Macquarie University Research Fellow interested in the chemical, behavioural, conservation and invasion ecology of terrestrial mammals.
Macquarie University Research Fellow
Wildlife conservation research
I use novel, collaborative, cross-disciplinary approaches to develop innovative research that tackles biodiversity declines associated with the twin problems of invasive species and disturbed ecosystems.
I research how invasive species disturb trophic interactions such as predation and herbivory, with a view to conserving native species and addressing the current biodiversity crisis. My research has focused on terrestrial mammals in Australia, which we are losing at alarming rates. However, I also have projects focused on plants and reptiles.
I specialise in harnessing collaborative efforts to develop novel approaches to old problems. For example, I combine behavioural, chemical, and microbial ecology approaches to understanding the role of introduced predators such as cats and foxes in Australian ecosystems.
I view herbivores as plant predators, and apply what I have learnt about mammalian predators to my research on mammalian herbivores making foraging decisions in invaded vegetation communities.
My ability to see the broadest perspective on any research question has allowed me to collaborate with plant ecologists, chemists, microbiologists, and molecular ecologists.
Key interests
Predator-prey interactions
Behavioural ecology
Odour and the microbiome
Ecology of novel species
Chemical ecology
Mammalian herbivores
Alexandra J. R. Carthey 