Email alison.cree@otago.ac.nz
Phone 64-3-479-7980
Research Interests
- Reproduction of reptiles in cold climates
- Thermal biology and climate change
- Environmental and evolutionary influences on gestation length
- Sex determination and sexual differentiation
- Conservation of New Zealand reptiles
Current Projects
- Reintroduction of tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) to the cool climate of Orokonui Ecosanctuary in Otago
- Thermal ecology of a viviparous, nocturnal gecko (Mokopirirakau) in the alpine zone of southern Aotearoa NZ
- Relationships between reproductive frequency and changing climate in a viviparous gecko (Woodworthia) from Otago's subalpine zone
Recent Research students
- Christian Chukwuka: Microhabitat use by the nocturnal, cool-climate gecko Woodworthia "Otago/Southland" in the context of global climate change (PhD 2020, co-supervised Dr Jo Monks, Department of Conservation)
- Aaron Bertoia: Thermal ecology of an alpine gecko: implications for management (MSc 2019, co-supervised by Dr Jo Monks, Department of Conservation)
- Jemima Gardiner-Rodden: Nesting ecology and behaviour of tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) at Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary (MSc 2019, co-supervised by Prof Nicola Nelson, Victoria University of Wellington and Dr Stephanie Godfrey, University of Otago)
Alison Cree (left) and Jade Christiansen after witnessing tuatara hatching at Orokonui Ecosanctuary in 2021.
Jade (Ngāpuhi, Samoa) was a previous holder of a Te Ngaru Paewhenua: Māori and Pacific Science Summer Studentship with Alison's group. For more information, see https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago826220.html
Keywords
climate change, conservation, ecophysiology, herpetology, lizard, reproduction, thermal biology, tuatara