Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment

Dr John White
  Phone   +61 3 925 17625
Email   john.white@deakin.edu.au
Position   Associate Dean (Development)
Campus   Burwood
Research grouping   Wildlife and Conservation Biology

My teaching and research interests focus around the ecology of wildlife populations and how
this knowledge can be used to better manage these populations. Much of my recent research
has examined disturbance processes such as urbanization, agriculture and the introduction of
exotic predators and how they impact on native biodiversity. I also have a strong interest
in pest ecology and in particular the ecology of introduced species and pest rodents.

Research interests

  1. Urban ecology
  2. The impact of human disturbance processes on wildlife populations
  3. Wildlife ecology and management


Career

BAppSci(Honours) Queensland University of Technology (1994)
PhD Queensland University of Technology (1999) “The management of rodent damage in Australian macadamia orchard systems”
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University (1998- current)

Key publications

Palmer, G.C., Fitzsimons, J.A., Antos, M.J. and White, J.G. (2008) Determinants of native avian richness in suburban remnant vegetation: Implications for conservation planning Biological Conservation 141, 2329-2341

White, J.G., Antos, M.J., Fitzsimons, J.A. and Palmer, G.C. (2005) Non-uniform bird assemblages in urban environments: the influence of streetscape vegetation Landscape and Urban Planning 71, 123-135

White, J.G., Gubiani, R., Smallman, N., Snell, K. and Morton, A. (2006) Home range, habitat selection and diet of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in a semi-urban riparian environment Wildlife Research 33, 175-180

De Bondi, N., White, J.G., Stevens, M. and Cooke, R. (2010) A comparison of the effectiveness of camera trapping and live trapping for sampling terrestrial small-mammal communities. Wildlife Research 37, 456-465

Bilney, R.J., Cooke, R. and White, J.G. (2010) Underestimated and severe: Small mammal decline from the forests of south-eastern Australia since European settlement, as revealed by a top-order predator Biological Conservation 143, 52-59

View entire list of audited publications

Professional activities

ALTC citation for outstanding contributions to student learning (2006)

Related links

Johns Researcher ID page
www.researcherid.com/rid/A-428 5-2008

 

PhD students

Student nameThesis title
Donna Clarke ( Completed 2008)The effect of powerline corridor management on small mammal communities Meghan Cullen (Completed 2009)The influence of altitudinal gradients on small mammal communities Rohan Bilney (Completed 2009)The diet and ecology of large forest owls in East Gippsland Victor HurleyFactors effecting breeding success of peregrine falcons in Victoria Bronwyn IsaacSpatial ecology of the powerful owl over an urban-to-forest gradient Marian WeavingEcology of tawny frogmouths across a gradient of urbanization Christine ConnellyThe ecology of Eastern Yellow Robins in urbanised environments How about you?Interested in doing a PhD and joining John's research group? Contact John on john.white@deakin.edu.au  

 

Honours students

Student nameThesis title Trent Forge (2010)The importance of gullies for mammal diversity, in coninuous dry forest landscape (Collaborative project with Parks Victoria) Rachel Woods (2010)Response of small mammal populations to large-scale wildfires in the Grampians National Park (Collaborative project with Parks Victoria) Natasha De Bondi (2009)Using remote camera technologies to assess small mammal communities post wild fire in the Grampians National Park (Collaborative project with Parks Victoria) Matt Vinicombe (2009)Response of avifaunal communities to large-scale wildfires in the Grampians National Park (Collaborative project with Parks Victoria) Marian Weaving (2008)Distribution of nocturnal birds along an urban-forest gradient Mike Stevens (2008)Response of small mammal populations to large-scale wildfires in the Grampians National Park (Collaborative project with Parks Victoria) Felicity L’Hotellier (2008)Response of masked and sooty owls to intensive and long-term fox baiting Sam Trollope (2007)The response of ground and bark foraging insectivorous birds across an urban gradient Melanie Castanzo (2007)To feed or not to feed: a response to microhabitat structure or predation risk?  

 

Teaching areas

Introduction to Parks and Wildlife Conservation (SLE114)
Research Methods (SLE226)
Asian Conservation and Environmental Sustainability: International Study Tour (SLE353)


Deakin University acknowledges the traditional land owners of present campus sites.

8th February 2013