Biography
My research focusses on identifying scientifically-based solutions to human-wildlife conflicts. In my early career, I worked in Mexico and the USA and on a diverse range of both agricultural and natural resource issues and species including birds, pocket gophers, squirrels, mongooses, and rats. I returned to Australia in 2004 to manage the Kangaroo Island Koala Management Program.
When I moved to Deakin University in 2007, I maintained my interest in koalas, undertaking research on their southern distribution, population dynamics, and behaviour. I also developed a keen interest in the ecology of alpine regions.
I have a strong interest in spatial ecology, especially related to animal home range and movements.
Please contact me if you are interested in undertaking a PhD. I have a number of opportunities and would love to discuss these with you.
Read more on Desley's profileBiography summary
1987 - 1992 Queensland University of Technology: Research assistant - The management of canefield rats in North Queensland sugarcane.
1993 Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico: Postdoctoral fellow - wildlife pest management.
1994 - 2004 University of California (Davis): Wildlife Extension Specialist
2004 - 2007 SA Department for Environment and Heritage: Koala program manager
2007 - current Deakin University
Research interests
- The ecology of small mammals in alpine environments
- Koala ecology and management
- Bioacoustics for survey of arboreal mammals
Affiliations
Society for Conservation Biology
Teaching interests
Geographic Information Systems
Pest ecology and management
Units taught
SLE239 Inroduction to GIS
SLE332 Geographic Information Systems (Chair)
SLE310 Pest Plants and Animals (Chair)
SLE353 Asian Conservation and Environment Sustainability (Lecturer)
Knowledge areas
- Human-wildlife conflicts
- Spatial ecology (distribution mapping; animal home range and movements)
- Koala ecology and management
Expertise
- Wildlife
Professional activities
Associate Editor, Human-Wildlife Interactions
Media appearances
ABC Catalyst (March 2013): Koalas at Cape Otway (http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3715819.htm)
Earthwatch TV (2014): Conserving Koala Country (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoSgHJ_Qpug)
Research groups
Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University
Awards
2016 - Earthwatch Australia - Contribution of excellence to Environmental Science award
2017 - Team award - Deakin University Award for Teaching Excellence
Projects
Southern koalas (https://victoriankoalaresearch.wordpress.com/)
The distribution and ecology of a cool climate species, the Broad-toothed rat (Mastacomys fuscus), in Victoria.
Bioacoustics for surveying arboreal mammals.
Publications
Interactions between adult male koalas and dependent joeys in a high-density population
D Watchorn, D Whisson
(2024), Vol. 46, pp. 1-5, Australian Mammalogy, Melbourne, Vic., C1
Systematic acoustic surveys inform priority conservation areas for koalas in a modified landscape
Desley Whisson, Paola Rivera, Anthony Rendall
(2023), Vol. 38, pp. 1279-1290, Landscape Ecology, Berlin, Germany, C1
Food tree selection by an arboreal marsupial: Implications for timber harvest
Matthew Mitchell, Anthony Rendall, Matthew Lefoe, Desley Whisson
(2023), Vol. 544, pp. 1-8, Forest Ecology and Management, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Aditi Sriram, Derek Spielman, Kita Ashman, Desley Whisson, Lachlan Wilmot, George Madani
(2022), pp. 412-421, Wildlife research in Australia: Practical and applied methods, Clayton South, Vic, B1
K Ashman, D Watchorn, D Whisson
(2022), Vol. 42, pp. 130-145, Australian Zoologist, Sydney, N.S.W., C1
Logging and wildfire limit the distribution of a vulnerable arboreal mammal
Matthew Lefoe, Anthony Rendall, Freya McKinnon, Desley Whisson
(2022), Vol. 503, pp. 1-8, Forest Ecology and Management, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Non-breeding habitat selection of a sandy shore obligate shorebird
M Barker, G Maguire, M Weston, D Whisson
(2022), Vol. 271, pp. 1-12, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Using thresholds to determine priorities for apex predator conservation in an urban landscape
N Bradsworth, N Bradsworth, J White, J White, A Rendall, A Rendall, N Carter, N Carter, D Whisson, D Whisson, R Cooke, R Cooke
(2022), Vol. 228, pp. 1-12, Landscape and Urban Planning, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Anthony Rendall, John White, Raylene Cooke, Desley Whisson, Thomas Schneider, L Beilharz, E Poelsma, J Ryeland, Michael Weston
(2021), Vol. 22, pp. 72-79, Ecological Management & Restoration, London, Eng., C1
Response of an arboreal species to plantation harvest
E Hynes, D Whisson, J Di Stefano
(2021), Vol. 490, Forest Ecology and Management, C1
D Whisson, F McKinnon, M Lefoe, A Rendall
(2021), Vol. 16, PLoS ONE, United States, C1
Animal lifestyle affects acceptable mass limits for attached tags
R Wilson, K Rose, R Gunner, M Holton, N Marks, N Bennett, S Bell, J Twining, J Hesketh, C Duarte, N Bezodis, M Jezek, M Painter, V Silovsky, M Crofoot, R Harel, J Arnould, B Allan, D Whisson, A Alagaili, D Scantlebury
(2021), Vol. 288, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, England, C1
Quantifying the interactions between koalas in a high-density population during the breeding period
D Watchorn, D Whisson
(2020), Vol. 42, pp. 28-37, Australian mammalogy, Clayton, Vic., C1
Regulations fail to constrain dog space use in threatened species beach habitats
T Schneider, G Maguire, D Whisson, M Weston
(2020), Vol. 63, pp. 1022-1036, Journal of environmental planning and management, Abingdon, Eng., C1
Understanding the role of plantations in the abundance of an arboreal folivore
K Ashman, A Rendall, M Symonds, D Whisson
(2020), Vol. 193, Landscape and Urban Planning, C1
When an iconic native animal is overabundant: The koala in southern Australia
D Whisson, K Ashman
(2020), Vol. 2, Conservation Science and Practice, C1
Developing guidelines for the use of traps to capture koalas
K Ashman, D Whisson
(2020), Vol. 42, pp. 380-384, Australian mammalogy, Clayton, Vic., C1
A review of the 'noose and flag' method to capture free-ranging koalas
G Madani, K Ashman, V Mella, D Whisson
(2020), Vol. 42, pp. 341-348, Australian mammalogy, Clayton, Vic., C1
Ranging behavior of an arboreal marsupial in a plantation landscape
K Ashman, N Page, D Whisson
(2020), Vol. 84, pp. 1091-1099, Journal of wildlife management, Chichester, Eng., C1
Patchy resources and multiple threats: How do koalas navigate an urban landscape?
D Whisson, S Zylinski, A Ferrari, K Yokochi, K Ashman
(2020), Vol. 201, Landscape and Urban Planning, C1
Persistent spatial gaps in ornithological study in Australia, 1901-2011
Michael Weston, Maree Yarwood, Desley Whisson, Matthew Symonds
(2020), Vol. 47, pp. 264-271, Archives of Natural History, Edinburgh, Scotland, C1
History of Australian plant and vertebrate pests: introductions and impacts
Desley Whisson, Anthony Rendall, Maria Gibson
(2020), Vol. 137, pp. 162-169, Victorian naturalist, Blackburn, Vic., C1
P Guay, W Van Dongen, E McLeod, D Whisson, H Vu, H Wang, M Weston
(2019), Vol. 62, pp. 1306-1320, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, C1
Joining the dots: How does an apex predator move through an urbanizing landscape?
N Carter, R Cooke, J White, D Whisson, B Isaac, N Bradsworth
(2019), Vol. 17, Global Ecology and Conservation, C1
K Ashman, D Watchorn, D Whisson
(2019), Vol. 49, pp. 189-200, Mammal review, Chichester, Eng., C1
Michaela Blyton, Rochelle Soo, Desley Whisson, Karen Marsh, Jack Pascoe, Mark Le Pla, William Foley, Philip Hugenholtz, Ben Moore
(2019), Vol. 1, ANIMAL MICROBIOME, England, C1
Survival and movements of koalas translocated from an over-abundant population
P Menkhorst, D Ramsey, T O'Brien, E Hynes, D Whisson
(2019), Vol. 46, pp. 557-565, Wildlife Research, C1
K Ekanayake, D Whisson, T Schlacher, M Weston
(2018), Vol. 42, pp. 29-37, Corella, Penrith, N.S.W., C1
Tree canopy defoliation impacts avifauna
Desley Whisson, Amy Orlowski, Michael Weston
(2018), Vol. 428, pp. 81-86, Forest ecology and management, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Passive acoustic surveys for predicting species' distributions: Optimising detection probability
S Hagens, A Rendall, D Whisson
(2018), Vol. 13, PLoS ONE, United States, C1
Woodland birds and rural towns: artificial clutch survival in fragmented Box-Ironbark forests
Beau Meney, S Cunningham, Michael Weston, Desley Whisson
(2018), Vol. 130, pp. 7-17, Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria, Clayton, Vic., C1
Subharmonics increase the auditory impact of female koala rejection calls
B Charlton, D Watchorn, D Whisson
(2017), Vol. 123, pp. 571-579, Ethology, Chichester, Eng., C1
M Weston, K Ekanayake, S Lomas, H Glover, R Mead, A Cribbin, L Tan, D Whisson, G Maguire, A Cardilini
(2017), Vol. 64, pp. 476-491, Bird study, Abingdon, Eng., C1
Use of expert knowledge to elicit population trends for the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
C Adams-Hosking, M Mcbride, G Baxter, M Burgman, D de Villiers, R Kavanagh, I Lawler, D Lunney, A Melzer, P Menkhorst, R Molsher, B Moore, D Phalen, J Rhodes, C Todd, D Whisson, C Mcalpine
(2016), Vol. 22, pp. 249-262, Diversity and Distributions, C1
D Whisson, V Dixon, M Taylor, A Melzer
(2016), Vol. 11, PLoS ONE, United States, C1
Habitat selection by two sympatric rodent species in an alpine resort
L Beilharz, D Whisson
(2016), Vol. 64, pp. 327-334, Australian journal of zoology, Clayton, Vic., C1
Persistence of a threatened species in a modified alpine resort environment: the broad-toothed rat
D Whisson, G Holland, T Kelly
(2015), Vol. 96, pp. 151-158, Journal of mammalogy, Oxford, Eng., C1
D Whisson, M Weston, K Shannon
(2015), Vol. 42, pp. 500-508, Wildlife research, Melbourne, Vic., C1
Intense predation of non-colonial, ground-nesting bird eggs by corvid and mammalian predators
K Ekanayake, D Whisson, L Tan, M Weston
(2015), Vol. 42, pp. 518-528, Wildlife research, Melbourne, Vic., C1
Conserving koalas: A review of the contrasting regional trends, outlooks and policy challenges
C McAlpine, D Lunney, A Melzer, P Menkhorst, S Phillips, D Phalen, W Ellis, W Foley, G Baxter, D de Villiers, R Kavanagh, C Adams-Hosking, C Todd, D Whisson, R Molsher, M Walter, I Lawler, R Close
(2015), Vol. 192, pp. 226-236, Biological conservation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
K Shannon, M Weston, D Whisson
(2014), Vol. 38, pp. 22-23, Corella, Penrith, N. S. W., C1
Lomas, Stephanie, Whisson, Desley, Maguire, Grainne, Tan, laura, Guay, Patrick-Jean, M Weston
(2014), Vol. 131, pp. 115-127, The Victorian naturalist, Blackburn, Vic, C1
Free-ranging male koalas use size-related variation in formant frequencies to assess rival males
B Charlton, D Whisson, D Reby
(2013), Vol. 8, pp. 1-9, PLOS one, San Francisco, Calif., C1
Activity patterns of free-ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) revealed by accelerometry
M Ryan, D Whisson, G Holland, J Arnould
(2013), Vol. 8, pp. 1-10, PLoS ONE, San Francisco, Calif., C1
Impacts and management of invasive burrowing herbivores in grasslands
P Fleming, H Limin, D Whisson
(2013), pp. 1600-1608, Proceedings of the 22nd International Grassland Congress : Revitalising grasslands to sustain our communities, Sydney, NSW, E1
Translocation of overabundant species : implications for translocated individuals
D Whisson, G Holland, K Carlyon
(2012), Vol. 76, pp. 1661-1669, Journal of wildlife management, Hoboken, N. J., C1
D Whisson, K Carlyon
(2010), Vol. 91, pp. 1160-1167, Journal of mammalogy, Lawrence, Kan., C1
R Cristescu, V Cahill, W Sherwin, K Handasyde, K Carlyon, D Whisson, C Herbert, B Carlsson, A Wilton, D Cooper
(2009), Vol. 36, pp. 299-308, Wildlife research, Australia, C1
D Whisson, T Salmon
(2009), Vol. 28, pp. 690-695, Crop protection, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Integrated management of vertebrate pests in alfalfa
D Whisson, P Salmon. Terrell
(2008), pp. 187-196, Irrigated afalfa management for mediterranean and desert zones, Oakland, Calif., B1-1
Home range and movements of roof rats (Rattus rattus) in an old-growth riparian forest, California
D Whisson, J Quinn, K Collins
(2007), Vol. 88, pp. 589-594, Journal of mammalogy, Oxford, Eng., C1-1
T Salmon, D Whisson, A Berentsen, W Gorenzel
(2007), Vol. 34, pp. 14-18, Wildlife research, Clayton, Vic., C1-1
Using a general indexing paradigm to monitor rodent populations
R Engeman, D Whisson
(2006), Vol. 58, pp. 2-8, International biodeterioration and biodegradation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
R Engeman, D Whisson, J Quinn, F Cano, P Quiñones, T White
(2006), Vol. 40, pp. 95-102, Oryx, Cambridge, Eng., C1-1
Desley Whisson, Glenn Shimmin
(2006), Vol. 22, pp. 23-28, Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, Berkeley, Calif., C1-1
J Quinn, D Whisson
(2005), Vol. 267, pp. 339-350, Journal of zoology, Chichester, Eng., C1-1
C Ingels, K Scow, D Whisson, R Drenovsky
(2005), Vol. 56, pp. 19-29, American journal of enology and viticulture, Davis, Calif., C1-1
Developing relative abundance techniques (RATs) for monitoring rodent populations
D Whisson, R Engeman, K Collins
(2005), Vol. 32, pp. 239-244, Use of indices to monitor wildlife populations : Proceedings of the 3rd International Wildlife Management Congress incorporating the 16th Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference, Christchurch, N.Z., E1-1
A visual method for indexing muskrat populations
R Engeman, D Whisson
(2003), Vol. 52, pp. 101-106, International biodeterioration and biodegradation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
D Whisson, T Salmon
(2002), Vol. 21, pp. 885-889, Crop protection, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
D Whisson, J Takekawa
(2000), Vol. 23, pp. 56-63, Waterbirds, DeLeon Springs, Fla., C1-1
Alfalfa yield loss from Belding's ground squirrels in northeastern California
D Whisson, S Orloff, D Lancaster
(1999), Vol. 27, pp. 178-183, Wildlife society bulletin, Chichester, Eng., C1-1
Modified bait stations for California ground squirrel control in endangered kangaroo rat habitat
D Whisson
(1999), Vol. 27, pp. 172-177, Wildlife society bulletin, Chichester, Eng., C1-1
D Whisson
(1996), Vol. 23, pp. 589-604, Wildlife research, Clayton, Vic., C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Impacts of severe and extensive fire and interactions with feral herbivores
Prof Don Driscoll, Dr Chloe Sato, A/Prof Desley Whisson, Prof Euan Ritchie
Wildlife and Habitat Bushfire Recovery Program
- 2021: $164,065
- 2020: $164,065
Other Public Sector Funding
Diet and potential impacts of feral cats on native wildlife on King Island, Tasmania
A/Prof Desley Whisson
King Island NRM Grant - Research - King Island Natural Resource Management
- 2009: $9,160
Understanding the impacts of koala-related tree defoliation on bird and mammal communities
A/Prof Desley Whisson, A/Prof Mike Weston, Amanda Orlowski
DSE Grant - Research - Dept Sustainability & Environment VIC
- 2010: $1,500
Understanding the effect of revegetation age, structure and distance to native vegetation remnants on mammal communities in agricultural areas
A/Prof Desley Whisson, Brodie Harrison
CCMA Grant - Research Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
- 2011: $1,000
Future Proofing SA Bluegum Plantations through early detection and improved management processes related to koalas.
A/Prof Delene Weber, A/Prof Desley Whisson, Dr Morgan Schebella, Prof Anthony Finn, Dr Russell Brinkworth, Dr Stefan Peters
National Institute for Forest Products Innovation
- 2022: $20,000
Expert advice - NSW Koala strategy research
A/Prof Desley Whisson
NSW Government Natural Resources Commission
- 2022: $1,376
- 2021: $2,295
- 2020: $1,263
- 2018: $6,084
Expert witness DELWP
A/Prof Desley Whisson
Department of Environment Land Water and Planning
- 2021: $12,630
- 2020: $720
ERP16 USE OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES FOR NATIVE WILDLIFE POPULATION ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
Prof Don Driscoll, Prof Euan Ritchie, A/Prof Desley Whisson, A/Prof Mike Weston, A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Dr Blake Allan, Dr Shuddha Rafiq, Dr Duc Thanh Nguyen, A/Prof Tim Wilkin, Prof Robin Ram Mohan Doss, Prof Seng Loke
Department of Environment Land Water and Planning
- 2022: $327,000
Collaborative Koala project on the Mornington Peninsula.
A/Prof Desley Whisson, Dr Anthony Rendall
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
- 2024: $400
- 2023: $9,126
- 2022: $9,126
- 2021: $30,503
Monitoring Victorian Koala Populations.
A/Prof Desley Whisson
CSIRO
- 2021: $10,000
Impacts of feral herbivores on post-fire recovery and species persistence
Ms Sally Ann Fuik-Burgemeestre, Prof Don Driscoll, A/Prof Desley Whisson
NSW Government Biodiversity Conservation Trust PhD Scholarship
- 2023: $10,000
- 2022: $10,000
East Gippsland Koala Surveys.
A/Prof Desley Whisson
CSIRO
- 2022: $60,220
Drone surveys vs double-observer counts for East Gippsland Koala populations.
Dr Lachlan Howell, A/Prof Desley Whisson, A/Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou, Dr Blake Allan, Prof Don Driscoll
CSIRO
- 2022: $49,966
Design and delivery of a Victorian Koala population, genetics and health status survey
A/Prof Desley Whisson
DEECA - Arthur Rylah Institute
- 2024: $100,000
- 2023: $100,000
Industry and Other Funding
A preliminary study of the distribution and habitat requirements of the Broad-toothed Rat, Mastacomys fuscus, in the Mt Buller Alpine Resort
A/Prof Desley Whisson, A/Prof John White
BullSkiLift Grant - Research - Buller Ski Lifts Pty Ltd
- 2009: $5,279
- 2008: $5,279
The influence of koala-related tree defoliation on woodland bird and ground dwelling mammal assemblages.
A/Prof Mike Weston, A/Prof Desley Whisson, Amanda Orlowski
Aust Geographic Society Grant - Research
- 2010: $1,650
Understanding the ecology of koalas in the face of climate change
A/Prof Desley Whisson, Dr Alistair Melzer
Earthwatch Institute Research Grant
- 2016: $17,540
- 2015: $23,919
- 2014: $20,609
- 2013: $23,972
- 2012: $33,410
- 2011: $27,883
Conserving southern koalas: Spatial dynamics and habitat occupancy of koala populations in blue gum plantations of southern Australia
A/Prof Desley Whisson, Ms Kita Ashman
ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795
- 2019: $3,400
- 2017: $5,625
Koala personality: What does it take to succeed?
A/Prof Desley Whisson
Aust Geographic Society Grant - Research
- 2018: $1,000
Discovering the secrets and securing a bright future for the Broad-toothed Rat
Prof Don Driscoll, A/Prof Desley Whisson, Prof Euan Ritchie
World Wide Fund for Nature Australia
- 2020: $100,000
Expert opinion: Impacts of habitat clearance on koalas.
A/Prof Desley Whisson
Wildlife Unlimited Pty Ltd
- 2021: $6,795
Conserving koalas in a complex landscape.
A/Prof Desley Whisson
Hancock Victorian Plantations Pty Ltd
- 2023: $43,557
- 2021: $47,985
The koala genome: filling one of the Victorian gaps in the national mapping program.
A/Prof Desley Whisson
World Wide Fund for Nature Australia
- 2021: $4,000
STUDENT APPLICATION-Threats to the conservation of the Yellow-bellied Glider in Victoria
Mr Matthew Lefoe, Dr Anthony Rendall, A/Prof Desley Whisson
ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795
- 2023: $7,500
- 2022: $5,400
STUDENT APPLICATION - Conserving koalas in a complex landscape
A/Prof Desley Whisson, Miss Stacey Harwood, A/Prof Adam Miller
ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795
- 2023: $5,280
Supervisions
Kita Ashman
Thesis entitled: Distribution and spatial dynamics of koalas in a plantation landscape
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Cassie Speakman
Thesis entitled: Environmental Influences on the Population Trajectory of Australian Fur Seals
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Grace Sutton
Thesis entitled: Fine-scale foraging movements and energetics in penguins
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Aymeric Fromant
Thesis entitled: The ecology and niche segregation of diving petrels
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Gaetan Richard
Thesis entitled: Behavioural ecology of fishermen and odontocetes in a depredation context
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Laetitia Kernaleguen
Thesis entitled: Drivers and Fitness Consequences of Individual and Sexual Foraging Specialisation in Fur Seals
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Lauren Patricia Angel
Thesis entitled: Factors influencing foraging behaviour in the Australasian gannet
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Kasun Bandara Ekanayake
Thesis entitled: Little Raven (Corvus mellori) as an Egg Predator of Other Bird Species
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences