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Jo-Monks

Email jo.monks@otago.ac.nz

Tel +64 27 408 3337

ResearchGate profile

Google Scholar profile

Teaching

Research Interests

I'm a conservation biologist working on a range of applied ecological issues. My background is in herpetology (the study of reptiles and amphibians) and behavioural ecology, but I now work on a range of terrestrial fauna, including bats, birds and invertebrates.

My major projects at present involve:

  • Research to support conservation management in alpine ecosystems (birds, lizards and invertebrates)
  • Understanding the impacts of invasive predators, particularly mice and wasps, on native lizards and large-bodied invertebrates and how to sustainably suppress these predators to benefit terrestrial biodiversity
  • Understanding the impacts of climate change on native terrestrial fauna to inform conservation strategy
  • Developing and validating monitoring techniques for cryptic taxa

Current Students

  • Aaron Bertoia, PhD: The influence of introduced mammalian predators on alpine invertebrate communities
  • Scott Bourke, MSc: Predicting distribution of lizards in Tū Te Rakiwhānoa Drylands
  • Carey Knox, PhD:  Developing and testing drones for surveying lizards in inaccessible terrain
  • Zohara Rafi, PhD: Novel bioacoustic tools for conservation
  • Brodie Abel, MSc: Impacts of vespulid wasps on forest ringlet butterflies
  • Pearl Barry, MSc: Ecology and translocation of green skinks
  • Finn Brittenden, MSc: Impacts of invasive mice on native invertebrates
  • Lachlan Davidge, MSc: Evaluating the efficacy of drones as a survey tool for alpine lizards
  • Katie Gray, MSc: Ecology and movement patterns of banded dotterels and black-fronted terns in Tū Te Rakiwhānoa Drylands
  • Clare Gunton, MSc: Ecology of alpine weka and interactions with translocated Sinbad skinks
  • Shar Mathias, MSc: Mouse impacts on alpine invertebrate communities
  • Manaia Pearmain-Fenton, MSc: Conservation ecology of kakaruai – the role of sanctuaries
  • Tōrea Scott-Fyfe, MSc: Microhabitat use by terrestrial invertebrates and lizards in the New Zealand alpine zone
  • Oscar Thomas, MSc: Movement patterns and genetics of southern New Zealand dotterels
  • Harriet Wills, MSc: Ecology and habitat use of northern striped geckos
  • Arti Wilmshurst, MSc: The impacts of invasive vespulid wasps on native geckos
  • Anna Zrinyi-Morgan, MSc: Distribution and microhabitat use of alpine lizards in Kahurangi National Park

Former Students

  • Samuel Purdie, MSc: Understanding habitat use and optimising monitoring methods for alpine geckos in New Zealand

Publications

Davidge, L. R., Knox, C. D., & Monks, J. M. (2024). Flying towards the future: Using drones to detect lizards in remote alpine terrain. Drones, 8, 79. doi: 10.3390/drones8030079 Journal - Research Article

Monks, J., McAulay, J., Foster, N., Bertoia, A., & Sidaway, K. (2023). Evidence of predation by mammals on alpine lizards in Aotearoa New Zealand. In D. J. Wilson & J. M. Monks (Eds.), Recent developments in research on the herpetofauna of Aotearoa New Zealand: Proceedings of the 18th Biennial Conference of the Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand (SRARNZ) 2021: DOC Research and Development Series 369. 2.16. Retrieved from https://www.doc.govt.nz/about-us/science-publications/series/doc-research-and-development-series Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Knox, C., & Monks, J. (2023). Survey, taxonomy and research on four newly discovered lizard taxa in Oteake Conservation Park, Otago: Progress and future directions. In D. J. Wilson & J. M. Monks (Eds.), Recent developments in research on the herpetofauna of Aotearoa New Zealand: Proceedings of the 18th Biennial Conference of the Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand (SRARNZ) 2021: DOC Research and Development Series 369. 2.11. Retrieved from https://www.doc.govt.nz/about-us/science-publications/series/doc-research-and-development-series Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Chukwuka, C., Monks, J., & Cree, A. (2023). Life on the edge: A cold-adapted lizard active at near-freezing temperatures. In D. J. Wilson & J. M. Monks (Eds.), Recent developments in research on the herpetofauna of Aotearoa New Zealand: Proceedings of the 18th Biennial Conference of the Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand (SRARNZ) 2021: DOC Research and Development Series 369. 2.6. Retrieved from https://www.doc.govt.nz/about-us/science-publications/series/doc-research-and-development-series Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Bertoia, A., Cree, A., & Monks, J. (2023). Surface activity of diurnal skinks (Oligosoma spp.) in a remote alpine habitat. In D. J. Wilson & J. M. Monks (Eds.), Recent developments in research on the herpetofauna of Aotearoa New Zealand: Proceedings of the 18th Biennial Conference of the Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand (SRARNZ) 2021: DOC Research and Development Series 369. 2.3. Retrieved from https://www.doc.govt.nz/about-us/science-publications/series/doc-research-and-development-series Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

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