Sophie Petit

Research Interests

Agricultural Land Management Animal welfare Ecological Applications Ecology Ecosystem Function Ecosystem services (incl. pollination) Environmental rehabilitation and restoration Environmental Science and Management Environmental Sciences Plant Biology & Botany Pollination biology and systems Rehabilitation or conservation of terrestrial environments Terrestrial biodiversity Terrestrial Ecology Wildlife and Habitat Management Zoology

APrf Sophie Petit

Associate Professor

School of Biological Sciences

College of Science

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Available For Media Comment.

I have a four-year Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture (U of Kentucky), a Ph.D. in Biology (U of Miami), and a Masters of Business Administration (U of Pau).  As a wildlife ecologist, I study the ecology and interactions of many animals and plants, but I have a special interest in pollination ecology, particularly when it involves bats.  I love adventure and exploration, and what a treat to have hard-working, ethical, and humorous research students with whom to share discoveries!  Nature conservation is my priority and that of my research students.
I am an associate researcher at NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, CARMABI (Curaçao), the Caribbean Footprint Foundation, and Kangaroo Island Research Station.

I am interested in biodiversity conservation and management, wildlife ecology, plant-animal interactions (especially flower visitation and pollination by bats, pygmy-possums, and native invertebrates), environmental management, ethics and animals, shelter ecology, nectar ecology, keystone mutualisms.

Google Scholar: 

https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=c-h5SP8AAAAJ&hl=en 

Year Citation
2025 Amato, B., & Petit, S. (2025). Influence of fragment and roadside vegetation on canola (Brassica napus) and faba bean (Vicia faba) pollination in South Australia. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 382(109481), 1-12.
DOI
2025 Scott, S., de Barros Lopes, M., Gibbs, J., & Petit, S. (2025). Effects of prescribed fire on body condition, injury frequency, and recapture of reptiles in Mediterranean-type eucalypt forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 586(122683), 1-16.
DOI
2025 Kroemer, M., Prosser, T., & Petit, S. (2025). Investigating the distribution of vertebrate wildlife with a focus on bandicoots, using camera traps in Horsnell Gully Conservation Park. South Australian Naturalist, 97(Parts 1-2), 55-62.
2025 Petit, S., & Hammond, P. A. (2025). Endangered Kangaroo Island dunnarts are partially arboreal and use pygmy-possum nest boxes. Pacific Conservation Biology, 31(PC25057), 1-3.
DOI
2025 Scott, S., Goodman, B. A., Gibbs, J., & Petit, S. (2025). Between a rock and a hot place: do surface shelters facilitate survivable conditions for small vertebrates during prescribed fire?. International Journal Of Wildland Fire, 34(7, article no. WF24184), 1-15.
DOI
2024 Petit, S., Scanlon, A. T., Naikatini, A., & Pukala, T. (2024). Dillenia (Dilleniaceae) pollen heteromorphy and presentation, and implications for pollination by bats.. Ecol Evol, 14(2), e10997.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC2
2023 Petit, S., & Frazer, D. S. (2023). The role of grass-tree Xanthorrhoea semiplana (Asphodelaceae) canopies in temperature regulation and waterproofing for ground-dwelling wildlife. Pacific Conservation Biology, 29(5), 445-455.
DOI
2023 Roman, L., Kastury, F., Petit, S., Aleman, R., Hardesty, B. D., & Wilcox, C. (2023). Nutrients and seabird biogeography: feather elements differ among oceanic basins in the Southern Hemisphere, reflecting bird size, foraging range and nutrient availability in seawater. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 32(4), 495-510.
DOI
2023 Amato, B., & Petit, S. (2023). Improving conservation outcomes in agricultural landscapes: farmer perceptions of native vegetation on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. Agriculture and Human Values, 40(4), 1537-1557.
DOI
2022 Petit, S., Hammond, P. A., Heterick, B., & Weyland, J. J. (2022). Polyrhachis femorata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) habitat and colony defensive immobility strategy. Australian Journal Of Zoology, 70(4), 126-131.
DOI
2022 Petit, S., Weyland, J. J., Brumley, C., Kehoe, M. A., & Wang, C. (2022). First record of Aphis lugentis in Australia, tended by native ants on Senecio odoratus. Austral Ecology, 47(1), 137-141.
DOI Scopus5
2022 Petit, S., Scanlon, A. T., Naikatini, A., Pukala, T., & Schumann, R. (2022). A novel bat pollination system involving obligate flower corolla removal has implications for global Dillenia conservation.. PloS one, 17(2), 1-16.
DOI Scopus2 WoS3 Europe PMC1
2021 Waudby, H. P., Smith, B. P., Robinson, G. M., Petit, S., & Earl, G. (2021). Applying a social-ecological system framework to diagnose drivers of dingo management practices. Australian Zoologist, 41(3), 550-567.
DOI Scopus2
2021 Amato, B., Petit, S., & Schumann, R. (2021). Improving floral nectar storage on filter paper for sugar recovery. Australian Journal of Botany, 69(8), 585-595.
DOI
2020 Petit, S., Stonor, M. B., Weyland, J. J., Gibbs, J., & Amato, B. (2020). Camponotus ants mine sand for vertebrate urine to extract nitrogen. Austral ecology, 45(2), 168-172.
DOI
2020 Roman, L., Kastury, F., Petit, S., Aleman, R., Wilcox, C., Hardesty, B. D., & Hindell, M. A. (2020). Plastic, nutrition and pollution; relationships between ingested plastic and metal concentrations in the livers of two Pachyptila seabirds. Scientific Reports, 10(1, article no. 18023), 1-14.
DOI
2019 Waudby, H. P., Petit, S., & Gill, M. J. (2019). The scientific, financial and ethical implications of three common wildlife-trapping designs. Wildlife Research, 46(8), 690-700.
DOI
2019 Waudby, H. P., Petit, S., Matthews, B., Sharp, A., Pradhan, R., & Dale, B. (2019). Investigation of ticks and red blood cell parasites of a population of reintroduced mainland tammar wallabies (Notamacropus eugenii eugenii). Australian mammalogy, 41(2), 269-272.
DOI
2018 Scanlon, A. T., Petit, S., Tuiwawa, M., & Naikatini, A. (2018). Response of primary and secondary rainforest flowers and fruits to a cyclone, and implications for plant-servicing bats. Global change biology, 24(8), 3820-3836.
DOI
2017 Waudby, H. P., & Petit, S. (2017). Thermoregulatory value of soil-crack shelters for small vertebrates during extreme desert conditions. Integrative zoology, 12(3), 237-249.
DOI
2017 Amato, B., & Petit, S. (2017). A review of the methods for storing floral nectars in the field. Plant biology, 19(4), 497-503.
DOI
2017 Gofton, A. W., Waudby, H. P., Petit, S., Greay, T. L., Ryan, U. M., & Irwin, P. J. (2017). Detection and phylogenetic characterisation of novel Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in Amblyomma triguttatum subsp. from four allopatric populations in Australia. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 8(5), 749-756.
DOI
2017 Thomson, S. M., Droogan Turniski, A., Wotton, J., Gibbs, J., & Petit, S. (2017). Estimating house mouse ('Mus musculus') densities in a primary and a secondary dune at Little Dip C.P., Robe, S.A.. The South Australian naturalist, 91(1), 21-24.
2016 Vincenot, C., & Petit, S. (2016). Environment: Australia too casual with protection law. Nature, 539(7628), 168-169.
DOI
2016 Erdem, R. M., Kamp, M. J., Gibbs, J., & Petit, S. (2016). Density and live biomass of the Portuguese millipede 'Ommatoiulus moreleti' in two vegetation communities at Cullen Reserve, Robe, South Australia. The South Australian Naturalist, 90(2), 93-96.
2015 Waudby, H. P., & Petit, S. (2015). Small Australian desert vertebrate responses to grazing intensity during La Niña. Ecological research, 30(4), 715-722.
DOI
2015 Petit, S., & Waudby, H. P. (2015). Two mosquito species of Billa Kalina Station, stony plains region of South Australia. South Australian naturalist, 81(1), 34-36.
2015 Waudby, H., & Petit, S. (2015). Disintegration of cattle hoof prints in cracking-clay soils of the arid South Australian Stony Plains region during a wet period. South Australian Geographical Journal, 113, 5-12.
2015 Scanlon, A. T., & Petit, S. (2015). Capture success of Fijian bats (Pteropodidae) and their evaluation as umbrella species for conservation. Pacific Conservation Biology, 21(4), 315-326.
DOI
2015 Aleman, R., Jusaitis, M., Gibbs, J., Ainsley, P., Tiver, F., & Petit, S. (2015). Influence of seed dimorphism and provenance on seed morphology, dispersal, germination and seedling growth of Brachyscome ciliaris (Asteraceae). Australian Journal of Botany, 63(8), 705-713.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4
2015 Waudby, H. P., & Petit, S. (2015). Ephemeral plant indicators of livestock grazing in arid rangelands during wet conditions. Rangeland journal, 37(3), 323-330.
DOI
2014 Digby, R., Finos, P., Giacopini, S., Jusaitis, M., Gibbs, J., & Petit, S. (2014). Density of four mid-storey plant species in burnt and unburnt habitat in Bagdad Native Forest Reserve, South Australia. The South Australian Naturalist, 88(1), 12-15.
2014 Murphy, B., Underwood, T., Halliday, M., Forbes, T., Fielke, J., Suljagic, T., . . . Petit, S. (2014). Small vertebrate captures two years after prescribed fire in stringybark open forest at Bagdad Native Forest Reserve, Robe, South Australia. The South Australian Naturalist, 88(1), 7-11.
2014 Scanlon, A., Petit, S., & Bottroff, G. (2014). The conservation status of bats in Fiji. Oryx, 48(3), 451-459.
DOI
2014 Petit, T. (2014). Western pygmy-possums - Australian bush survivors. Australian Wildlife Magazine, 6.
2014 Scanlon, A. T., Petit, S., Tuiwawa, M., & Naikatini, A. (2014). High similarity between a bat-serviced plant assemblage and that used by humans. Biological Conservation, 174, 111-119.
DOI
2013 Scanlon, A. T., & Petit, S. (2013). How fecal subsampling methods affect the accuracy of dietary pollen detection. Journal of mammalogy, 94(6), 1321-1330.
DOI
2013 Scanlon, A. T., Petit, S., & Sternberg, L. D. S. (2013). Insectivory in Fijian flying foxes (Pteropodidae). Australian journal of zoology, 61(4), 342-349.
DOI
2013 Waudby, H. P., Petit, S., & Brown, G. (2013). Use of creeks and gilgaied stony plains by cattle in arid rangelands during a wet summer: a case study with GPS/VHF radio collars. Range management & agroforestry, 34(1), 101-107.
2013 Murphy, B. P., Taylor, C. M., Heath, M., Gibbs, J., & Petit, S. (2013). Ground cover two years after prescribed fire in stringybark open forest at Bagdad Native Forest Reserve, Robe, South Australia. The South Australian naturalist, 87(2), 85-89.
2013 Waudby, H., Petit, S., & Robinson, G. (2013). Pastoralists’ knowledge of plant palatability and grazing indicators in an arid region of South Australia. Rangeland Journal, 35(4), 445-454.
DOI Scopus14 WoS12
2013 Walker, A., Al-Shatti, A., Nguyen, T., Zheng, Y., Heath, M., Gibbs, J., . . . Petit, S. (2013). The effect of fire on litter-dwelling invertebrate diversity in Bagdad Native Forest Reserve, Robe, South Australia. The South Australian Naturalist, 87(2), 82-84.
2012 Waudby, H., Petit, S., & Robinson, G. (2012). Pastoralists' perceptions of biodiversity and land management strategies in the arid Stony Plains region of South Australia: Implications for policy makers. Journal of Environmental Management, 112, 96-103.
DOI Scopus19 WoS16 Europe PMC2
2012 Petit, S., Waudby, H. P., Walker, A. T., Zanker, R. J., & Mincham, G. (2012). A non-mutilating method for marking small wild mammals and reptiles. Australian journal of zoology, 60(1), 64-71.
DOI
2012 Petit, S., & Waudby, H. P. (2012). Standard operating procedures for aluminium box, wire cage, and pitfall trapping, handling, and temporary housing of small wild rodents and marsupials. Australian journal of zoology, 60(6), 392-401.
DOI
2012 Waudby, H. P., & Petit, S. (2012). Responses to a survey question on the distribution of western pygmy-possums (Cercartetus concinnus) on Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. Australian mammalogy, 34(1), 83-87.
DOI
2012 Morrant, D. S., & Petit, S. (2012). Strategies of a small nectarivorous marsupial, the western pygmy-possum, in response to seasonal variation in food availability. Journal of mammalogy, 93(6), 1525-1535.
DOI
2012 Mapletoft, E. A., Rawlings, R. H., Rietveld, D., Petit, S., & Gibbs, J. (2012). The relationship between above- and below- ground biomass of bridal creeper Asparagus asparagoides as a land management tool. South Australian naturalist, 86(1), 18-21.
2011 Petit, S., Rubbo, N., & Schumann, R. C. (2011). Nectar collected with microcapillary tubes is less concentrated than total nectar in flowers with small nectar volumes. Australian journal of botany, 59(6), 593-599.
DOI
2011 Waudby, H. P., & Petit, S. (2011). Comments on the efficacy and use of visible implant elastomer (VIE) for marking lizards. South Australian naturalist, 85(1), 13.
2011 Petit, S. (2011). Bataille pour sauver les cactus de Curacao. Terra Seca, (1), 32-39.
2011 Petit, S. (2011). Effects of mixed-species pollen load on fruits, seeds, and seedlings of two sympatric columnar cactus species. Ecological research, 26(2), 461-469.
DOI
2011 Morrant, D. S., & Petit, S. (2011). Nest use by western pygmy-possums (Cercartetus concinnus) (Marsupialia:Burramyidae) at Innes National Park, South Australia. Australian mammalogy, 33(1), 28-32.
DOI
2010 Morrant, D. S., Petit, S., & Schumann, R. C. (2010). Floral nectar sugar composition and flowering phenology of the food plants used by the western pygmy possum, Cercartetus concinnus, at Innes National Park, South Australia. Ecological research, 25(3), 579-589.
DOI
2009 Petit, S., & Gomez, M. D. C. (2009). Mysterious malady of an ecologically important cactus species. Cactus and succulent journal, 81(2), 64-65.
DOI
2009 Petit, S. (2009). Combatting cactus clearance on Curacao. Cactus and succulent journal, 81(1), 16-19.
DOI
2009 Morrant, D. S., Schumann, R. C., & Petit, S. (2009). Field methods for sampling and storing nectar from flowers with low nectar volumes. Annals of Botany, 103(3), 533-542.
DOI
2009 Petit, S., Jusaitis, M., & Bickerton, D. (2009). Effect of pollen load, self-pollination and plant size on seeds and germination in the endangered pink-lipped spider orchid, Caladenia behrii. Australian Journal of Botany, 57(4), 307-314.
DOI Scopus12 WoS12
2008 Waudby, H. P., Petit, S., & Weber, D. L. (2008). Human perception and awareness of ticks in a South Australian rural community and implications for management of amblyomma triguttatum triguttatum. Experimental and applied acarology, 45(1-2), 71-84.
DOI Europe PMC1
2008 Arnold, M. E., Calliss, D. S., Gemmell, S. J., Petit, S., & Gibbs, J. (2008). Estimating Portuguese millipede (Ommatoiulus moreleti) biomass in coastal dune and mallee woodland at Robe, South Australia. South Australian naturalist, 82(2), 62-65.
2008 Scanlon, A. T., & Petit, S. (2008). Biomass and biodiversity of nocturnal aerial insects in an Adelaide city park and implications for bats (Microchiroptera). Urban ecosystems, 11(1), 91-106.
DOI
2008 Scanlon, A. T., & Petit, S. (2008). Effects of site, time, weather and light on urban bat activity and richness: considerations for survey effort. Wildlife Research, 35(8), 821-834.
DOI
2007 Pestell, A. J. L., & Petit, S. (2007). Methods and ethical considerations of pitfall trapping for the western pygmy possum (Cercartetus concinnus Gould) (Marsupialia: Burramyidae), with observations on capture patterns and nest sites. Wildlife Research.
2007 Waudby, H. P., & Petit, S. (2007). Seasonal density fluctuations of the exotic ornate kangaroo tick, Amblyomma triguttatum triguttatum Koch, and its distribution on Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. Parasitology Research, 101(5), 1203-1208.
DOI
2007 Pestell, A., & Petit, S. (2007). Diet of the western pygmy possum, Cercartetus concinnus Gould (Marsupialia: Burramyidae), at Innes National Park, South Australia, and evaluation of diet sampling methods. Australian Journal of Zoology, 55(5), 275-284.
DOI
2007 Frazer, D. S., & Petit, S. (2007). Use of Xanthorrhoea semiplana (grass-trees) for refuge by Rattus fuscipes (southern bush rat). Wildlife Research, 34(5), 379-386.
DOI
2007 Waudby, H. P., Petit, S., Dixon, B. R., & Andrews, R. H. (2007). Hosts of the exotic ornate kangaroo tick, Amblyomma triguttatum Koch, on southern Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. Parasitology Research, 101(5), 1323-1330.
DOI
2007 Pestell, A., Cooper, S., Saint, K., & Petit, S. (2007). Genetic structure of the western pygmy possum cercartetus concinnus gould (marsupialia: burramyidae) based on mitochondrial DNA. Australian Mammalogy, 29(2), 191-200.
DOI Scopus9
2006 Dickson, C. R., & Petit, S. (2006). Effect of individual height and labellum colour on the pollination of Caladenia (syn Arachnorchis) behrill (Orchidaceae) in the northern Adelaide region, South Australia. Plant systematics and evolution, 262(1-2), 65-74.
DOI
2006 Petit, S., & Gibbs, J. (2006). Evaluation of Markal(TM) ball point paint as millipede marking tool at Robe, South Australia. South Australian Naturalist.
2006 Petit, S., Rojer, A., & Pors, L. (2006). Surveying bats for conservation: the status of cave-dwelling bats on Curacao from 1993 to 2003. Animal conservation, 9(2), 207-217.
DOI
2005 Feuerherdt, L., Petit, S., & Jusaitis, M. (2005). Distribution of mycorrhizal fungus associated with the endangered pink-lipped spider orchid (Arachnorchis (syn. Caladenia) behrii) at Warren Conservation Park in South Australia. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 43(2), 367-371.
DOI Scopus20 WoS18
2005 Petit, S., & Dickson, C. R. (2005). Grass-tree (Xanthorrhoea semiplana, Lilliaceae) facilitation of the endangered pink-lipped spider orchid (Caladenia syn. Arachnorchis behrii, Orchidaceae) varies in South Australia. Australian Journal of Botany.
2005 Penny, K., Havelberg, C. M., & Petit, S. (2005). Dispersal speed of portuguese millipede (Ommatoiulus Moreletii) on sand and woodland substrates and millipede marking tools at Robe, South Australia. South Australian Naturalist.
2004 Petit, S. (2004). Ethics and invertebrates: a French view. ANZCCART News.
2004 Heath, M. J., Humphrey, M., MacDonald, K., Petit, S., & Gibbs, J. (2004). Differences in invertebrate species diversity and richness between macropitfall and micropitfall traps at Robe, South Australia. South Australian Naturalist.
2003 Petit, S., Fahey, I. B., Lang, M. J., & Gibbs, J. (2003). Testing nail polish on portuguese millipedes as a marker for population studies. South Australian Naturalist.
2003 Pestell, A. J. L., Walton, H., Petit, S., & Gibbs, J. (2003). Abundance of sea spurge (Euphorbia paralias) on the foredune at Long beach, Robe, South Australia and implications for dune stabilisation. South Australian Naturalist.
2001 Petit, S. (2001). The reproductive phenology of three sympatric species of columnar cacti on Curacao. Journal of Arid Environments.

  • Shelter plants as foci for broad-scale wildlife detection and monitoring using eDNA, Ecological Society of Australia Inc, 01/01/2026 - 31/12/2027

  • Healthy Country, Healthy People: Using Fire as a Tool to Improve Mental Health and Restore Country, The Trustee for The Montebello Foundation, 23/06/2025 - 19/06/2026

  • Holsworth - Post-fire recovery and chytrid prevalence in South Australian frogs - Shawn Scott, ESA-Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, 18/03/2024 - 18/03/2025

  • FNSSA Automated call analysis for the bats of Kangaroo Island - Chloe Danis, The Field Naturalist Society of South Australia, 14/03/2024 - 03/03/2025

  • FNSSA What causes the decline of the threatened Bibron’s toadlet - Tom Prosser, The Field Naturalist Society of South Australia, 14/03/2024 - 03/03/2025

  • Survey of the bats of Kangaroo Island, The Field Naturalist Society of South Australia, 01/01/2020 - 28/02/2021

  • Unique pollination system of an important rainforest tree involving obligate manipulation by bats, Australia & Pacific Science Foundation, 01/07/2016 - 30/06/2019

  • The role of plastics and metal contaminants in the failure of short-tailed shearwater juvenile migration, The Field Naturalist Society of South Australia, 23/02/2018 - 28/02/2019

  • Population dynamics & conservation of Caladenia behrii, Australian Orchid Foundation, 05/11/2009 - 31/12/2017

Courses I teach

  • BIOL 1015 Sustainable Ecosystems (2025)
  • ENVT 1016 Environmental Analytical Methods (2025)
  • ENVT 3028 Restoration Ecology (2025)
  • BIOL 1015 Sustainable Ecosystems (2024)
  • BIOL 2023 Ecology (2024)
  • ENVT 1016 Environmental Analytical Methods (2024)
  • ENVT 3028 Restoration Ecology (2024)
  • ENVT 3030 Environmental and Geospatial Field Project (2024)

Programs I'm associated with

  • LBVT - Bachelor of Environmental Science
  • LBSP - Bachelor of Geospatial Science
  • LBSC - Bachelor of Science

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Principal Supervisor - - Master Full Time Miss Jess Klatt
2025 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Travis Neil Thomas
2024 Principal Supervisor - - Master Full Time Mr Thomas Prosser
2021 Principal Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Shawn William Scott
2015 Principal Supervisor Perceptions of native vegetation and its role in crop pollination on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Bianca Amato

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