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Category: Conservation Science and Technology
Cryptic but important genetic differences within species
As Charles Darwin noted, the physical differences between individuals of a species are important for their future survival and success (or not). However there are also many not so obvious differences (known as cryptic variation) between individuals that give us important insights into the evolutionary and ecological history of a species. This information is important for how we make use of […]
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Behind the Artist: Andy McIntyre on ‘Traceable’
More often than not, science alone is not enough to bring about change. A message born from scientific research requires emotion and context to cut through to the masses. For our latest research into the illegal timber trade, we wanted to spread far and wide the issue of illegal logging. To do so, we teamed […]
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A new hope for pangolins?
This is a guest post by Sarah Heinrich. Pangolins, or scaly anteaters, are the most heavily trafficked wild mammal in the world, with over one million illegally traded individuals in the last decade alone. Eight species of this shy mammal exist: four in Asia and four in Africa. Almost every part of their body is used […]
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Media release: Snake black market poses risk to humans and wildlife
The illegal reptile trade in Australia, including venomous snakes, could put our wildlife, the environment and human lives at risk, a new study has found. University of Adelaide researchers, supported by the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, have developed a model of the likelihood of establishment of alien species of snakes and other reptiles if […]
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Media Release: Call for global action to stamp out illegal timber trade
A group of conservation scientists and policy makers led by University of Adelaide researchers are calling for global action to combat the illegal timber trade. They say governments and organisations responsible for protecting wildlife and forests around the world and certification schemes need to “catch up with the science” and put in place policies and […]
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Plight of the bandicoot in prime-time spotlight
Channel 9’s Saturday night news featured the plight of the southern brown bandicoot, an endangered species with populations across the Adelaide Hils and Mount Lofty Ranges. Habitat preservation is key to the survival of the bandicoot. But the habitat of this native marsupial poses a problem to both residents of the Adelaide Hills and conservationists. Bandicoots thrive around private […]
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Timber guide launched to crack down on illegal trafficking
A new guide on the illegal timber trade has been released in a global effort to clamp down on timber trafficking crimes. The Best Practice Guide for Forensic and Timber Identification was prepared by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), with a substantial contribution from the Environment Institute’s Dr Eleanor Dormontt. Dr Dormontt is […]
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DNA Detectives featured in New Scientist
The Environment Institute’s Dr Eleanor Dormontt has been featured in the latest edition of New Scientist, sharing her insights into the illegal timber trade. The New Scientist article delves into the promises of new technologies, such as DNA analysis, to hamper the illegal wildlife and timber trade. Dr Eleanor Dormontt speaks about the barriers to employing these potential […]
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Podcast- The Wild World of Dingos
Radio Adelaide chats to PhD student Jack Tatler, although “dingo whisperer” would also be an apt title. Tatler is studying the role of dingos in the ecosystem. He studies both wild and captive dingos, equipping them with specialised GPS collars to track their every movement. Listen to the podcast to learn more about his research or read […]
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Media Release: Stowaway frogs being stopped by border security
An analysis of stowaway frogs coming into Australia has shown that strict biosecurity measures at borders and within the country are reducing the risk of introduction of new diseases by up to 50%. The alien frogs could potentially bring in diseases that could devastate local wildlife. The University of Adelaide researchers, supported by the Invasive […]
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