Doctor Ricky Spencer
ACADEMIC COURSE ADVISOR, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, ZOOLOGY, ENVIROONMENTAL SCIENCE),
Natural Science (SoSH)
SENIOR LECTURER,
Natural Science (SoSH)
Personal
Qualifications
- PhD University of Sydney
- BSc University of Sydney
UWS Organisational Unit (School / Division)
- Natural Science (SoSH)
- Natural Science (SoSH)
Contact
| Email: | R.Spencer@uws.edu.au |
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| Extension: | 1962 |
| Mobile: | |
| Location: | M15.G.17 Hawkesbury |
| Website: |
Biography
Dr Ricky Spencer is a new staff member to UWS, having begun as a Lecturer in Biological Sciences in December 2007. Ricky is a founding member of the Native and Pest Animal Unit in the School of Natural Sciences. Prior to beginning at UWS, Ricky was a Senior Research Scientist for a private company within the Invasive Animals CRC, conducting research and development as part of a $3.18 million project to develop new vertebrate pest control methodologies, specifically using PAPP. Much of this work was commercial-in-confidence and will be published in the future. Ricky completed his PhD in 2001 and has produced many scientific publications in refereed international journals since that time. Ricky was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Qld (Fire Ecology on Fraser Island- Prof. Hugh Possingham-advisor); Iowa State University (Temperature dependent Sex Determination in turtles (TSD)- Prof. Fred Janzen-advisor) and his PhD research investigated the impact of foxes on freshwater turtle populations of the Murray River (University of Sydney- Prof. Mike Thompson- supervisor). Ricky has spent 13 years actively working on vertebrate pests and is a member of the Invasive Animals CRC.
This information has been contributed by Doctor Spencer.
Publications
Journal Articles
- McGlashan, J., Spencer, R. and Old, J. (2012), 'Embryonic communication in the nest: metabolic responses of reptilian embryos to developmental rates of siblings', Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 7.
- Spencer, R., Spencer, R. and Mcglashan, J. (2012), 'Egg Communication and Adaptive Behaviour During Incubation', Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences, 7.
- Pascoe, J., Mulley, R., Pascoe, J., Mulley, R., Spencer, R. and Chapple, R. (2012), 'Diet analysis of mammals, raptors and reptiles in a complex predator assemblage in the Blue Mountains, eastern Australia.', Australian Journal of Zoology, 7.
- Spencer, R. and Spencer, R. (2012), 'Embryonic heart rate and hatching behavior of a solitary nesting turtle', Journal of Zoology, 6.
- McGlashan, J., Spencer, R. and Old, J. (2012), 'Embryonic communication in the nest : metabolic responses of reptilian embryos to developmental rates of siblings', Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 7.
- Spencer, R. (2012), 'Embryonic heart rate and hatching behavior of a solitary nesting turtle', Journal of Zoology, 6.
- Old, J. and Spencer, R. (2011), 'Development of online learning activities to enhance student knowledge of animal behaviour prior to engaging in live animal handling practical sessions', Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 12.
- Georges, A., Spencer, R., Welsh, M., Shaffer, H., Walsh, R. and Zhang, X. (2011), 'Application of the precautionary principle to taxa of uncertain status: The case of the Bellinger River turtle', Endangered Species Research, 8.
- Spencer, R., Spencer, R. and Janzen, F. (2011), 'Hatching Behavior in Turtles', Integrative and Comparative Biology, 11.
- Pascoe, J., Mulley, R., Spencer, R. and Chapple, R. (2011), 'Diet analysis of mammals, raptors and reptiles in a complex predator assemblage in the Blue Mountains, eastern Australia', Australian Journal of Zoology, 7.
- Colbert, P., Spencer, R. and Janzen, F. (2010), 'Mechanism and cost of synchronous hatching', Functional Ecology, 10.
- Schwanz, L., Spencer, R., Bowden, R. and Janzen, F. (2010), 'Climate and predation dominate juvenile and adult recruitment in a turtle with temperature-dependent sex determination', Ecology, 11.
- Spencer, R. and Janzen, F. (2010), 'Demographic consequences of adaptive growth and the ramifications for conservation of long-lived organisms', Biological Conservation, 9.
- Schwanz, L., Bowden, R., Spencer, R. and Janzen, F. (2009), 'Nesting ecology and offspring recruitment in a long-lived turtle: Ecological Archives E090-119', Ecology, 1.
- Spencer, R. and Baxter, G. (2006), 'Effects of fire on the structure and composition of open eucalypt forests', Austral Ecology, 9.
- Spencer, R., Janzen, F. and Thompson, M. (2006), 'Counterintuitive density-dependent growth in a long-lived vertebrate after removal of nest predators', Ecology, 10.
- Spencer, R. and Thompson, M. (2005), 'Experimental analysis of the impact of foxes on freshwater turtle populations', Conservation Biology, 10.
- Fuller, S., Bull, C., Murray, K. and Spencer, R. (2005), 'Clustering of related individuals in a population of the Australian lizard, Egernia frerei.', Molecular Ecology, 7.
- Spencer, R., Cavanough, V., Baxter, J. and Kennedy, M. (2005), 'Adult free zones in small mammal populations: Response of Australian native rodents to reduced cover', Austral Ecology, 9.
- Blamires, S., Spencer, R., King, P. and Thompson, M. (2005), 'Population parameters and life-table analysis of two coexisting freshwater turtles: Are the Bellinger River turtle populations threatened?', Wildlife Research, 9.
- Bowen, K., Spencer, R. and Janzen, F. (2005), 'A comparative study of environmental factors that affect nesting in Australian and North American freshwater turtles', Journal of Zoology, 8.
- Spencer, R. and Thompson, M. (2003), 'The significance of predation in nest site selection of turtles: An experimental consideration of macro- and microhabitat preferences', Oikos, 9.
- Kennedy, M., Spencer, R. and Baxter, G. (2003), 'Using small mammals to test ecological processes driving population and community processes after fire in a nutrient poor environment', Integrative and Comparative Biology, 1.
- Spencer, R. and Clark, W. (2003), 'Testing a theoretical model of nest site selection in turtles and water birds.', Integrative and Comparative Biology, .
- Spencer, R. and Janzen, F. (2003), 'Ecology and evolution of TSD in turtles: the value of long-term research and the effects of climate change', Integrative and Comparative Biology, .
- Spencer, R. (2002), 'Experimentally testing nest site selection: Fitness trade-offs and predation risk in turtles', Ecology, 9.
- Spencer, R. (2002), 'Growth patterns of two widely distributed freshwater turtles and a comparison of common methods used to estimate age', Australian Journal of Zoology, 14.
- Spencer, R., Thompson, M. and Banks, P. (2001), 'Hatch or wait? A dilemma in reptilian incubation', Oikos, 6.
Research
Current Projects
| Title: | Contract 2012053 - Freshwater turtle monitoring in the Gunbower Lagoons [via The Arthur Rylah Institute - Dept of Sustainability and Environment VIC] |
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| Years: | 2012-12-03 - 2013-12-31 |
| ID: | P00021349 |
| UWS Researchers: | Ricky Spencer |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | Wolgan Valley Biodiversity |
| Years: | 2008-09-09 - 2013-12-31 |
| ID: | P00016359 |
| UWS Researchers: | Julie Old, Ricky Spencer and Jack Wolfenden |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | Assessing distribution, abundance and habitat preferences of feral Indian Mynas in an urban landscape |
| Years: | 2008-11-27 - 2016-09-30 |
| ID: | P00016468 |
| UWS Researchers: | Ricky Spencer and Julie Old |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | Immunoecology of Manorina honeyeaters: effects of landscape, range size, and extinction risk |
| Years: | 2012-10-24 - 2013-11-24 |
| ID: | P00021104 |
| UWS Researchers: | Brianne Addison and Ricky Spencer |
| Funding: |
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Previous Projects
| Title: | Assessing the impact of foxes on ground nesting shorebirds using new technologies |
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| Years: | 2009-06-23 - 2011-06-22 |
| ID: | P00016663 |
| UWS Researchers: | Ricky Spencer and Jack Wolfenden |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | Developing Innovative Cost-Saving Fox Control Technologies at the Western Treatment Plant |
| Years: | 2009-11-02 - 2011-12-30 |
| ID: | P00017668 |
| UWS Researchers: | Ricky Spencer |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | New Technology for Management of Fox Impacts on Agriculture [via Pestat Pty Ltd] |
| Years: | 2009-12-05 - 2011-12-30 |
| ID: | P00017670 |
| UWS Researchers: | Ricky Spencer |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | Eco-Toxicogenomics to Save the Dingo |
| Years: | 2008-12-18 - 2010-12-28 |
| ID: | P00016496 |
| UWS Researchers: | Ricky Spencer |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | Taxonomy of the Bellinger River Emydura |
| Years: | 2008-07-04 - 2012-10-31 |
| ID: | P00016220 |
| UWS Researchers: | Ricky Spencer |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | Identification of key sites for protection and habitat enhancement for the endangered Bush Stone-curlew |
| Years: | 2010-03-31 - 2011-08-31 |
| ID: | P00018055 |
| UWS Researchers: | Julie Old, Ricky Spencer and Jack Wolfenden |
| Funding: |
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| Title: | Assessing the distribution and impact of Indian Mynas in Wollongong LGA |
| Years: | 2011-11-14 - 2012-07-31 |
| ID: | P00020639 |
| UWS Researchers: | Ricky Spencer and Julie Old |
| Funding: |
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Supervision
Current Supervision
| Title: | Life History Evolution of Long and Short Lived Organisms. |
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| Field of Research: | |
| Title: | Identification of Key Sites and Habitat Preferences of the Endangered Bush Stone-curlew in the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Area |
| Field of Research: | |
| Title: | Success of Social Behaviour of the Bush Rat (Rattus Fucipes) After Translocation |
| Field of Research: |
