
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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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2013 PhD Candidate University of Adelaide -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2016 Award Annual Postgraduate Symposium 3 Minute Talk (Runner-up) — — — 2015 Award Student Poster Prize (Runner up) Australasian Wildlife Management Society Australia — -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2012 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (Honours) 2009 University of Queensland Australia Bachelor of Applied Science -
Research Interests
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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
Connect With Me
External Profiles