Dr Ross Goldingay, PhD (UniWollongong), BSc (hons) (UNSW). Ross is a wildlife ecologist with expertise extending from pollination ecology through to road ecology. His early research led to experimentally demonstrating that Australian non-flying mammals (sugar gliders and antechinuses) were important pollinators. His PhD research on the ecology of the yellow-bellied glider established a solid foundation in forest ecology that he continues to build on. One large current research project deals with understanding the impacts of roads on wildlife and how these can be mitigated. This research has been funded over several years by Brisbane City Council. The focus of this research at present is on whether tall wooden poles can enable gliding mammals to cross roads. Field work is being conducted at Compton Road and Hamilton Road in Brisbane. This research is aimed at understanding the behavioural responses of squirrel gliders to roads and road crossing structures but also whether these structures can improve the viability of local populations. Ross is involved in providing advice on this issue for several new road projects. Much more research is needed to offset the likely impacts of large road projects on wildlife. Another topic of intense research activity is whether artificial hollows (nest boxes and bat roost boxes) can be used to manage and conserve hollow-using wildlife. There has been much criticism of how effective artificial hollows can be but Ross argues that this has arisen largely from a dearth of suitable research. Ross is conducting several projects that investigate preferences by mammals and birds for different artificial hollow designs. He is also studying temperature profiles within artificial hollows to determine whether this may influence the frequency of use. Ross holds great concern for the conservation of threatened species. He has conducted many studies to assist the conservation of different species. Apart from studies on threatened species such as the yellow-bellied glider, squirrel glider and eastern pygmy-possum, he has completed a long-term project on the green and golden bell frog. Another long-term project has been on the endangered broad-headed snake. This research is focused on habitat disturbance and whether degraded habitat can be restored and used by broad-headed snakes. This research has led to an ongoing interest in the management of protected areas for the conservation of their wildlife.
Journal articles
Population recovery following decline in an endangered stream-breeding frog (mixophyes fleayi) from subtropical Australia (with David A. Newell and Lyndon O. Brooks), PLoS One (2013)
Amphibians have undergone dramatic declines and extinctions worldwide. Prominent among these have been the streambreeding...
Characteristics of tree hollows used by Australian arboreal and scansorial mammals, Australian Journal of Zoology (2012)
Many species of non-flying mammal depend on tree hollows (cavities or holes) for shelter and...
Facilitated movement over major roads is required to minimise extinction risk in an urban metapopulation of a gliding mammal (with Brendan D. Taylor), Wildlife Research (2012)
Context: Urbanisation is recognised as a primary cause of biodiversity loss. Roads are an inherent...
Restoring connectivity in landscapes fragmented by major roads: a case study using wooden poles as “stepping stones” for gliding mammals (with Brendan D. Taylor), 20 (2012)
Tree-dwelling mammals may be vulnerable to road mortality if forced to cross canopy gaps on...
Degree of landscape fragmentation influences genetic isolation among populations of a gliding mammal (with Andrea C. Taylor, Faith M. Walker, Tina Ball, and Rodney Van Der Ree), PLoS One (2011)
Forests and woodlands are under continuing pressure from urban and agricultural development. Tree-dependent mammals that...
Books
Ecology and conservation of Australian bell frogs (with William S. Osborne), School of Environmental Science and Management Papers (2008)
The biology of Australian possums and gliders (with Stephen M. Jackson), School of Environmental Science and Management Papers (2004)
This volume represents the proceedings of the Possum and Glider symposium held in Brisbane July...
Biology of gliding mammals (with John S. Scheibe), School of Environmental Science and Management Papers (2000)
This volume is the proceedings of a symposium ... that was held at the seventh...
Books chapters
Components of the habitat of the yellow-bellied glider in north Queensland (with Darren G. Quin), The biology of Australian possums and gliders (2004)
Conserving reptiles and frogs in the forests of New South Wales (with David A. Newell), Conservation of Australia's forest fauna (2004)
Ecology of the Australian Petauridae (with Stephen M. Jackson), The biology of Australian possums and gliders (2004)
How do we conserve the squirrel glider in Brisbane's urban matrix? (with David Sharpe), Conservation of Australia’s forest fauna (2004)