I have a four-year Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture (U of Kentucky), a Ph.D. in Biology (U of Miami), and a Masters of Business Administration (U of Pau). As a wildlife ecologist, I study the ecology and interactions of many animals and plants, but I have a special interest in pollination ecology, particularly when it involves bats. I love adventure and exploration, and what a treat to have hard-working, ethical, and humourous research students with whom to share discoveries! Nature conservation is my priority and that of my research students.
I am an associate researcher at NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, CARMABI (Curaçao), the Caribbean Footprint Foundation, and Kangaroo Island Research Station.
About me
I have a four-year Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture (U of Kentucky), a Ph.D. in Biology (U of Miami), and a Masters of Business Administration (U of Pau). As a wildlife ecologist, I study the ecology and interactions of many animals and plants, but I have a special interest in pollination ecology, particularly when it involves bats. I love adventure and exploration, and what a treat to have hard-working, ethical, and humourous research students with whom to share discoveries! Nature conservation is my priority and that of my research students.
I am an associate researcher at NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, CARMABI (Curaçao), the Caribbean Footprint Foundation, and Kangaroo Island Research Station.
I am interested in biodiversity conservation and management, wildlife ecology, plant-animal interactions (especially flower visitation and pollination by bats, pygmy-possums, and native invertebrates), environmental management, ethics and animals, shelter ecology, nectar ecology, keystone mutualisms.
Google Scholar:
https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=c-h5SP8AAAAJ&hl=en
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Survey of the bats of Kangaroo Island, The Field Naturalist Society of South Australia, 01/01/2020 - 28/02/2021
Unique pollination system of an important rainforest tree involving obligate manipulation by bats, Australia & Pacific Science Foundation Pty Ltd, 01/07/2016 - 30/06/2019
The role of plastics and metal contaminants in the failure of short-tailed shearwater juvenile migration, The Field Naturalist Society of South Australia, 23/02/2018 - 28/02/2019
Population dynamics & conservation of Caladenia behrii, Australian Orchid Foundation, 05/11/2009 - 31/12/2017
Cracking Clays - Nature Foundation, SA Dept for Environment & Heritage, 19/08/2008 - 31/12/2016
Cracking clays and biodiversity, Hermon Slade Foundation, 17/05/2008 - 31/12/2016
Cracking clays - holsworth, ANZ Trustees Foundation - Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, 27/05/2008 - 31/12/2016
Nectar prodcution of Eucalyptus rugosa and significance to animals, The Field Naturalist Society of South Australia, 05/02/2009 - 31/12/2016
Research
Research since 2008 is shown below. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2018 |
Open access
4
3
10
|
| 2017 |
6
6
|
| 2017 |
5
5
6
|
| 2014 |
15
14
|
| 2012 |
Open access
12
12
1
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2019 |
125
|
| 2019 |
1
|
| 2019 |
1
1
5
|
| 2018 |
Open access
4
3
10
|
| 2017 |
6
6
|
| 2017 |
Open access
9
8
2
|
| 2017 |
5
5
6
|
| 2016 |
|
| 2015 |
Open access
2
2
|
| 2015 |
|
| 2015 |
4
|
| 2015 |
|
| 2015 |
5
5
3
|
| 2015 |
11
10
6
|
| 2014 |
|
| 2014 |
|
| 2014 |
Petit, T 2014, 'Western pygmy-possums - Australian bush survivors', pp. 6-10. |
| 2014 |
Open access
4
4
1
|
| 2014 |
15
14
|
| 2013 |
|
| 2013 |
Open access
5
4
1
|
| 2013 |
10
7
|
| 2013 |
|
| 2013 |
6
6
|
| 2013 |
9
8
2
|
| 2012 |
|
| 2012 |
Open access
12
12
1
|
| 2012 |
14
13
1
|
| 2012 |
14
15
|
| 2012 |
1
1
|
| 2012 |
13
13
|
| 2011 |
9
|
| 2011 |
Petit, S 2011, 'Bataille pour sauver les cactus de Curacao', Terra Seca, no. 1, pp. 32-39. |
| 2011 |
8
8
|
| 2011 |
7
7
|
| 2011 |
|
| 2010 |
21
18
|
| 2009 |
Open access
35
31
|
| 2009 |
|
| 2009 |
|
| 2009 |
10
4
|
| 2008 |
|
| 2008 |
|
| 2008 |
23
|
| 2008 |
28
25
|
| 2008 |
5
5
|
Research
I am interested in biodiversity conservation and management, wildlife ecology, plant-animal interactions (especially flower visitation and pollination by bats, pygmy-possums, and native invertebrates), environmental management, ethics and animals, shelter ecology, nectar ecology, keystone mutualisms.
Google Scholar:
https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=c-h5SP8AAAAJ&hl=en
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Adelaide Zoo | AUSTRALIA |
| Botanic Gardens & Parks Authority | AUSTRALIA |
| CARMABI | CURACAO |
| Charles Sturt University | AUSTRALIA |
| Department for Environment and Heritage | AUSTRALIA |
| Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources | AUSTRALIA |
| Kangaroo Island Research Station | AUSTRALIA |
| Kyoto University | JAPAN |
| Murdoch University | AUSTRALIA |
| Private Individual | AUSTRALIA |
| South Australian Museum | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Miami | UNITED STATES |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of the South Pacific | SOLOMON ISLANDS |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
MemberAustralasian Bat Society |
2017 |
MemberAmerican Society of Mammalogists |
2017 |
MemberAustralian Mammal Society |
2017 |
MemberBiological Society of South Australia |
2017 |
MemberField Naturalists Society, South Australia |
2017 |
MemberFungal Studies Group |
2017 |
MemberEcological Society of Australia |
2017 |
MemberBat Conservation International |
2017 |
My research students and I have had great field adventures. I work with ethical and dedicated researchers who are very smart and a lot of fun.
My favourite undergraduate course to teach is wildlife ecology. Unfortunately, it is not running at the moment and I am no longer teaching conservation biology. However, I still teach ecology, restoration ecology, and research methods (environmental analytical methods). I enjoy teaching students who work hard and are keen to learn and engage.
Here is what a lovely student wrote about my teaching environmental analytical methods: "Topa went to great lengths in order to make this course as interesting and relevant as possible, which I really enjoyed and appreciate. I admire her passion, which has strengthened my interest in learning about and pursuing a career in science, including the importance of critical thinking and analysing statistics in the real world. I found all of Topa's lectures very engaging, interesting and thorough. This has been my favourite course so far and has inspired me to think about potentially going into the research field in the future. Thank you Topa!"
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| The role of native pollinators and vegetation as drivers of agricultural productivity in the context of resource scarcity | Current |
| Direct seeding for the restoration of vascular plants and re-establishment of macro-invertebrates on vacant arid agricultural land, Port Wakefield, South Australia | Completed |
| Effects of cattle grazing on the biodiversity of cracking-clay gibber-gilgai systems in the arid South Australian rangelands | Completed |
| Seed biology and germination requirements of Brachyscome species in South Australia | Completed |
| The role and conservation of bats in Fiji's rainforest | Completed |
