James Baxter-Gilbert

The central focus of my research examines the impact anthropogenic landscapes and actions have on herpetofauna. Much of my research draws on a diverse set of biological fields, including behavioural ecology, conservations sciences, evolutionary ecology, and physiology, to understand how wildlife are impacted by the Anthropocene, as well as how they are responding to the challenges it presents. I completed my BSc (Biology), GDip (Science Communication), and MSc (Biology) at Laurentian University, and completed my PhD (Biological Sciences) at Macquarie University. My MSc research focused on empirically testing the effectiveness of mitigation structure’s ability to protect imperilled reptile populations, as well as testing for negative secondary impacts of populations living alongside highways. My PhD research examined how urbanisation can drive behavioural, morphological, and physiological changes in Australian Water Dragons (Intellagama lesueurii). I am currently a DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology Postdoctoral Fellow at Stellenbosch University studying how biological invasions have phenotypically altered populations of Guttural Toad (Sclerophrys gutturalis) and how these changes may promote their invasion success, as well as how these toads are impacting the ecosystems they invade.