Our lab aims to use quantitative tools to better understand the ecological processes driving species declines and to guide evidence-based conservation decisions. We focus on integrating empirical field data with statistical models, simulations, and decision-support frameworks to identify the most effective actions for biodiversity protection.
We aim to tackle real-world conservation challenges by collaborating with government agencies, NGOs, land managers and researchers from other universities. Our research informs policy, supports recovery plans for threatened species, and helps design more efficient monitoring and management programs.
Our work has direct social and environmental impact, from improving wildlife health and population viability to informing land-use decisions and ecological restoration. By developing and applying rigorous quantitative approaches, we seek to maximise conservation outcomes with limited resources.
Our lab is internationally recognised for pioneering research on koala ecology, biology, and conservation. We combine fine-scale GPS tracking, remote sensing, and ecological modelling to understand koala habitat selection, movement, nutrition, thermoregulation, and responses to climate change. Our work has reshaped management practices and informed major policies including the NSW Koala Strategy and the Commonwealth listing of the koala as Endangered. Current projects include remote sensing of habitat quality using hyperspectral imagery to improve conservation planning and translocation success.
We investigate how apex predators such as dingoes shape ecosystems through top-down control. Our research has shown that dingoes suppress mesopredators and large herbivores, supporting biodiversity and vegetation structure. We apply advanced statistical modelling and Bayesian approaches to field experiments and long-term datasets. This work has influenced predator management strategies nationally and has challenged outdated views of dingoes as pests, highlighting their ecological uniqueness and the limited extent of hybridisation with domestic dogs.
We explore how chemical cues from predators influence the behaviour and ecology of rodents. In collaboration with neuropharmacologists, we have identified specific compounds in cat fur that trigger fear responses in rats. This research has led to potential rodent repellent technologies and urban wildlife management applications. Recent projects with the City of Sydney have examined rat behaviour, population dynamics, and disease risk in response to COVID-19 lockdowns, with implications for urban health and pest control.
The Quantitative Conservation Biology Research Group is led by Professor Mathew Crowther. For any enquires, please get in contact via the details below.
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