Science Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences

Environmental science & conservation

Wetlands

Environmental science and conservation science aim to protect our planet – the natural resources and biodiversity within Earth’s many ecosystems. Research within environmental conservation looks to protect the world’s environments and provide solutions for their long-term sustainability.


At UNSW, honours projects in environmental science and conservation explore Australian environments, seeking to understand natural and human impacts on Earth’s ecosystems, marine, freshwater and terrestrial and their dependent organisms, to identify solutions for management. View our current projects and connect with an honours project supervisor to learn how you can get involved.

Echidna ecology in the arid zone
The project will use radio telemetry to look at the movement patterns and number of echidnas in the Fowlers Gap area. Supervisor: Dr Keith Leggett

How season & fire influences germination of threatened Zieria species
To unravel the complex dormancy mechanisms of Zieria, you’ll undertake a series of experiments using fire and seasonal temperature cues. Supervisor: Dr Mark Ooi

Impact of kangaroos on temperate grasslands
This project will be based on field assessment of plants and soil function, laboratory assessment and statistical analyses of plant community composition over the last decade. Supervisors: Prof. David Eldridge | Dr Samantha Travers

Micro-habitat use by two species of Dasyurids in the arid zone
This project studies the habitat use of Sminthopsis macroura and Sminthopsis crassicaudata. Supervisor: Dr Keith Leggett

Vegetation change in a fragmented landscape
The aim of the project is to improve understanding of vegetation change in fragmented landscapes and the factors likely to promote persistence of local biodiversity. Supervisor: Prof David Keith

Is there an optimal camera-trap array?
Use high-resolution movement data from African large carnivores to optimize occupancy and density estimates. Supervisor: Dr. Neil Jordan

Factors affecting information accuracy in zoo signage
Establish a citizen science approach to understand factors affecting information accuracy in zoo signage. Supervisor: Dr. Neil Jordan

Resilience of soil moss and lichen communities after disturbance
Identify the relative importance of intensity and frequency of disturbance on biocrust communities. Supervisors: Prof. David Eldridge

Population dynamics of invasive shrubs
Compare the spatial distribution of exotic (European olive) and native (Bursaria, acacia) shrubs. Supervisors: Prof. David Eldridge

Community assembly and the maintenance of biodiversity
Real-world experimental test of the impact of colonization history, environmental disturbance and competition on the formation of ecological communities. Supervisor: A/Prof. Terry Ord

New methods to measure and forecast molecular biodiversity
Investigate the performance of new methods in molecular biodiversity, and maybe invent methods of your own. Supervisor: Em. Prof. Bill Sherwin

Do reintroduced greater bilbies change macroinvertebrate communities?
Use radiotelemetry and camera traps to determine bilby predation rates on macroinvertebrates. Supervisor: Dr Katherine Moseby, Dr Rebecca West, Prof Richard Kingsford

Using spatial analysis to optimise feral cat control locations
Collect GPS data from feral cats to examine interactions with cat control measures across the Wild Deserts project area. Supervisor: Dr Reece Pedler, Dr John Read, Dr Katherine Moseby, Dr Rebecca West, Prof Richard Kingsford

Large-scale ecosystem regeneration at Fowlers Gap
Be part of the regeneration of Fowlers Gap Arid Zone station. Supervisor: Dr Keith Leggett or others

Use of acoustic deterrents to protect endangered Regent Honeyeater
This is zoo-based study where you will gain experience in developing techniques to protect critically endangered nesting Regent Honeyeaters from predation by small mammals. Supervisors: Drs Neil Jordan, Joy Tripovich and Ben Pitcher

Activated carbon for methane reduction from ruminants

The research project will initially apply a batch fermentation method with rumen fluids to further characterize planktonic and sessile microbiomes, with a focus on colonisation of activated carbon particles. 

Supervisors: Prof. Torsted Thomas, Dr. Tim Charlton