Research Scientist

       Email:  rkirkwood@penguins.org.au

       Phone: + 61 (3) 59512844

       Mail:     Phillip Island Nature Parks, PO Box 97, Cowes Vic. 3922, Australia


Professional Area

Mammal and seabird ecology


Current projects

  • Foraging behaviour of Australian fur seals
  • Population status of Australian and New Zealand fur seals
  • Diseases of Australian fur seals
  • Interactions between seals and humans
  • Little penguin foraging ranges
  • Swamp wallaby ecology
  • Red fox biology and management

Biography

Roger joined the Research Department at Phillip Island Nature Parks in 1997, following the completion of his Ph.D. on Emperor Penguin foraging ecology (University of Tasmania).  At Phillip Island, his focus has been the Australian fur seal; one of the largest colonies of this species is on Seal Rocks near Phillip Island.  Roger’s research involves field trips to off-shore islands around south-eastern Australia.  His role also includes research on seabirds and terrestrial mammals (native and introduced). Roger received the title of Adjunct professor from Deakin University in 2009.


Current / recent students

  • Lachlan McLean. Impacts of sea level change on Australian fur seals. (BSc Hons., Deakin Uni. - with John Arnould)
  • Marcus Salton. Foraging behaviour of Australian fur seals in relation to temperature gradients. (PhD, Macquarie Uni., Sydney - with Rob Harcourt & David Slip).
  • Mary Cowling. Responses of New Zealand fur seals to boat approaches. (MSc, Victoria University, St Albans - with Carol Scarpaci).
  • Michael Lynch (2012). Disease surveillance and epidemiological investigations in Australian fur seal populations. (PhD, Deakin Uni. - with John Arnould & Padraig Duignan).
  • Victoria Dixon (2011). Diving behaviour of juvenile Australian fur seals. (BSc Hons., Deakin University, Burwood – with John Arnould).
  • Julia Back (2010). Responses of Australian fur seals to boat activity. (MSc, Deakin University, Burwood – with John Arnould).
  • Linda Garlepp (2010). Climatic orrelates of haul-out behaviour by Australian fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus. (BSc Hons., Monash University, Clayton – with Murray Logan).

Selected recent publications

Lynch, M., Kirkwood, R., Gray, R., Robson, D., Burton, G., Jones, L., Sinclair, R. & Arnould, J. P. Y. (2012) Characterization and causality investigations of an alopecia syndrome in Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus). Journal of Mammalogy 93(2): 504-513

Kirkwood, R. & Arnould, J. P. Y. (2011) Foraging trip strategies and habitat use during late pup rearing by lactating Australian fur seals. Australian Journal of Zoology 59:216-226

Berry, O. and Kirkwood, R. (2010). An assessment of eradication potential: demographics of recruitment in an invasive species revealed by serial sampling, dental aging and microsatellite genotyping. Journal of Wildlife Management 74(8): 1661-1670

Lancaster, M., Arnould, J. P. Y. and Kirkwood, R. (2010). Genetic status of the Australian fur seal following historical over-harvesting. Animal Conservation 13(3), 247-255.

Kirkwood, R., Pemberton, D., Gales, R., Hoskins, A., Mitchell, T., Shaughnessy, P. D. and Arnould, J. P. Y. (2010). Continued population recovery by Australian fur seals. Marine and Freshwater Research 61, 695-701.

Deagle, B., Kirkwood, R. and Jarman, S. (2009). Analysis of Australian fur seal diet by pyrosequencing prey DNA in faeces. Molecular Ecology 17, 2022-2038.

Kirkwood, R., Warneke, R. M. and Arnould, J. P. Y. (2009). Recolonization of Bass Strait, Australia, by the New Zealand fur seal Arctocephalus forsteri. Marine Mammal Science 25(2), 441-449.

Arnould, J. P. Y. and Kirkwood, R. (2008). Habitat selection in a benthic diver: the foraging areas of female Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus). Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Systems 17,S53-S67.

Kirkwood, R., Hume, F. and Hindell, M. (2008). Sea temperature variations mediate annual changes in the diet of Australian fur seals in Bass Strait. Marine Ecology Progress Series 369,297-309.

Kirkwood, R., Lawton, K., Moreno, C., Valencia, J., Schlatter, R. and Robertson, G. (2007). Estimates of Southern Rockhopper and Macaroni Penguin numbers at the Ildefonso and Diego Ramírez Archipelagos, Chile, using quadrat and distance-sampling techniques. Waterbirds 30,258-267.

McLean, S., Brandon, S. and Kirkwood, R. (2007). Stability of cabergoline in fox baits during laboratory and field trials. Wildlife Research 34, 239-246.


Recent collaborators

A/Prof. John Arnould               Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University

Dr Oliver Berry                        Invasive Animals CRC, University of Western Australia

Dr Bruce Deagle                     Aust. Marine Mammal Centre, Aust. Antarctic Division, Tas.

Dr Rosemary Gales                 Marine Section, DPIPWE, Tasmania

A/Prof Simon Goldsworthy      SARDI, South Australia

Prof. Mark Hindell                   School of Zoology, University of Tasmania

Andrew Hoskins                      Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University

Fiona Hume                             Visiting Fellow from Tasmania

Dr Melanie Lancaster             Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide

Dr Murray Logan                    Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne

Dr Michael Lynch                    Veterinary Dept., Zoos Victoria, Melbourne

Prof. Stuart McLean                Pharmacy, University of Tasmania

Tony Mitchell                          Dept. of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria

Dr David Pemberton               Threatened Species Section, DPIPWE, Tasmania

Dr Graham Robertson             Australian Antarctic Division, Tasmania

Dr Peter Shaughnessy            South Australian Museum

Robert Warneke                      Blackwood Lodge, Tasmania