PhD Project:
A conservation conundrum: the population and epidemiological dynamics associated with recent decline of woylies (Bettongia penicillata) in Australia.
The woylie conservation genetics project proposes to characterise woylie genetics directly relevant to conservation and recovery of the species, and to relate these findings to the epidemiology and demographics of declining populations. In so doing, this research will inform the priorities for conservation efforts and anticipate the likely consequences for future species recovery and conservation.
We also intend to investigate paternity, social structure, home range and individual’s movements between adjacent populations. In addition to improving the knowledge of the ecology of the species, this information is expected to help define the epidemiology of diseases that may be currently threatening declining populations.