University of Tasmania, Australia

Dr Natasha Wiggins

Post Doctoral

BSc (Hons), PhD

Contact Details

Achievements

Natasha has a background in plant-animal interactions that has predominately encompassed the intricate relationships between Australian native fauna and the Eucalyptus genera. Previous research interests have included the nature of mammal foraging behaviour, the pharmacokinetics of plant chemistry in marsupial herbivores and invertebrate seed predation. Natasha is currently researching the home-range utilisation of native macropod populations in Tasmania.

Research Interests

We have been undertaking a comprehensive wildlife management review to provide evidence that is essential for the formulation of wildlife management programs. We are investigating the movement patterns and home range utilisation of the Tasmanian pademelon and the red-necked wallaby in Tasmania, using the following survey techniques:

1. Estimation of population densities of pademelons and wallabies across a mosaic of agricultural, plantation and native forest landscapes using spotlight and scat survey techniques;
2. Studying the movement patterns of pademelons and wallabies using GPS collar technology to determine their movement patterns across a mosaic of agricultural, plantation and native forest landscapes;
3. Measuring the population demographics of pademelons and wallabies in order to assess the impacts of current wildlife management strategies.

Research Areas

• Environmental Change Biology

Research Project/s

• Home range shifts in response to lethal control