Honours supervisors and projects

Assoc Prof Alan Lill

Ecophysiology, Behavioural Ecology

Telephone: 9905 5664
Email: alan.lill@sci.monash.edu.au

The focus of my research group is on the conservation biology, behavioural ecology, evolutionary ecology and ecophysiology of vertebrates, particularly birds and mammals. There are currently eight postgraduate students in the group, working on topics including: the conservation genetics of gliders, the response of bird communities to anthropogenic disturbance events, seasonal and developmental physiological adaptations in native birds, the ecology of threatened native mammal and bird species and the evolution of life history traits in native birds and mammals.

Possible honours projects included:

Wildlife Ecology & Urban Ecology

1. Ecology and social organization of red-rumped parrots in the urban environment in winter (March start)

The abundance of this native parrot in suburban Melbourne has increased markedly in recent years. In winter, it feeds in heterosexual flocks in public parks and golf courses. This project will examine the species’ winter foraging ecology and social organization in order to elucidate the reasons for its recent increase in density in the urban environment.

2. Ecology of breeding rainbow lorikeets in the urban environment (July start)

The rainbow lorikeet invaded urban Melbourne in late 1970s and now occurs at high densities year-round. In winter, the nectar of non-indigenous, ornamental eucalypts is a critical food resource. This project will examine whether indigenous eucalypts and exotic plants play a greater role in the species’ diet in spring and summer.

3. Impact of human disturbance on spatial and temporal patterns of foraging in urban birds (March or July)

Birds inhabiting the urban environment are often more tolerant of disturbance by humans than those occurring in rural landscapes. Nonetheless, human traffic can potentially affect habitat use and foraging efficiency of urban birds negatively. This project will examine the effects of pedestrian traffic on the space and time budgets of urban birds.

4. Impact of landscape fragmentation on stress in small birds and mammals (July start)

Many studies have examined the effects of anthropogenic habitat fragmentation on bird and small mammal community structure. However, we know much less about the actual mechanisms leading to local extinction events under fragmentation. This project will determine whether relatively sedentary small birds or mammals experience higher physiological stress levels in habitat fragments than in contiguous habitat.

Vertebrate Ecophysiology

5. Reproductive and growth energetics of swallows and martins (July)

Swallows and martins are altricial, but have an unusual mass-overshoot-and-recession growth profile. This project will characterize the energetics of reproduction and nestling growth in two hirundine species in order to try to understand the significance of this unusual growth pattern.

I am also happy to talk to students about other possible research topics in the areas of vertebrate behaviour, conservation, ecology and ecophysiology.

Publications from recent honours projects that I have supervised:

• Maron, M. and Lill, A. (2004) Discrimination among potential buloke (Allocasuarina leuhmannii) feeding trees by the endangered south-eastern red-tailed black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne). Wildlife Research 31:311-317.
• van Polanen Petel, T. and Lill, A. (2004) Bird communities of some urban bushland fragments: conservation implications. Australian Field Ornithology 21:21-32.
• Davey, C., Lill, A. and Baldwin, J. (2002) Blood glucose concentrations during breeding in short-tailed shearwaters. Emu 102:147-150.
• Davey,C., Lill, A. & Baldwin, J. (2000) Variation during breeding in parameters that influence blood oxygen carrying capacity in shearwaters. Australian Journal of Zoology 48:347-356.