Senior Fellow

Phone: +61 (0)2 612 52100
Fax: + 61 (0)2 6125 0746
E-mail: Robert.Heinsohn@anu.edu.au

My research interests lie in the conservation biology and evolutionary ecology of vertebrates. I have completed three long term field projects including the behavioural ecology of intensely social white-winged choughs (1985-present), cooperation and cheating in lions (1990-1995), and the evolutionary ecology of reverse dichromatism in Eclectus parrots (1997-present). My long term studies on large endangered parrots on Cape York Peninsula investigate their social organisation, availability of nest hollows, and the evolution of their unusual plumage colours. Increasingly, I am directing my research at the landscape level as I seek to identify the broad-scale processes shaping social evolution and the interactions between humans and wildlife. My most recent ARC funded project investigates the migratory movements of birds between Australia and its northern neighbours. Understanding our "northern connections" has important conservation implications and provides knowledge of the likelihood of transmission of pathogens such as avian influenza.

See more research details at: http://people.anu.edu.au/robert.heinsohn

Professional Activities

Conservation biology and landscape ecology of endangered vertebrates, including large parrots, green pythons and migratory birds.

Academic Highlights

I have had five of my PhD students complete their theses in 2006/07, and I also completed my long term ARC-funded project on Cape York parrots. In 2007 I commenced a new ARC Linkage project investigating the biological connections with our northern neighbours (PNG, Indonesia) brought about by migrating birds. The project entails fieldwork in PNG, Timor, and northern Australia to track migrating ducks using satellite telemetry and determine the connectedness of populations using genetic techniques.

Selected Publications

Wilson DW, Heinsohn R (2007) Geographic range, population structure and conservation status of the green python (Morelia viridis), a popular snake in the captive pet trade. Australian Journal of Zoology. 55: 147-154

Gardner J, Heinsohn R (2007) Probable consequences of high female mortality for speckled warblers living in habitat remnants. Biological Conservation 135: 489-499

Wilson D, Endler JA, Heinsohn R (2007) The adaptive significance of ontogenetic colour change in a tropical python. Biology Letters 3: 40-43

Wilson D, Heinsohn R, Wood J (2006) Life-history traits and ontogenetic colour change in an arboreal tropical python, Morelia viridis. Journal of Zoology (London) 270 (3): 399-407

Starling M, Heinsohn R, Cockburn A, Langmore NE (2006) Cryptic gentes revealed in pallid cuckoos Cuculus pallidus using reflectance spectrophotometry. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B (London) 273 (1596): 1929-1934 pdf

Heinsohn, R. Legge. S. Endler, J. (2005) Extreme Reversed Sexual Dichromatism in a Bird Without Sex Role Reversal. Science 309: 617-619