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Postdocs and Researchers
Euan Ritchie
Postdoctoral Researcher, Herpetologyeritchie@museum.vic.gov.au
Macroecology. Systematics and phylogeography of Australian Agamid lizards.
I have a broad range of interests, principally in the areas of evolutionary ecology, behavioural ecology, conservation biology and macroecology. This is reflected in the diversity of taxonomic groups I've worked on, which include macroinvertebrates, birds, amphibians, mammals and more recently, agamid lizards. I recently finished my PhD, which was on the macroecology and conservation of the antilopine wallaroo (Macropus antilopinus) (Website: www.jcu.edu.au/school/tropbiol/postgrad/ritchie_e/ ). This macroecological research was focussed on identifying and modelling the environmental and biological factors that determine the limits to the distribution and abundance of this little-studied tropical species.
Recently I have joined Museum Victoria, where I am using molecular techniques to understand the taxonomic relationships within Australian agamids; specifically, Pogona, Lophognathus and Amphibolurus. This investigation will help to elucidate the environmental and historical drivers of the species diversity that exists within this lizard group across arid Australia.
Publications
Martin, J.K., Coulson, G., Di Stefano, J., Ritchie, E.G., Greenfield, A., Catachin, H., Evans, L. (2007) The Viggers and Hearn conundrum: a kangaroo home range study with no implication for land management. Journal of Applied Ecology (available online)Ritchie, E.G., Martin, J.K., Garnett, S., Krockenberger, A.K. and Johnson, C.N. (2007) Large herbivore distribution and abundance in the tropics: intra- and inter-specific niche variation across species' ranges. Ecological Monographs (in press)
Ritchie, E.G. (2007) Antilopine wallaroo (Macropus antilopinus). In Mammals of Australia, ed. S., Van Dyck. (in press)
Ritchie, E.G. The socio-ecology of large marsupial herbivores in Australia's tropical savannas. (2007) Austral Ecology (in review)
Ritchie, E.G. and Bolitho, E.E. (2007) Climate change and the distribution of large, wide ranging herbivores: severe range contractions and the extinction of Australia's tropical macropods? Physiological and Biochemical Zoology (in review)
Ritchie, E.G., Fossan, P.C.K., Martin, J.K. and Johnson, C.N. (2007) The influence of diet and rainfall seasonality on patterns of sexual segregation in a tropical macropod, the antilopine wallaroo (Macropus antilopinus). Austral Ecology (in review)
Ritchie, E.G. (2007) Ecology and conservation of the antilopine wallaroo (Macropus antilopinus): an overview. Proceedings of the Macropod Symposium, Australian Mammal Society (in review)
Ritchie, E.G. (2007) Evolution and biogeography of Australasian vertebrates. Austral Ecology (in review)
Ritchie, E.G. (2007) Large Herbivore Ecology, Ecosystem Dynamics and Conservation. Austral Ecology (in review)
Ritchie, E.G. (2007) The effect of an extensive, late dry season fire on three sympatric large macropod species (Macropus antilopinus, Macropus giganteus and Macropus robustus) in Undara Volcanic National Park, Northern Australia. Australian Mammalogy (in review)
Ritchie, E.G. & Martin, J.K (2006) Observation of Ninox novaeseelandiae feeding on Pislithus albus in Undara Volcanic National Park, north Queensland. Australian Field Ornithology 23(1): 46-47.
Ritchie, E.G. (2005) Predators with pouches. Austral Ecology 30(2):239.
Ritchie, E.G. (2005) An extension to the known range of the eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) in the Cape York Peninsula. Australian Mammalogy 27: 225-226.
Ritchie, E.G. (2005) Antilopine Wallaroo uncovered. Nature Australia. 28(7).
Johnson, P.T.J. & Ritchie, E.G. (2003) The macroinvertebrate fauna of an iron rich stream in the Wet Tropics of Australia: A comparative analysis of communities using a rapid bioassessment protocol. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 49(1): 331-338.
Johnson, PTJ., Lunde, KB., Thurman, EM., Ritchie, E.G., Wray, SN., Sutherland, DR., Kapfer, JM., Frest, TJ., Bowerman, J. & Blaustein, AR. (2002) Parasite (Ribeiroia ondatrae) infection linked to amphibian malformations in the western United States. Ecological Monographs 72:151-168.
Johnson, C.N & Ritchie, E.G. (2002) Biased offspring sex ratios established before birth in a marsupial, the common brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula. Behavioural Ecology 13(5): 653-656.
Johnson, C.N., Clinchy, M., Taylor, A.C., Krebs, C.J., Jarman, P.J., Payne, A. & Ritchie, E.G. (2001) Adjustment of offspring sex ratios in relation to availability of resources for philopatric offspring in the common brushtail possum. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 268: 2001-2005.
Johnson, P.T.J., Lunde, K.B., Ritchie, E.G., Reaser, J.K. & Launer, A.E. (2001) Morphological abnormality patterns in a California amphibian community. Herpetologica 57: 336-352.
Johnson, P.T.J., Lunde, K.B., Ritchie, E.G. & Launer, A.E. (1999) Field and laboratory investigations of amphibian abnormalities: trematode infection induces supernumerary limbs and other severe limb abnormalities in Hyla regilla. Science 284: 802-804.
