I am a conservation ecologist with a broad interest in biological invasions and community assembly. I conduct research on overabundant native and exotic species to answer questions related to how these species became so successful and what the consequences are of this success. I am particularly interested in understanding how invasive species interact to create novel communities. I completed my Ph.D research on Christmas Island (La Trobe University) where I investigated how mutualism between invaders (ant-scale) indirectly facilitated previously unsuccessful exotic species to establish (land snails) by altering the properties of the rainforest community (deletion of a crab) – a process called ‘secondary invasion’. I continue to conduct research on Christmas Island, including being involved in the release of a new biological control agent on the island. I have recently started a postdoctoral position within the surrogate ecology group at the ANU (supervised by Prof. David Lindenmayer) where I am investigating how to identify the best indicators of the ‘real’ ecological impacts of overabundant species.
CONTACT
Please feel free to contact me if you’re interested in my research, science communication, have any questions, or ideas for further research.
Luke S O’Loughlin Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia 0200luke.oloughlin@anu.edu.au
+61 261 251 495 // +61 467 639 737
