Melanie Massaro

Associate Professor Melanie Massaro

Ecologist and ornithologist

Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences

Biography

Melanie's area of expertise covers the fields of behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology and conservation biology. Her current research focuses on contemporary adaptation, consequences of population bottlenecks and interactions between native and exotic species. Her research is aimed at understanding mechanisms that underlie severe declines or extinction of animal populations and at integrating novel concepts into conservation management and reintroduction efforts in order to ensure the long-term survival of native species.

Research
  • Management of endangered bird species
  • Reintroduction biology
  • Conservation genetics
  • Quantifying threats of invasive species and diseases to native birds
  • Seabird ecology and evolution
Publications
Full publications list on CRO

Recent publications

  • Segal, R. D., Whitsed, R., Carlile, N., & Massaro, M. (2022). Effects of an island-wide rodent eradication programme on two threatened bird species. Pacific Conservation Biology, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC21068
  • Mihailou, H., Nimmo, D. G., & Massaro, M. (2022). Feral ungulate and macropod responses to resource scarcity and predation risk at savanna waterholes. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 76(2), [23]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-022-03134-4
  • von Seth, J., van der Valk, T., Lord, E., Sigeman, H., Olsen, R-A., Knapp, M., Kardailsky, O., Robertson, F., Hale, M., Houston, D., Kennedy, E., Dalen, L., Noren, K., Massaro, M., Robertson, B., & Dussex, N. (2022). Genomic trajectories of a near-extinction event in the Chatham Island black robin. BMC Genomics, 23(747). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-022-08963-1
  • Masello, J. F., Ryan, P. G., Shepherd, L. D., Quillfeldt, P., Cherel, Y., Tennyson, A. J. D., Alderman, R., Calderón, L., Cole, T. L., Cuthbert, R. J., Dilley, B. J., Massaro, M., Miskelly, C. M., Navarro, J., Phillips, R. A., Weimerskirch, H., & Moodley, Y. (2022). Independent evolution of intermediate bill widths in a seabird clade. Molecular Genetics and Genomics, 297(1), 183-198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-021-01845-3
  • Segal, R., Whitsed, R., & Massaro, M. (2022). Review of the reporting of ecological effects of rodent eradications on Australian and New Zealand islands. Pacific Conservation Biology, 28(1), 4-14. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC20064