordpress.com

Project 1

Title: Alpine shrubs as facilitative nurse plants

Principal Supervisor: Dr Susanna Venn




Worldwide, shrub cover is increasing across alpine tundra. In Australia, alpine shrub increases match a trend spanning four decades of rising temperatures and declining snowpack. Repeat photography, long-term monitoring, field warming experiments and dendrochronology have revealed that alpine shrubs are responding by encroaching into otherwise non-shrubby communities, such as alpine herbfields and grasslands.

Some shrub growth forms interact with winter processes; they can accumulate snow in their lee, thereby insulating soils from extreme winter temperatures. These effects may also promote a second feedback whereby deeper snowpack, warmer soils and higher soil moisture, coupled with leaf litter under shrub canopies, increases microbial activity. These effects in turn, can enhance soil nutrient cycling and ultimately promote shrub growth. Just as shrubs can act as a ‘snowfence’ to create a snowdrift in their lee, they can also act as facilitators by slowing the predominant winds and thereby creating more favourable conditions on the leeward side. In this manner, could shrubs also preferentially promote biomass accumulation of adjacent vegetation on the leeward side?

Project aims:

1) To determine whether alpine shrubs that are known to create a snowdrift in their lee act as nurse plants and preferentially promote growth (above and below ground biomass accumulation) on the leeward side, as opposed to the windward side.

2) To determine whether shrub leaf litter can promote/reduce seedling establishment and soil nutrient availability.

This project will involve a field study on the Bogong High Plains as well as lab manipulations to determine the overall effect of alpine shrubs as growth facilitators.

Project 2

Title: Investigating the germination niche of alpine wide and narrowly distributed alpine species


Principal Supervisor: Dr Susanna Venn


https://susannavenn.wordpress.com/




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Alpine plants often reproduce clonally, but many also produce flowers, attract pollinators and set viable seed. And while the climate is changing, alpine species will ultimately rely on sexual reproduction to adapt to new conditions; disperse to a suitable site and successfully recruit via seedlings. However, a warming climate may mean that species recruitment needs to operate outside of the optimum range. The germination niche of a species is defined as the entire range at which germination can occur, including optimums, but also the extreme edges of germination; from very poor germination rates at very low and very high temperatures, to

higher germination rates at favourable temperatures. Generalist species may have a wide germination niche and broad environmental tolerances, whereas specialist species may have a narrow germination niche, and a specific suite of environmental tolerances (Figure 1 and 2).

In this project, you will investigate the germination niche (using a temperature gradient plate) of several alpine species, some that are widely distributed along an elevation gradient, and some with more specialised habitat requirements, and then correlate the findings with geographical data relating to each species. Seed collecting fieldwork will be required during the alpine summer season (February – March), but majority of the project is lab-based.


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Dr Mark Warne Project 1

Title: Early Pleistocene marine palaeoecology of the Werrikoo Limestone, western Victoria.

Principal Supervisor: Dr Mark Warne




Early Pleistocene sedimentary rocks known as the Werrikoo Limestone occur in cliffs along the Glenelg River valley of southwest Victoria. These rocks are 2.6 to 1.8 million years old, and contain a very rich fossil fauna including abundant fossil shells of marine Ostracoda (microscopic crustaceans). This project will involve (1) the description of ostracod fossils from the Werrikoo Limestone, and (2) fossil-based interpretations of sea level history and past coastal maritime climates for western Victoria. This project offers an opportunity to develop skills in the systematic description of invertebrate taxa, and (ii) in the use of fossils for assessing coastal landscape and seascape evolution.

Project 2

Title: Late Miocene marine palaeoecology of the Bairnsdale Limestone, eastern Victoria.

Principal Supervisor: Dr Mark Warne




Late Miocene sedimentary rocks known as the Bairnsdale Limestone occur in cliffs along the Mitchell River in southeast Victoria. These rocks are 14 to 8 million years old, and contain a very rich fossil fauna including abundant fossil shells of marine Ostracoda (microscopic crustaceans). This project will involve (1) the description of ostracod fossils from the Bairnsdale Limestone, and (2) fossil-based interpretations of past marine environments. This project offers an opportunity to develop skills in the systematic description of invertebrate taxa, and (ii) in the application of fossils to the field of palaeo-oceanography.




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Dr Liz Weldon Project 1

Title: Determining conspecificity and sexual dimorphism through dentition of extinct and extant macropods

Principal Supervisor: Dr Liz Weldon


Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Dr Sanja Van Huet



Macropus giganteus (extant Eastern Grey Kangaroo) and Macropus titan (extinct giant kangaroo) are considered conspecific – that is essentially the same species; with titan being the much larger megafaunal extinct form.

This project will entail a quantitative analysis of molars of extinct and extant macropods from museum collections. The aims are: 1, to ascertain if the two species are conspecific and; 2, to ascertain if the species exhibit sexual dimorphism through molar dentition.

The project is primarily laboratory based. The student will be required to use digital imaging software and statistical software to complete the quantitative analysis.

Project 2

Title: Is the development of costae an ontogenetic feature of Rhynoleichus weeksi (Brachiopoda)?





Rhynoleichus weeksi is a Permian cold water brachiopod. From a sample of approximately 100 specimens from the Phosphoria Formation, USA, considerable variation in the sulcal pattern and costae development can be observed. The specimens need to be digitally measured using landmarks and a statistical analysis performed. This is the first quantitative analysis of this species. The analysis will be designed to try and ascertain if the assemblage contains subspecies, or if the variation in the sulcal pattern and costae is a function of ontogenetic development.

This study can be extended to include a literature analysis to determine if other specimens, from different locations, of the same species and genus display similar traits. And/or internal imaging of the species to develop a more complete systematic description.

Project 3

Title: Stratigraphic correlation using existing drone footage from Mornington Peninsula



Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Dr Sanja Van Huet





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This project primarily involves correlating sedimentary stratigraphy along a coastal cliff face on the Mornington Peninsula. While there is a field work component, most of the work will be completed using existing drone footage. The goal is to trace sedimentary units from one section of the Peninsula to the other, with the potential to further correlate these units with the Bridgewater Formation exposures along the western Victorian coastline. An interest and knowledge of sedimentary geology is a prerequisite. It is preferable that students have a good working knowledge of GIS software, Photoshop and Illustrator too.


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AsPr Michael Weston Project 1

Title: The ecology of fear

Principal Supervisor: AsPr Michael Weston


Associate or External Supervisors: Dr Patrick Guay

Start date: Semester 1 2020 or 2 2020


Fear (propensity to escape) is a major force in the way animals live their lives and is also a management and conservation issue. A range of projects are available on measuring flight-initiation distances among wildlife. Some of these projects have occurred overseas, and most (but not all) require good bird identification skills, a driver’s license, and access to a vehicle. Please discuss specifics with Mike and see www.avianbuffer.com. Projects may include:

• Examining responses in relation to different stimuli or stimulus behavior. In particular, wildlife photography and the use of drones are growing and controversial aspects of human behavior which may disturb wildlife.

• As part of ongoing efforts at mapping fear among birds globally, many countries require data collection. These projects require excellent birdwatching skills, preferably local experience or support, and the ability to contribute to some costs.

• As part of documenting the fear responses of Australia’s avifauna, many interstate and remote parts of Australia require data collection. Again, excellent bird identification skills are required.

Project 2

Title: The ecology of Red-capped Plovers and Masked Lapwings



Associate or External Supervisors: Grainne Maguire (BirdLife Australia)



Marked populations of Red-capped Plovers and Masked Lapwings have been studied for over 9 years and a series of key questions remain regarding their behavioral, breeding, general and conservation ecology. Some of these projects require banding experience, all require some training, a driver’s license and access to a vehicle. Some Red-capped fieldwork is available in SA. Lots of field work, and great species and questions to work on! Contact Mike for more details.

Project 3

Title: The conservation of Hooded Plovers and sandy shore ecology (including beach invertebrates)




http://www.avianbuffer.com/




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Associate or External Supervisors: Grainne Maguire (BirdLife Australia) & Nick Porch.

Start date: Semester 1 2020 or Semester 2 2020.


Hooded Plovers are a threatened sandy shore obligate which is nationally Vulnerable. A range of projects are available exploring the conservation ecology and testing management effectiveness of a variety of conservation tools. Specific projects include:

• The role of parental footprints in egg crypsis. Human disturbance is known to increase the amount of adult footprints around a nest. This project will examine if this is associated with heighten rates of egg depredation.

• The features of non-breeding flocking sites. Current evidence suggests some locations are used as non-breeding flocking sites, while others are not. This study will compare the biophysical and ecological attributes of flocking and non-flocking sites to establish the habitat requirements of this species during winter.

• The distribution of beach invertebrates in time and space.

Project 4

Title: The ecology of Venus Bay and it’s dunes





There are few studies of the ecology of life in coastal sand dunes, especially those adjacent to high-energy ocean beaches. Venus Bay, in southern central Victoria, represents an ideal study system. Several human settlements and long unbroken sections of dunes enable the assessment of how human habitation may modify dune fauna. Key questions include:

• Is there zonation in dunes, in terms of habitat and occupancy by birds/mammals/reptiles?

• Do human settlements alter the occupancy of dunes by birds/mammals?

• Do the above patterns occur in terrestrial vertebrates, mammals and birds?

Project 5

Title: The ecology of gardening



Associate or External Supervisors: Dr Kelly Miller and Dr Wouter Van Dongen (external).






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Several projects have been developed in conjunction with Whitehorse City Council and a private landscape gardening provider regarding eco-friendly gardening. These projects aim to provide input into guidelines for eco-friendly gardening. All projects require the capacity to conduct fieldwork and a driver’s license. The projects include:

1. Invertebrate/skink abundance in different garden mulches (no mulch, pinebark, natural mulch - pitfalls)

2. Nestbox use in gardens (and how this is affected by nestbox dimensions)

3. Use of "bee hotels" in parks vs gardens

4. Bird baths and disease

5. Habitat characteristics of gardens with skinks

6. Effects of dogs/cats on reptile/bird/frog fauna in gardens

7. Pond characteristics and frog use in gardens

8. Invertebrate/skink abundance and understory cover in gardens

9. Invertebrate/skink abundance and pesticide use in gardens

10. Bird bath characteristics and position and use in gardens

11. Aggression at bird baths and feeders

12. Health of birds that regularly use feeders (cholestrol, fat, etc).


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Dr Tricia Wevill Project 1

Title: Exploring vegetation response to fire

Principal Supervisor: Dr Tricia Wevill




Climate change scenarios for south-eastern Australia predict a potential increase in the frequency and intensity of bushfires. Predicting how changes in fire regime will impact vegetation dynamics relies on our understanding of plant responses to fire, and recruitment following fire. Depending on students’ interests, a range of projects can be developed to explore vegetation responses to fire. Research questions may include post-fire recruitment dynamics of dominant tree species, recruitment patterns among different plant functional groups, seed-bank studies or weed invasion pathways.

Students with other areas of interest in Plant Ecology are welcome to contact me to discuss project ideas.

Project 2

Title: Long term effects of Myrtle Wilt on Victorian Cool Temperate Rainforest stands

Principal Supervisor: Dr Tricia Wevill.


Associate or External Supervisors: Dr Matt Dell ([email protected]), Mr David Cameron



Myrtle Wilt is a disease that causes the crown dieback of the rainforest canopy tree Nothofagus cunninghamii (Hook.) Oerst. (Myrtle Beech). It has long been accepted that infection by the host-specific fungal pathogen Chalara australis is invariably fatal. Canopy dieback due to Myrtle Wilt is regarded as endemic across the range of the host species N. cunninghamii. However, there is recent evidence of some level of ecosystem resilience to this pathogen despite its significant impact on a keystone species of Cool Temperate Rainforest.

A number of monitoring plots were established within the Otway Ranges and Central Highlands in 1993 by the Arthur Rylah Institute, with the objective of determining the implications of canopy loss on plant community composition, structure and species richness. Additional sampling was undertaken in a subset of these plots in 2011, at which time it appeared that some trees diagnosed as infected during the initial sampling had survived many years beyond their expected lifespan. There is an opportunity for further research to:

• Provide an updated review of Myrtle Wilt and its impact on rainforest communities

• Analyse N. cunninghamii stand and site variables which explain survivorship and community condition

• Determine the degree of ecosystem resilience against Myrtle Wilt-induced disturbance

This project is suited to a student who is keen to engage with stakeholders and further develop their research skills in plant identification, forest ecology and project design. Fieldwork will involve 3–4 weeks of sampling in remote locations and will require necessary training and controls to safely carry out the project.





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Dr Desley Whisson Project 1

Title: Impacts of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity in a modified landscape

Principal Supervisor: Dr Desley Whisson




Bioacoustics is emerging as an efficient and reliable method of wildlife survey. In addition to being able to examine the distribution of single species, a range of biodiversity acoustic indices have been developed. This project will be undertaken on the Mornington Peninsula. It will involve the deployment of acoustic recorders and analysis of recordings to index biodiversity at sites representing different levels of fragmentation and other landscape and patch characteristics. The project potentially could include additional field survey using camera traps or bird surveys to provide context to the bioacoustics data.

Project 2

Title: The impacts of koala overabundance on ecosystems

Principal Supervisor: Dr Desley Whisson




Koala overabundance has been documented at a number of sites in Victoria. Impacts (and success of management) typically are measured in terms of koala welfare, rather than impacts to the ecosystem. This project aims to measure the impacts of koala overabundance on trees and the avian and/or small mammal fauna at Cape Otway. It will involve field collection of data (camera trapping, bird surveys) as well as use of an historical dataset to determine ecosystem change. The project can be modified depending on the student’s interests and preferred start date.




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AsPr John White Project 1

Title: How do small mammals respond to climate, fire and vegetation productivity? The Grampians long-term climate change, fire and small mammal diversity project.

Principal Supervisor: AsPr John White


Associate Supervisors: AsPr Raylene Cooke [email protected]



Want to be a significant part of one of Victoria’s few long-term ecological research projects? Concerned about how animals are going to cope under changing climatic conditions? Join part of the Nancy Millis Science in Parks Award winning team (2015).

This is an extremely exciting opportunity to be part of a long-term ecological research program in Victoria. Long-term data sets are extremely rare, but the values of such data for investigating aspects such as fire and climate change are unsurpassable, and the experience you would gain on such a project is enormous. In early 2006 the Grampians suffered an extreme fire event where almost 50% of the Grampians National Park landscape was burnt in a high intensity landscape-scale fire. In 2008, Parks Victoria and Deakin University established 36 long-term research sites to investigate the recovery of wildlife after major fire events. These sites have been monitored for the last 12 years by different honours students. Since 2012 we have also genetically sampled every native small mammal that is captured. In 2013, a 35,000ha wildfire affected the Grampians, and again in 2014 a 55,000ha burnt much of the remaining unburnt vegetation. Over 90% of the Grampians landscape is now less than 15 years post-burn.

As part of your honours project, you will collect the 2020 small mammal data in the field, and analyze the long-term trends in small mammals (13 years of data). The project aims to understand

1) the rate of recovery in mammals post-fire,

2) the role of rainfall in modifying the rate and intensity of recovery, and

3) the relative influence of vegetation productivity (previously developed from satellite imagery) on the rate and intensity of recovery.

Requirements: A manual drivers license, and experience driving a manual vehicle (Our 4WD fleet are manual). A willingness to do a 4WD training course and a first aid certificate as part of your honours (Costs will be covered as part of your honours by Deakin University, and will provide an additional boost to your resume). A commitment to spending as much as 9 weeks in the field in an intense 3 month period. An ability to work in a team environment with other students and Parks Victoria rangers. Desirable: Some experience in trapping and handling small mammals.




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Project 2

Title: How does rainfall and vegetation productivity influence occupancy and abundance of small mammal species (AKA Can we determine climate change refugees in a dynamic landscape?). The Grampians super camera trap array project.

Principal Supervisor: Associate Professor John White

Principal Supervisor contact details: [email protected], 9251 7625

Associate Supervisors: Associate Professor Raylene Cooke



As part of our Nancy Millis Science in Parks Award winning research in the Grampians, we are investigating a number of questions associated with mammals and how they interact with climatic conditions and fire. This project aims to investigate how small mammals utilize a patchy mosaic of burnt and unburnt heath in the Wannon fan in the southern Grampians. Using camera trapping we will be sampling mammals at 172 fixed points that have been established across the Wannon fan area. Each camera is located in the middle of a 4ha grid cell, with the total grid covering an area of 688ha. The area has been subjected to experimental winter burns to try to reduce the risk of large high intensity wildfires. In this research we aim to establish what small mammal species use the Wannon heaths and how their occupancy and abundance is modified by underlying rainfall conditions, vegetation productivity and recent fire history.

The information from this project is critical in developing a clear understand of how drought and fire modify the fine-scale distribution of small mammals. This is an exciting project with considerable real World application as it seeks to establish if satellite imagery can be used to determine climate change refugees in natural landscapes.

Between 2016-2019 our team conducted the first four rounds of camera trapping at the sites. This means that you will be able to compare change between 2016-2019 and your 2020 data. You will investigate trends in mammal occupancy and abundance against rainfall data, time since management burns, and vegetation productivity.

Requirements: A manual drivers license, and experience driving a manual vehicle. A willingness to do a 4WD training course and a first aid certificate as part of your honours (Costs will be covered as part of your honours by Deakin University). A commitment to spending as much as 9 weeks in the field in an intense 3 month period. An ability to work in a team environment with other students and Parks Victoria rangers.

Desirable: Some experience with GIS (i.e an undergraduate GIS unit).

Project 3

Title: How has urbanization and urban intensification impacted canopy cover through time?

Principal Supervisor: Associate Professor John White


Associate Supervisors: AsPr Raylene Cooke and Dr Desley Whisson






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Urbanization is one of the most damaging landscape transformations globally, leading to mass decline in biodiversity and homogenization of biological communities. One of the main losses through time is canopy cover, as houses replace areas where trees once stood. A newer development, is the splitting of blocks into small blocks with multiple dwellings. How has the canopy cover of Melbourne changed through time, and is there a block size threshold which leads to canopy loss?

This project is largely a GIS research project investigating drivers of canopy loss through time. The research will focus on the city of Whitehorse as a case study using historic and current satellite imagery and property boundary data to look at change through time. The research aims to develop information that will directly contribute to enhanced urban development strategies.

Requirements: Experience using GIS and an analytic mind set.


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Dr Kaori Yokochi Project 1

Title: Microbats in urban parks

Principal Supervisor: Dr Kaori Yokochi


Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: Anthony Rendall; Deakin University; [email protected] and possibly others



As insectivorous predators, microbats play important roles in ecosystems. In this project you will investigate environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing the microbat presence and diversity in urban parks, using an acoustic survey method. Working in association with Elsternwick Park Association and Bayside City Council, this project also aims to collect the baseline data for an exciting long-term project, in which an urban golf course will be converted to an urban nature reserve. We aim to identify drivers and barriers to microbat persistence in urban environments and inform future urban-conservation plans.

Project 2

Title: Are wire rope safety barriers safe for wildlife?

Principal Supervisor: Dr Kaori Yokochi


Associate or External Supervisors and their contact details: TBC



*This is a potential project that is currently under consultation with VicRoads, and the scope of the project may change.*

VicRoads have installed wire rope safety barriers along major regional highways as a part of “Towards Zero” campaign aiming to prevent serious accidents. These barriers may reduce the frequency of WVCs (wildlife-vehicle collision) by discouraging wildlife from entering the road; however, several types of safety barriers have been found to increase the frequency and severity of WVCs by ‘trapping’ wildlife on the road. In this project, you will investigate whether the presence of this new type of barrier has an effect on the frequency of WVCs.




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