biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney

12 BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY
AND CONSERVATION
Research Interests
My research focuses on the behavioural ecology of Australian
wildlife and aims to develop ecologically-based solutions to
conservation problems. The main interests of my research
group include the behaviour and ecology of invasive species,
conservation of urban wildlife and the ecology of chemical
communication. I work mainly with mammals, including bats,
and most of our work is field based and involves manipulative
experiments.
Honours projects
Each year novel Honours project arise out of our on-going
research program and I prefer to match projects to the career
goals of students so that they get the skills needed to succeed
in the next phase of their career
Some examples of recent Honours projects are:
Amelia Saul (2013) - Aliens replacing natives: are introduced
black rats an effective replacement for extinct native
pollinators. Amelia is testing the role of black rats and native
mammals as pollinators of Banksia flowers. She tested the
idea that black rats, despite being alien, might be playing a
valuable ecosystem service in areas where native pollinators
have become locally extinct. Amelia is working around Sydney
Harbour and Kuringai Chase National Park.
Associate Professor
Peter Banks
Room 101, Science Road
Cottage A10
T: (02) 9351 2941
E: peter.banks@sydney.
edu.au
Andrew Daly (2012) - The role of olfactory cues in predator:prey interactions. Andrew looked
at how prey might use predator odours as a cue to risk. Specifically, he tested the overlooked
assumption that predator odours represent a hotspot of predator activity to increase risk for
prey and revealed a great deal of complexity in how the predator and prey communities use
olfactory information. Andrew worked on foxes, cats, dogs and small mammals in the Mallee
region of western Victoria and on the central coast.
Deborah Romero (2012) - Reinvasion of black rats across the urban/bushland interface: a test
of ideal-free distribution models. Deb applied and tested two important theories about how
populations of alien species choose habitats and might recover after control efforts. She then
examined how the reintroduction of a native competitor might alter the mechanics of reinvasion
by an alien species. She worked on rodents around Sydney Harbour.