Dr Mathew Berg

STAFF PROFILE

Position

Visitor

Faculty

Faculty of Sci Eng & Built Env

Department

School of Life & Env Sciences

Campus

Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Groningen, 2007

Contact

mathew.berg@deakin.edu.au
+61 3 522 71365

Biography summary

• BSc (Hons), University of Melbourne, Australia (1994-1998)
• PhD, University of Groningen, The Netherlands (1999-2004)
• Jessup Fellow, Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia, USA (2004)
• Research Associate, University of Bristol, UK (2004-2007)
• Research Fellow, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University (2008 ongoing)

Knowledge areas

Disease ecology and evolution

Animal behaviour, communication, and sensory ecology

Biogeography and molecular ecology

Avian ecology

Publications

Filter by

2021

Chlamydial diversity and predictors of infection in a wild Australian parrot, the Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)

H Stokes, J Martens, M Jelocnik, K Walder, Y Segal, M Berg, A Bennett

(2021), Vol. 68, pp. 487-498, Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, Germany, C1

journal article

A review of chlamydial infections in wild birds

H Stokes, M Berg, A Bennett

(2021), Vol. 10, pp. 1-23, Pathogens, Basel, Switzerland, C1

journal article

Beak and feather disease virus and Chlamydiales infections in wild Australian psittacines: no statistical evidence for dependence

J Martens, H Stokes, M Berg, K Walder, Y Segal, M Magrath, A Bennett

(2021), Vol. 121, pp. 333-339, Emu, C1

journal article

Ability to detect antibodies to beak and feather disease virus in blood on filter paper decreases with duration of storage

B Blanch-Lázaro, R Ribot, M Berg, S Alexandersen, A Bennett

(2021), Vol. 9, pp. 1-15, PeerJ, Corte Madera Calif., C1

journal article
2020

Seasonal fluctuation of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) infection in wild Crimson Rosellas (Platycercus elegans)

J Martens, H Stokes, M Berg, K Walder, A Bennett

(2020), Vol. 10, Scientific Reports, England, C1

journal article

A non-invasive method to assess environmental contamination with avian pathogens: beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) detection in nest boxes

J Martens, H Stokes, M Berg, K Walder, S Raidal, M Magrath, A Bennett

(2020), Vol. 2020, PeerJ, United States, C1

journal article

Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) prevalence, load and excretion in seven species of wild caught common Australian parrots

J Martens, H Stokes, M Berg, K Walder, S Raidal, M Magrath, A Bennett

(2020), Vol. 15, PLoS ONE, United States, C1

journal article

Spatial and temporal patterns of lateralization in a parrot species complex

M Berg, S Micallef, J Eastwood, R Ribot, A Bennett

(2020), Vol. 34, pp. 789-802, Evolutionary ecology, Cham, Switzerland, C1

journal article

Species, sex and geographic variation in chlamydial prevalence in abundant wild Australian parrots

H Stokes, J Martens, K Walder, Y Segal, M Berg, A Bennett

(2020), Vol. 10, Scientific Reports, England, C1

journal article

Senescence of song revealed by a long-term study of the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis)

M Berg, S Beebe, J Komdeur, A Cardilini, R Ribot, A Bennett, K Buchanan

(2020), Vol. 10, Scientific Reports, England, C1

journal article
2019

Prevalence of BFDV in wild breeding Platycercus elegans

J Eastwood, M Berg, R Ribot, K Buchanan, K Walder, A Bennett

(2019), Vol. 160, pp. 557-565, Journal of Ornithology, C1

journal article

Plumage coloration follows Gloger's rule in a ring species

R Ribot, M Berg, E Schubert, J Endler, A Bennett

(2019), Vol. 46, pp. 584-596, Journal of biogeography, Chichester, Eng., C1

journal article

Do glucocorticoids or carotenoids mediate plumage coloration in parrots? An experiment in Platycercus elegans

M Berg, B Knott, R Ribot, K Buchanan, A Bennett

(2019), Vol. 280, pp. 82-90, General and Comparative Endocrinology, United States, C1

journal article

Identification of Chlamydia gallinacea in a parrot and in free-range chickens in Australia

H Stokes, J Martens, A Chamings, K Walder, M Berg, Y Segal, A Bennett

(2019), Vol. 97, pp. 398-400, Australian veterinary journal, Chichester, Eng., C1

journal article

Persistence of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) infection in wild Crimson Rosellas (Platycercus elegans)

Johanne Martens, Helena Stokes, Justin Eastwood, Shane Raidal, Andrew Peters, Mathew Berg, Ken Walder, Michael Magrath, Andrew Bennett

(2019), Vol. 119, pp. 402-406, Emu - Austral ornithology, Abingdon, Eng., C1

journal article
2018

Olfactory eavesdropping: The odor of feathers is detectable to mammalian predators and competitors

M Mihailova, M Berg, K Buchanan, A Bennett

(2018), Vol. 124, pp. 14-24, Ethology, C1

journal article

Nest box design for a changing climate: the value of improved insulation

E Larson, J Eastwood, K Buchanan, A Bennett, M Berg

(2018), Vol. 19, pp. 39-48, Ecological management and restoration, Chichester, Eng., C1

journal article

Pair fidelity in long-lived parrots: genetic and behavioural evidence from the Crimson Rosella ( Platycercus elegans )

Justin Eastwood, Mathew Berg, Raoul Ribot, Helena Stokes, Johanne Martens, Katherine Buchanan, Ken Walder, Andrew Bennett

(2018), Vol. 118, pp. 369-374, Emu: Austral ornithology, Abingdon, Eng., C1

journal article

Nest microclimate predicts bill growth in the Adelaide rosella (Aves: Psittaculidae)

Eliza Larson, Justin Eastwood, Sarah Micallef, Jacinta Wehbe, Andrew Bennett, Mathew Berg

(2018), Vol. 124, pp. 339-349, Biological journal of the Linnean Society, Oxford, Eng., C1

journal article

A mixed-species brood of wild Australian parrots (Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius and Crimson Rosella P. elegans)-accident or brood-parasitism?

J Martens, H Stokes, M Berg, A Bennett

(2018), Vol. 35, pp. 87-90, Australian field ornithology, Nunawading, Vic., C1

journal article
2017

Intraspecific geographic variation in rod and cone visual pigment sensitivity of a parrot, Platycercus elegans

B Knott, M Berg, R Ribot, J Endler, A Bennett

(2017), Vol. 7, pp. 1-8, Scientific reports, London, Eng., C1

journal article

Host heterozygosity and genotype rarity affect viral dynamics in an avian subspecies complex

J Eastwood, R Ribot, L Rollins, K Buchanan, K Walder, A Bennett, M Berg

(2017), Vol. 7, Scientific Reports, England, C1

journal article
2015

Prevalence of beak and feather disease virus in wild Platycercus elegans: comparison of three tissue types using a probe-based real-time qPCR test

J Eastwood, M Berg, B Spolding, K Buchanan, A Bennett, K Walder

(2015), Vol. 63, pp. 1-8, Australian journal of zoology, Clayton, Vic., C1

journal article

How does nest box temperature affect nestling growth rate and breeding success in a parrot?

E Larson, J Eastwood, K Buchanan, A Bennett, M Berg

(2015), Vol. 115, pp. 247-255, Emu, C1

journal article
2014

Phylogenetic analysis of beak and feather disease virus across a host ring-species complex

J Eastwood, M Berg, R Ribot, S Raidal, K Buchanan, K Walder, A Bennett

(2014), Vol. 111, pp. 14153-14158, Proceedings of the national scademy of sciences of the USA, Washington, DC, C1

journal article

Odour-based discrimination of subspecies, species and sexes in an avian species complex, the crimson rosella

M Mihailova, M Berg, K Buchanan, A Bennett

(2014), Vol. 95, pp. 155-164, Animal Behaviour, Camden, London, C1

journal article
2013

Is there variation in the response to contact call playbacks across the hybrid zone of the parrot Platycercus elegans?

R Ribot, M Berg, K Buchanan, A Bennett

(2013), Vol. 44, pp. 399-407, Journal of avian biology, London, England, C1-1

journal article

How parrots see their colours : novelty in the visual pigments of Platycercus elegans

B Knott, W Davies, L Carvalho, M Berg, K Buchanan, J Bowmaker, A Bennett, D Hunt

(2013), Vol. 216, pp. 4454-4461, Journal of experimental biology, Cambridge, England, C1

journal article
2012

Absorbance of retinal oil droplets of the budgerigar : sex, spatial and plumage morph-related variation

B Knott, J Bowmaker, M Berg, A Bennett

(2012), Vol. 198, pp. 43-51, Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology, Berlin, Germany, C1

journal article

Learned vocal variation is associated with abrupt cryptic genetic change in a parrot species complex

R Ribot, K Buchanan, J Endler, L Joseph, A Bennett, M Berg

(2012), Vol. 7, pp. 1-9, PLoS One, San Francisco, Calif., C1

journal article
2011

Ultraviolet-sensitive vision in long-lived birds

L Carvalho, B Knott, M Berg, A Bennett, D Hunt

(2011), Vol. 278, pp. 107-114, Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences, London, England, C1

journal article

Developmental stressors that impair song learning in males do not appear to affect female preferences for song complexity in the zebra finch

J Woodgate, S Leitner, C Catchpole, M Berg, A Bennett, K Buchanan

(2011), Vol. 22, pp. 566-573, Behavioral ecology, Cary, N.C., C1

journal article

Fruitful use of bioacoustic alarm stimuli as a deterrent for Crimson Rosellas (Platycercus elegans)

R Ribot, M Berg, K Buchanan, A Bennett

(2011), Vol. 111, pp. 360-367, Emu, Collingwood, Vic., C1

journal article
2010

Avian retinal oil droplets : dietary manipulation of colour vision?

B Knott, M Berg, E Morgan, K Buchanan, J Bowmaker, A Bennett

(2010), Vol. 277, pp. 953-962, Proceedings of the Royal Society B-biological sciences, London, England, C1

journal article

The evolution of plumage colouration in parrots : a review

M Berg, A Bennett

(2010), Vol. 110, pp. 10-20, Emu : austral ornithology, Collingwood, Vic., C1

journal article
2009

Does the ring species concept predict vocal variation in the crimson rosella, Platycercus elegans, complex?

R Ribot, M Berg, K Buchanan, J Komdeur, L Joseph, A Bennett

(2009), Vol. 77, pp. 581-593, Animal behaviour, London, England, C1

journal article
2008

Where and when does a ring start and end? Testing the ring-species hypothesis in a species complex of Australian parrots

L Joseph, G Dolman, S Donnellan, K Saint, M Berg, A Bennett

(2008), Vol. 275, pp. 2431-2440, Proceedings of the Royal Society B-biological sciences, London, England, C1-1

journal article

A simple, inexpensive trap for capturing parrots and other cavity nesting birds

M Berg, R Ribot

(2008), Vol. 32, pp. 78-79, Corella, Sydney, N.S.W., C1-1

journal article
2007

Is extrapair mating random? On the probability distribution of extrapair young in avian broods

J Brommer, P Korsten, K Bouwman, M Berg, J Komdeur

(2007), Vol. 18, pp. 895-904, Behavioral Ecology, Cary, N.C., C1-1

journal article
2006

The functional significance of multiple nest-building in the Australian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus australis

M Berg, N Beintema, J Welbergen, J Komdeur

(2006), Vol. 148, pp. 395-404, Ibis : the international journal of avian science, Oxford, England, C1-1

journal article
2005

Singing as a handicap : the effects of food availability and weather on song output in the Australian reed warbler Acrocephalus australis

M Berg, N Beintema, J Welbergen, J Komdeur

(2005), Vol. 36, pp. 102-109, Journal of avian biology, Copenhagen, Denmark, C1-1

journal article
2004

Trade-offs between paternal feeding, extra-pair mating effort and territory defence.

M Berg, J Komdeur

(2004), ISBE 2004 : Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Congress of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology 2004, Jyvaskyla, Finland, E1-1

conference
2003

Experimental evidence for the influence of food availability on incubation attendance and hatching asynchrony in the Australian reed warbler Acrocephalus australis

C Eikenaar, M Berg, J Komdeur

(2003), Vol. 34, pp. 419-427, Journal of avian biology, Copenhagen, Denmark, C1-1

journal article

Breeding behaviour and ecology of the sexually size-dimorphic brown songlark, Cinclorhamphus cruralis

M Magrath, L Brouwer, A van Petersen, M Berg, J Komdeur

(2003), Vol. 51, pp. 429-441, Australian journal of zoology, Collingwood, Vic., C1-1

journal article

Breeding ecology and bias in offspring sex ratio in little grassbirds (Megalurus gramineus)

R McIntosh, R Kats, M Berg, J Komdeur, M Elgar

(2003), Vol. 51, pp. 505-514, Australian journal of zoology, Collingwood, Vic., C1-1

journal article

Funded Projects at Deakin

Industry and Other Funding

Beak and feather disease virus and genetic diversity in a parrot ring species

Dr Mathew Berg, Prof Andy Bennett, Mr Justin Eastwood

Birds Australia Grant - Stuart Leslie Bird Research Award

  • 2011: $5,000

Climate change effects on stress, infectious disease and breeding success in parrots

Dr Mathew Berg, Prof Andy Bennett, Mr Justin Eastwood

ANZCT Grant - Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund - closed

  • 2011: $5,000

Do birds use odour signals for mate choice? A first test using crimson rosellas

Dr Mathew Berg, Ms Milla Mihailova

ANZCT Grant - Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund - closed

  • 2011: $5,000

Testing odour recognition at crimson rosella nests

Prof Andy Bennett, Dr Mathew Berg, Ms Milla Mihailova

Birds Australia - Victoria Grant

  • 2011: $1,500

Heat stress and breeding success in parrots

Prof Andy Bennett, Dr Mathew Berg, Mr Justin Eastwood

Birds Australia - Victoria Grant

  • 2011: $1,500

Nest site selection, stress & breeding success in rosellas as a response to temperature variation

Prof Andy Bennett, Miss Eliza Rachael Larson, Dr Mathew Berg

BirdLife Australia

  • 2013: $3,000

Climate change, temperature extremes and avian reproduction: an experimental study on rosellas

Prof Andy Bennett, Miss Eliza Rachael Larson, Dr Mathew Berg

Nature Foundation SA Inc - SA Nat Parks Grant - Research - South Australian National Parks

  • 2013: $3,000

The potential dererrent properties of crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans) odour towards competitive possums

Dr Mathew Berg, Ms Milla Mihailova, Prof Andy Bennett

ANZCT Grant - Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund - closed

  • 2013: $5,000

Climate change, temperature extremes and avian reproduction: an experimental study on Rosellas

Prof Andy Bennett, Dr Mathew Berg, Miss Eliza Rachael Larson

ANZCT Grant - Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund - closed

  • 2013: $6,600

Psittacosis in wild Australian parrots: Investigating strains and seasonal patterns

Prof Andy Bennett, Dr Mathew Berg, Miss Helena Stokes

ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795

  • 2019: $5,525
  • 2017: $4,800
  • 2016: $5,800

Beak and Feather Disease Virus in wild avian populations in Australia

Prof Andy Bennett, Dr Mathew Berg, Prof Ken Walder, Ms Johanne (Hanne) Marie Martens

ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795

  • 2019: $5,100
  • 2017: $4,800
  • 2016: $5,900

Beak and Feather Disease Virus in wild psittacine populations in Australia

Prof Andy Bennett, Dr Mathew Berg, Prof Ken Walder, Ms Johanne (Hanne) Marie Martens

Ecological Society Australia - Student Research Award

  • 2017: $1,500

Investigating the effects and transmission patterns of Chlamydia psittaci in wild Australian parrots

Prof Andy Bennett, Miss Helena Stokes, Dr Mathew Berg, Ms Johanne (Hanne) Marie Martens

BirdLife Australia Research Awards - 75 149 124 774

  • 2018: $3,241

Ecology of Beak and Feather Disease Virus in wild Australian parrots

Ms Johanne (Hanne) Marie Martens, Prof Andy Bennett, Dr Mathew Berg

BirdLife Australia Research Awards - 75 149 124 774

  • 2018: $4,000

Disease ecology, immunology and pathology of beak and feather disease virus in crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans)

Prof Andy Bennett, Dr Mathew Berg, Ms Berta Blanch Lazaro

ESA - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - 20 571 098 795

  • 2020: $7,300
  • 2019: $6,030

Other Funding Sources

Ian Potter Foundation travel grant - 25th International Ornithological Congress

Dr Mathew Berg

Ian Potter Foundation Travel

  • 2010: $2,100

Olfactory signalling in a species complex: the crimson rosella

Prof Andy Bennett, Ms Milla Mihailova, Dr Mathew Berg

BirdLife Travel (CAT8)

  • 2014: $800

Conference - Variation of behavioural assymetries in the Crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans)

Dr Mathew Berg, Ms Sarah Anne Micallef

BirdLife Travel (CAT8)

  • 2014: $704

Evolution of song in Acrocephalus warblers: evidence from historic and contemporary populations

Dr Mathew Berg, Miss Sarah Beebe, Prof Kate Buchanan

BirdLife Travel (CAT8)

  • 2014: $640

Olfactory signalling in an avian species complex: the crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans)

Prof Andy Bennett, Dr Mathew Berg, Ms Milla Mihailova, Prof Kate Buchanan, Dr Jacqui Adcock

BirdLife Travel (CAT8)

  • 2015: $909

Ecology and evolution of beak and feather disease virus in Australian parrots

Prof Andy Bennett, Dr Mathew Berg, Ms Johanne (Hanne) Marie Martens

BirdLife Travel (CAT8)

  • 2016: $1,000

Disease ecology in parrots: threats of avian pathogens to parrots and human health, with focus on the crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans)

Prof Andy Bennett, Dr Mathew Berg, Miss Helena Stokes

BirdLife Travel (CAT8)

  • 2016: $909

Investigating the effects and transmission patterns of Chlamydia psittaci in wild Australian parrots

Prof Andy Bennett, Miss Helena Stokes, Dr Mathew Berg, Ms Johanne (Hanne) Marie Martens

BirdLife Travel (CAT8)

  • 2018: $966

Ecology of Beak and Feather Disease Virus in wild Australian parrots

Prof Andy Bennett, Ms Johanne (Hanne) Marie Martens, Dr Mathew Berg

BirdLife Travel (CAT8)

  • 2018: $1,000

Investigating the effects and transmission patterns of Chlamydia in wild Australian parrots

Prof Andy Bennett, Dr Mathew Berg, Miss Helena Stokes

BirdLife Travel (CAT8)

  • 2019: $1,000

Genomics and ecology of Beak and feather disease virus and Platycercus elegans.

Prof Kate Buchanan, Miss Candice Lachenicht, Prof Andy Bennett, Dr Mathew Berg

BirdLife Travel (CAT8)

  • 2021: $1,000

Supervisions

Principal Supervisor
2017

Eliza Rachael Larson

Thesis entitled: Microclimate and reproductive success in Adelaide Rosellas

Master of Science (Ecology & Environment), School of Life and Environmental Sciences

Associate Supervisor
2020

Helena Stokes

Thesis entitled: Chlamydial Infection in Wild and Domesticated Avian Hosts

Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences

Johanne Marie Martens

Thesis entitled: Ecology of Beak and Feather Disease Virus in wild psittacines

Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences

2015

Justin Eastwood

Thesis entitled: The Ecology and Evolution of Beak and Feather Disease Virus in Platycercus elegans

Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences

Milla Mihailova

Thesis entitled: Olfactory Signalling in an Avian Species Complex: the Crimson Rosella

Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences