Melissa Jensen

Melissa Jensen

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences

Melissa is a PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide studying the reintroduction of the western quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii) to the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park in South Australia. The aim of her research is to investigate how we can improve reintroduction success, and will be focussing on:

  • Identifying potential shelter site availablity within the release site and investigating shelter site use by the reintroduced quolls and how these change over time
  • Comparing the effect of different release methods (hard vs soft) on survival, dispersal and body condition of reintroduced quolls
  • Determine if personality traits (ie. whether an animal is bold or timid etc) can be identified in western quolls and investigate if personality effects survival, movement patterns and body condition
  • Investigate stress levels throughout the reintroduction process and determine if stress has an effect on individual reintroduction success

Melissa is supervised by Associate Professor David Paton and Dr Katherine Moseby.

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  • Conference Items
    Year Citation
    2018 Moseby, K., Bannister, H., Jensen, M. A., & West, R. (2018). Is individual variation in physical or behavioural traits likely to significantly affect reintroduction success?. Poster session presented at the meeting of 2nd International Wildlife Reintroduction Conference. Chicago, United States of America.
    2017 Jensen, M. A., West, R., Fleming, P., Paton, D., & Moseby, K. (2017). The role of individual differences in conservation: effects on the success of a threatened mammal reintroduction. Poster session presented at the meeting of 12th International Mammalogocal Congress abstract book. Perth, Western Australia.
    2016 Moseby, K., Mooney, T., Jensen, M., Bannister, H., & Brandle, R. (2016). Trial reintroduction of the western quoll and brushtail possum to the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Poster session presented at the meeting of South Australian NRM Science Conference Proceedings. Adelaide.
    2016 Jensen, M. A., Moseby, K., Paton, D., & Fanson, K. (2016). Monitoring faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in western quolls. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian Mammal Society abstract book. Alice Springs, NT.
    2016 Moseby, K., Jensen, M., Letnic, M., Brandle, R., & West, R. (2016). Individual variation in prey susceptibility to cat predation; Can pre-release screening improve survival in reintroduction programs?. Poster session presented at the meeting of Ecological Society of Australia 2016 conference abstract book. Perth.
    2016 Moseby, K., Jensen, M., Letnic, M., Brandle, R., & West, R. (2016). Individual variation in prey susceptibility to cat predation; Can pre-release screening improve survival in reintroduction programs?. Poster session presented at the meeting of Ecological Society of Australia 2016 conference abstract book. Perth.
    2015 Jensen, M. A., Paton, D., & Moseby, K. (2015). How release technique effects the dispersal of reintroduced western quolls (Dasyurus geoffroii). Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian Mammal Society Conference Proceedings. Hobart.
    2015 Jensen, M. A., Paton, D., & Moseby, K. (2015). Shelter site use of western quolls (Dasyurus geoffroii) reintroduced to a semi-arid environment. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference Proceedings. Perth.
    2014 Jensen, M. A., Paton, D., & Moseby, K. (2014). Can temperament traits be identified in Idnya (western quolls, Dasyurus geoffroii), and does temperament affect post-release survival?. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian Mammal Society Conference Proceedings. Melbourne.

Research Project Grants and Funding

2012  (Honours)

  • $2000 - Nature Foundation South Australia

2014 - 2016  (PhD)      

  • $700  - Royal Society of South Australia
  • $2000 - Nature Foundation South Australia
  • $6000 - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment
  • $10 000 - Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
  • $36 000 - Nature Foundation South Australia (The Roy and Marjory Edwards Research Scholarship)
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  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2014 - ongoing Board Member Biological Society of South Australia — Australia

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2014 - ongoing Member Nature Conservation Society of South Australia Australia
    2014 - ongoing Member Biological Society of South Australia Australia
    2014 - ongoing Member Australian Mammal Society Australia
    2014 - ongoing Member Australian Wildlife Society Australia
    2013 - ongoing Member Ecological Society of Australia Australia
    2012 - ongoing Member Friends of Arid Recovery Australia
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