Research Themes
Our research covers six interconnected themes:
click on a theme to learn more
Species on the Move
Where do different species and populations of animals belong? How do they fare in novel environments? Who gets to decide their futures? This theme covers our interdisciplinary research on introduced, translocated and recovering species.
Companion Animal Ecology
Pet cats and dogs live in domestic spaces, but also interact with wildlife and ecosystems. The effects they have can’t be separated from their relationships with people. This theme examines how human-pet partnerships collectively affect the wider environment, and how we can care for our pets in ways that minimise negative impacts.
Rethinking Wildlife Management
This theme examines current approaches to managing wildlife, and especially ‘problem’ species, considered pests or overabundant. Our work in this area aims to understand contemporary management practices and explore where and how these might be made more sustainable, humane, and/or community-led.
Animal Charisma & Wild Attachment
Why do we like some animals more than others, and how does that affect how we treat them? Research in this theme examines how the appearance, characteristics, place, and behaviour of animals intersects with human preferences, interests and feelings to produce a range of outcomes, from protectionism to persecution.
Nature on Screen
Many people’s experiences of the natural world are increasingly ‘vicarious’, mediated by screens and other digital devices. Research in this theme considers how movies, video games, and digital manipulation affect how people feel and behave towards wildlife, from the lovable Nemo to the dangerous landcapes of Red Dead Redemption.
Social Research and Conservation Conflicts
Our group works on a range of controversial animal management issues, from species reintroductions and eradications to restrictions on lead ammunition use. This theme showcases how we use applied social research to understand the dynamics of conservation conflicts, and to work towards constructive outcomes.