Dr Tyrone Lavery
Areas of expertise
- Vertebrate Biology 310914
- Biogeography And Phylogeography 310402
- Animal Systematics And Taxonomy 310401
- Terrestrial Ecology 310308
Research interests
I have wide intrests in mammalogy, taxonomy, conservation biology and island biogeography in Australia and the South-west Pacific. My current research focuses on a range of long-term monitoring activities to track the ecological health of Kosciuszko National Park.
With Australia's Threatened Species Recovery Hub I worked to develop cost appropriate, cost-effective and practical monitoring protocols for threatened species like wiliji (West Kimberley rock-wallaby), and priotise monitoring for Australia's threatened species and species affected by the 2019–2020 bushfire crisis.
My work in the South-west Pacific focuses on searches for undescribed species and I have studied many of the region's rare and unique mammals, discovering how they are related, where they occur and the threats they are facing. Through this work I endeavour to support Pacific Island communities seeking to conserve their forests. The culmination of this work is the forthcoming book Mammals of the South-west Pacific (CSIRO Publishing) which combines published and unpublished data collected over years of field work to form a definitive guide to the mammals of the region.
Biography
2010–2014 PhD
School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland
2014–2016 Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland
2016–2018 Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago and The University of Kansas
2019–Present Research Fellow
Fenner School of Envirnment and Society, The Australian National University
Researcher's projects
- Ecological Health Performance Scorecards for Kosciuszko National Park
- Ecology and conservation of giant rats of the South-west Pacific
- Techniques for long-term monitoring of rock-wallabies (Petrogale spp.)
- Systematics of far north Queensland white-footed dunnarts (Sminthopsis leucopus)
- Evolution and systematics of Solomon Islands leaf-nosed bats (Hipposideros)
Current student projects
Aurelie Kanishka, PhD student. Investigating the impact of increased competition with common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in the decline of bush rats (Rattus fuscipes) in Booderee National Park.
Past student projects
John Lamaris, Masters student. Life history of the Admiralty cuscus (Spilocuscus kraemeri) and customary management on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea
Edmond Bateé, Honours student. Assessing the sustainability of ngali nut (Canarium indicum) harvest by Indigenous Solomon Islanders
Corzzierrah Posala, Masters student. Feeding preferences and behaviour of two Solomon Islands endemic fruit bats: Pteropus rayneri & Dobsonia inermis
Publications
- Lavery, T, Lindenmayer, D, Blanchard, W et al. 2021, 'Counting plants: The extent and adequacy of monitoring for a continental-scale list of threatened plant species', Biological Conservation, vol. 260, 109193.
- Lindenmayer, D, Woinarski, J, Legge, S et al. 2020, 'A checklist of attributes for effective monitoring of threatened species and threatened ecosystems', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 262, 110312.