
Dr Tahlia Perry
Postdoctoral Researcher
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.
I am a Postdoctoral researcher at The University of Adelaide and the Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity and Heritage. I develop and run the national citizen science project, EchidnaCSI, where I engage with the general public to submit sightings and scats of echidnas for research and conservation outcomes. My research areas bridge together fields of genetics, microbiology, biochemistry with bioinformatics, ecology, conservation and citizen science. I am also an avid science communicator and enjoy working with all forms of media including radio, television, newspaper, as well as social media.
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
The Kangaroo Island echidna population has now been listed as endangered. They face threats such as predation by introduced animals (cats), are common road kill and suffer from habitat loss and fragmentation. As these threats exist on mainlaind Australia, it is likely that other populations are too in danger – however, as echidnas are very cryptic animals, large population analyses have not been undertaken.
As part of my PhD I have initiated a Citizen Science project called EchidnaCSI. This is project allows the public to submit photos of echidnas they see in the wild through a dedicated app so that we can get a better idea of their distribution around Australia. We are also encouraging people to collect their scats and send them to us. The project has been very successful since it’s launch in September 2017, within one year over 5000 people have registered through the app providing 3000 sightings of echidnas and ~200 scats sent in from across Australia.
From the scat samples collected through EchidnaCSI I will be testing the DNA and hormones that exists within them. In scats there is an abundance of DNA from the echidna itself, food it’s eaten, bacteria living in its gut and plants from surrounding area so we can investigate areas such as echidna diet, health and population diversity. Echidna scats also have important hormones that can indicate their stress levels and how reproductively active they are. Currently, I am developing these tests with scats collected from captive echidnas at Perth Zoo. Once these molecular tests are established they can be used to also help the captive populations indicate reproductive activity or stressful situations.
Furthermore I am investigating the fascinating monotreme reproduction and development by identifying genes and pathways that regulate these processes. As the only egg-laying mammals, their unique biology is still much of a mystery. My lab, headed by Professor Frank Grutzner, is world leading for our research on monotreme biology. We have the most extensive tissue collection for both echidnas and platypuses that allow us to investigate such interesting aspects such as reproduction and development that may not only give insights into monotreme biology, but the evolution of our own reproductive system.
To see more about EchidnaCSI or to download the app head to our website: www.grutznerlab.weebly.com/echidna-csi.html
or Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EchidnaCSI/
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2021 - ongoing Postdoctoral Researcher in Citizen Science Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity and Heritage 2021 - ongoing Postdoctoral Researcher University of Adelaide 2019 - ongoing Social Media Marketer Animate Your Science -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2017 Award Best Poster at BioInfoSummer 2017 AMSI Australia $400 2017 Award 3MT Faculty of Sciences People's Choice Winner University of Adelaide - $250 2017 Award 3MT School of Biological Sciences Winner University of Adelaide - $250 2017 Achievement Famelab Australia Finalist - - - -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2016 - 2021 University of Adelaide Australia PhD (Genetics) 2015 - 2015 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (Honours) 2012 - 2014 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science
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Journals
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Conference Items
Year Citation 2017 Perry, T. J. (2017). Ancient DNA from the North American flat-headed peccary reveals it’s phylogenetic position and a genetically diverse population prior to extinction. Poster session presented at the meeting of 12th International Mammological Congress. Perth, WA. 2017 Perry, T. J. (2017). The use of non-invasive genetic sexing of echidnas from hair and scat samples for captive management and conservation. Poster session presented at the meeting of 12th International Mammological Congress. Perth, WA.
Nature Foundation SA - PhD Grand Start Scholarship Program - 2018
$3000
AMSI-BHP Billiton Foundation - CHOOSEMATHS Travel Grants for Women for BioInfoSummer - 2017
$1300
Nature Conservation Society of South Australia - Conservation Biology Grant - 2017
$1750
Guest Lecturer - GENETICS III: Genes, Genomes and Molecular Evolution
2018
Practical Demonstrator - GENETICS III: Genes, Genomes and Molecular Evolution
2017 - present
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2023 Co-Supervisor Egg-laying mammals can inspire research in reproductive evolution and science education Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Isabella Rose Wilson
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2017 - 2017 Member School of Biological Sciences Postgraduate Symposium University of Adelaide Australia 2017 - ongoing Member Australian Citizen Science Conference 2018 Organising Committee University of Adelaide Australia 2016 - ongoing Treasurer Adelaide University Biosciences Network University of Adelaide Australia
Connect With Me
External Profiles