Dr Emma Gray

Biography

I am a field ecologist, specialising in terrestrial mammal ecology, conservation and management.

In Australia, we are known for our mammal diversity, yet fundamental information about the distribution, abundance and detectability of many of our mammal species, even our threatened and iconic species, is lacking. I am passionate about utilising traditional and new survey techniques and technologies to answer these fundamental questions. In particular, I have expertise in Elliott trapping, camera trapping, conservation detection dogs and owl pellets. I’m also interested in trialling e-DNA collection as a rapid new detection technique.

I completed my PhD at QUT, where I undertook research on a new species of Antechinus, Antechinus arktos. This lead me to work within World Heritage Listed Gondwana Rainforests across Springbrook, Lamington, Border Ranges and Nightcap National parks.

I have also worked as an Ecological Consultant in NSW and Qld, undertaking vegetation community identification, BioCondition assessments and targeted fauna and flora surveys across a range of ecosystems – from Bluebush shrublands around Broken Hill and the unincorporated west of NSW, to the mallee-heath and eucalypt open forest on Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island).

I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, investigating the detection, ecology and conservation of the threatened Julia Creek Dunnart, Sminthopsis douglasi, in north-west Qld.

Overall, my experiences in academia and private consultancy have allowed me to gain a wider perspective of conservation management in Australia and deliver research with real-world applications.