Luke Emerson

Email	lemerson@deakin.edu.au
Phone	N/A
Campus	Burwood / Off-campus
Supervisor	Euan Ritchie
	Desley Whisson
	Heiko Wittmer (Victoria University of Wellington)
	Mark Elbroch (Panthera)

PhD research

My current PhD research explores the foraging ecology of large carnivores, with a focus on pumas. This research seeks to understand the factors influencing kill rates by large carnivores, and habitat selection and foraging decisions by pumas in response to humans and dominant competitors.

The research will provide insight into various aspects of large carnivore ecology, within an ever-changing human dominated environment, and will have implications for the conservation and management of large carnivores more broadly.

Research interests

My research centres on understanding the mechanisms by which biological communities are structured in space and time, by investigating the factors influencing the distribution, abundance, and behaviour of wildlife, particularly mammals.

This research is important given the persistent and dramatic environmental changes across the globe, largely due to anthropogenic forces, which is resulting in loss of biodiversity and ecological functioning. To date my research has focused on the ecology of arboreal marsupials, macropods, and most recently carnivores.

I am also actively investigating or involved in the following research projects:

Impact of fire and habitat attributes on the distribution of greater gliders and yellow-bellied gliders
Methods for predicting the fine-scale distribution of greater gliders
Novel habitat use and extension to the known range of Leadbeater’s possums
Evaluating macropod habitat preferences using camera traps
Influence of humans and habitat on the temporal activity of carnivores in Belize
Competition and temporal niche separation of carnivores in Belize

Career and education

2020-Present – PhD candidate, Deakin University
2017-2020 – Ecologist and Research Assistant, Arthur Rylah Institute, DELWP, Victoria
2013-2017 – Bachelor of Science (Honours 1^st class), University of New England
2006-2007 – Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary: Design and Technology), Charles Sturt University
2003-2004 – Graduate Diploma of Industrial Design, Queensland University of Technology
2001-2003 – Bachelor of Built Environment: Industrial Design, Queensland University of Technology

Selected scholarships, awards and grants

2022 – Deakin, Centre for Integrative Ecology Innovations research grant $10,000
2022 – Deakin SEBE HDR research support funding $2,600
2021 – Deakin, Centre for Integrative Ecology research support grant $2,000
2021 – Deakin School of Life & Environmental Sciences Project Enhancement Grant $500
2021 – Deakin, Centre for Integrative Ecology Innovations research grant $7,000
2021 – Deakin SEBE HDR research support funding $2,600
2020-2024 – Australian Government RTP Fees Offset Scholarship $32,000 per year
2020-2023 – Deakin PhD scholarship $28,600 per year
2016 – UNE Honours research support funding $3000
2016 – Australian Society for Parasitology Undergraduate Prize $400
2015 – UNE Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar Engagement Award $4,000
2015 – Tony Fletcher Prize for Conservation Biology $500
2014 – UNE Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar: School of Science and Technology Special Project $2,000
2014 – UNE Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar Engagement Award $4,000
2014-2016 – UNE Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar for Outstanding Academic Achievement