Dr Damien Fordham
Associate Prof/Reader
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
I am an Associate Professor in Global Ecology working at the University of Adelaide's Environment Institute and Department for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. My research interests are diverse, and include global change biology, biogeography, climate science, quantitative ecology and conservation biology.
As trans-disciplinary scientist, my research brings a range of critical skills to the topic of global environmental change on natural systems: an area characterised by complexity and some irreducible uncertainty. My research blends theoretical and empirical approaches. It uses the latest developments in global ecology, climatology, paleoecology and paleogenomics to improve the way in which ecological-model forecasts are generated, interpreted, and used to protect natural systems for long-term resource sustainability.
By unveiling the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that have shaped past and current-day patterns of biodiversity, my research is providing a realworld foundation for better anticipating what the future may bring under accelerated rates of climate change.
Ongoing grants
Fordham DA, Austin J, Nogues-Bravo D, Rahbek, C, Lomolino M Reconstructing mechanisms of range contraction to avert species extinctions. ARC DP $496 000 AUD (2017-)
Fordham DA, Integrating models with molecular 'logbooks' to better forecast extinction risk from climate change ARC FT 2014 $702,000 (2014-).
Past Grants
Fordham DA, Cassey P, Brook BW, Mutze G. An integrated tool for informing pest management: Modelling range shifts for an invasive vertebrate in response to climate change ARC LP 2012 R2 $750 000 AUD (2012-).
Fordham DA Mitigating future biodiversity loss through better use of long term ecological proxies. Environment Institute, University of Adelaide 2018 $25,620 AUD (2018)
Gillanders BM, Donnellan SC, Fordham DA, Prowse T, Rowling K, Steer M. Giant Australian cuttlefish in South Australian waters. Fisheries Research and Development Corporation $367,000 (2014-2015)
Lacy R, Akçakaya HR, Brook B, Grajal A, Miller P, Fordham DA + 16 other authors. Using metamodels to enable transdisciplinary research for the study of dynamic biological systems under global change NSF RCN $500 000 USD (2012 – 2016).
Fisher D, Ritchie E, Webb J, Ward S, Oakwood M, Radford I, Tuft K, Burnett S, Heiniger J, Annette C, Williams D, Fordham D., Pollock K, Barker R, Morris K Understanding current mechanisms of extinction using population models for the northern quoll, Dasyurus hallucatus across tropical Australia $30 000 AUD (2013 – 2014).
Fordham and Brook. Range dynamics and demographics of spatially structured populations under global change. Australian Research Council Discovery Project $390 000 AUD (2010 -2013)
Brook, Fordham, Araújo and Foulkes. Planning for a transformed future: Modelling synergistic climate change and land use impacts on biodiversity. Australian Research Council Linkage Project $636 000 AUD (2009-2012)
International PhD Course: Modelling species distributions under climate change (University of Copenhagen)
ENV BIOL 2503 - Zoology II (https://www.adelaide.edu.au/course-outlines/104303/1/sem-1/)
ENV BIOL 3121 - Concepts in Ecology III (https://www.adelaide.edu.au/course-outlines/103104/1/sem-1/)
ENV BIOL 1002 - Ecological Issues I (https://www.adelaide.edu.au/course-outlines/008954/1/sem-2/)
ENV BIOL 3575 - Advanced Applications in Conservation Biology III (https://www.adelaide.edu.au/course-outlines/109302/1/sem-2/)
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