By Evie Jones
Evie is a PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania interested in carnivore conservation and finding science-based solutions to help humans and wildlife coexist.
She holds a Bachelor of Biological Sciences (Honours) from Deakin University and was the recipient of the Deakin Scholarship for Excellence. She also holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne.
Brief explanation of your project
My project is investigating how devils respond to production forestry. I currently have devils GPS collared in a eucalypt plantation to see how they use the landscape, where their den sites are and how their movements change in response to logging operations. I'm also assessing their long-term health in forestry landscapes, including stress, immunology and body condition, and how these measures are affected by logging.
Why is your research important to the survival of the Tasmanian devil?
My research will provide forestry operators with management recommendations to improve the conservation of devils in human-modified landscapes.
Donations to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal fund Dr Eric Guiler Grants. How important is the funding to your research?
The Dr Eric Guiler Grant is vital and will provide funding to assist with fieldwork costs, and to analyse blood and faecal samples to assess devil health in forestry landscapes. Thank you to everyone who supports the Appeal, I am most grateful.
Evie was one of ten researchers funded by the Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Grants in 2021.
This article featured in the September 2021 issue of Devils' Advocate, the e-newsletter for supporters of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please send an email to devil.appeal@utas.edu.au You can also make a tax-deductible donation to the Appeal at www.utas.edu.au/devil