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PhD project in conservation ecology:
Ecology of threatened frogs in human
modified landscapes of southern
New South Wales and Victoria
Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National
University
National Environmental Science Programme Threatened Species
Recovery Hub
The National Environmental Science Programme’s Threatened Species Recovery Hub is a
partnership between the Commonwealth of Australia through the Department of the Environment and
multiple research partners across Australia.
The conservation of Australia’s rich and extraordinarily distinctive biodiversity should be secure or
achievable relative to that of most other nations. Yet, Australia’s extinction rate is one of the worst in
the world, and that rate of decline and loss is continuing unabated. The Threatened Species Recovery
Hub tackles this ongoing ecological challenge through research focused on informing policy and
improving on-ground management of Australia’s threatened species. It brings together leading
ecological experts to work on the outlook for Australia’s threatened species and ecological
communities.
PhD program
The Fenner School of Environment and Society at The Australian National University is seeking
applications from highly qualified and motivated candidates for a PhD program of research on the
ecological requirements of frogs in human modified landscapes, with a focus on the threatened
Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis) and Sloane’s Froglet (Crinia sloanei) in the Riverina and South
West Slopes bioregions of New South Wales and Victoria.
The aim of this project is to evaluate why some
populations of threatened frog species persist in
human modified landscapes, while other populations
have declined significantly or become locally extinct.
The candidate will collect high-quality ecological field
data, including species habitat requirements, calling
phenology, population dynamics and competitive
interactions with other co-occurring species, with the
aim of quantifying habitat refuges.
The Threatened Species Recovery Hub is supported through funding from the Australian Government's National Environmental Science Programme.
Photo: Sloane’s Froglet (D Michael)
Purpose
Duration and benefits
Three years full-time with a possible six month extension. The successful student will be offered a
PhD top-up stipend of AUD$6000 p.a. plus funding of up to AUD$8,000 p.a. and other support for the
significant amount of fieldwork that will be required to successfully complete this exciting project. This
funding is provided by the NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub as part of its research program.
Supervision
The student will be supervised by ARC Laureate Fellow Professor David Lindenmayer, Dr Ben
Scheele and Dr Damian Michael from The Australian National University.
Candidate requirements
Bachelors degree with first-class honours, or a research Masters degree from a recognised university.
Selection is based on academic merit and the candidate’s research proposal. The successful
candidate will have experience in environmental science or ecology and management, and be
capable of writing quality scientific articles for leading international journals. A background in
population ecology or genetics will be a distinct advantage, as will a demonstrated ability to
independently plan and execute field-based research.
Domestic students must obtain a PhD stipend scholarship at The Australian National University
(AUD$26,288 tax free (2016 rate) for 3 years). International students must hold an International
Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS). The candidate would be expected to commence the
doctoral program in early 2017.
Research at The Australian National University
In the latest World University Rankings, The Australian National University was the top institution in
Australia for environmental research and ranked within the world top ten. The Fenner School of
Environment and Society has a large, dynamic community of PhD students who are provided with
modern office facilities, computer and statistical support, and access to field equipment, laboratory
facilities and a fleet of 4WD vehicles. Students are encouraged to collaborate widely and attend
national and international conferences.
Application process and closing dates
Interested individuals are invited to discuss the project with Professor David Lindenmayer (02 6125
0654 or [email protected]) and must submit a CV and a one page statement of
possible research directions to [email protected] by 15 August 2016 for international
students or 8 October 2016 for domestic students.
The closing dates for applications for a PhD stipend scholarship at The Australian National University
are: International - 31 August 2016; Domestic - 31 October 2016. See
http://www.anu.edu.au/students/scholarships-support/ecology-of-threatened-frogs-in-human-modifiedlandscapes-of-southern. Queries regarding scholarship matters can be directed to Amy Chen at
[email protected].
Background
The project will consist of two interconnected research themes. The first theme will focus on
threatened Bell Frog conservation and management. The Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis)
experienced major declines associated with the emergence of chytrid fungus in the 1980s. However,
remnant populations still persist in isolated parts of the landscape. This research will focus on
investigating the demographic and environmental characteristics of remnant populations and will
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involve developing models that integrate spatial and demographic parameters to quantify habitat
refuges in human-modified landscapes. This information will be used to identify areas of suitable
habitat that may support reintroduced populations.
The second theme will focus on the conservation and management of the threatened Sloane’s Froglet
(Crinia sloanei) in southern New South Wales and North East Victoria (South West Slopes and
Riverina bioregions). Three Myobatrachid frog species in the genus Crinia occur in the South West
Slopes/Riverina bioregions. Two species, Crinia signifera and C. parinsignifera, are widely distributed
across eastern Australia and are habitat generalists. In contrast, C. sloanei has a restricted
distribution and specific habitat requirements. C. sloanei has experienced population declines
associated with habitat loss and fragmentation and is listed as threatened in NSW. This research will
focus on investigating the ecological requirements of C. sloanei, including calling phenology, niche
partitioning and competitive interactions with co-occurring Crinia species. This information could be
used to investigate how morphologically similar frog species respond to different land-use intensities.
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