Dr Sean FitzGibbon
Research Fellow & Research Fellow
School of the Environment
+61 7 336 51670
Journal Articles
Arkinstall, Cassandra M., FitzGibbon, Sean I., Coulter, Brianna, Moseby, Katherine E. and Murray, Peter J. (2024). Investigating the effects of landscape productivity on the spatial ecology of a threatened marsupial inside feral predator exclosures. Austral Ecology, 49 (7) e13566. doi: 10.1111/aec.13566
Edwards, M. C., Hoy, J. M., FitzGibbon, S. I. and Murray, P. J. (2024). Whose scat is that? Determining recognition of predator scat by Australian mammals. Australian Mammalogy, 46 (2) AM23050, 1-5. doi: 10.1071/am23050
Edwards, M. C., Hoy, J. M., FitzGibbon, S. I. and Murray, P. J. (2024). The reaction of wild-caught northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus) to predators. Australian Mammalogy, 46 (1) AM23001. doi: 10.1071/am23001
Arkinstall, Cassandra M., FitzGibbon, Sean I., Bradley, Kevin J., Moseby, Katherine E. and Murray, Peter J. (2024). High survivorship and rapid population growth of the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) reintroduced to a feral predator exclosure. Wildlife Research, 51 (1) ARTN WR23076, NULL. doi: 10.1071/wr23076
Arkinstall, Cassandra M., FitzGibbon, Sean I., Bradley, Kevin J., Moseby, Katherine E. and Murray, Peter J. (2023). Using microchip-reading antennas to passively monitor a mammal reintroduction in south-west Queensland. Australian Mammalogy, 45 (1), 98-107. doi: 10.1071/am22005
Ellis, W., Melzer, A., FitzGibbon, S., Hulse, L., Gillett, A. and Barth, B. (2022). Koalas of the Clarke Connors Range. Australian Mammalogy, 45 (2), 160-170. doi: 10.1071/am22026
Edwards, Megan C., Hoy, Julia M., FitzGibbon, Sean I. and Murray, Peter J. (2021). Relaxed predation theory: size, sex and brains matter. Biological Reviews, 96 (1) brv.12611, 153-161. doi: 10.1111/brv.12611
Richardson, Allie, FitzGibbon, Sean, Barth, Benjamin, Gillett, Amber and Ellis, William (2021). Application of low-power wide-area network GPS to koala monitoring. Australian Mammalogy, 44 (2), 287-290. doi: 10.1071/AM21001
Edwards, Megan C., Ford, Caitlin, Hoy, Julia M., FitzGibbon, Sean and Murray, Peter J. (2021). How to train your wildlife: a review of predator avoidance training. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 234 105170, 105170. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105170
Edwards, Megan C., Hoy, Julia M., FitzGibbon, Sean I. and Murray, Peter J. (2020). Monitoring with microchips: microchip‐automated doors as a potential novel method for tracking the survival of released Northern Brown Bandicoots. Ecological Management and Restoration, 21 (3) emr.12434, 254-256. doi: 10.1111/emr.12434
Adam, D., Johnston, S. D., Beard, L., Nicolson, V., Gaughan, J. B., Lisle, A. T., FitzGibbon, S., Barth, B. J., Gillett, A., Grigg, G. and Ellis, W. (2020). Body temperature of free-ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in south-east Queensland. International Journal of Biometeorology, 64 (8), 1305-1318. doi: 10.1007/s00484-020-01907-y
Barth, Benjamin J., Fitzgibbon, Sean I., Gillett, Amber, Wilson, Robbie S., Moffitt, Beth, Pye, Geoffrey W., Adam, Dalene, Preece, Harriet and Ellis, William A. (2020). Scattered paddock trees and roadside vegetation can provide important habitat for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in an agricultural landscape. Australian Mammalogy, 42 (2), 194-203. doi: 10.1071/AM18031
Edwards, M. C., Hoy, J. M., FitzGibbon, S. I. and Murray, P. J. (2020). Bandicoot bunkers: training wild-caught northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus) to use microchip-automated safe refuge. Wildlife Research, 47 (3), 239-243. doi: 10.1071/wr19151
Hulse, Lyndal S., Beagley, Kenneth, Ellis, William, Fitzgibbon, Sean, Gillett, Amber, Barth, Ben, Robbins, Amy, Pyne, Michael, Larkin, Rebecca and Johnston, Stephen D. (2020). Epidemiology of chlamydia-induced reproductive disease in male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) from Southeast Queensland, Australia as assessed from penile urethral swabs and semen. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 56 (1) 2019-03-062, 82-92. doi: 10.7589/2019-03-062
Edwards, M. C., Hoy, J. M., Fitzgibbon, S. and Murray, P. J. (2019). Training a wild-born marsupial to use microchip-automated devices: The brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) as proof of concept. Australian Mammalogy, 41 (2), 279-282. doi: 10.1071/AM18017
Adam, D., Beard, L., Johnston, S. D., Nicolson, V., Lisle, A., McKinnon, A., Larkin, R., Theilemann, P., Gillett, A., Brackin, K., FitzGibbon, S., Barth, B. and Ellis, W. (2018). Recording body temperature in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus): a comparison of techniques. Australian Veterinary Journal, 96 (8), 308-311. doi: 10.1111/avj.12719
Burnard, Delaney, Huston, Wilhelmina M., Webb, Jonathan K., Jelocnik, Martina, Reiss, Andrea, Gillett, Amber, Fitzgibbon, Sean, Carver, Scott, Carrucan, Janine, Flanagan, Cheyne, Timms, Peter and Polkinghorne, Adam (2017). Molecular evidence of Chlamydia pecorum and arthropod-associated Chlamydiae in an expanded range of marsupials. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 12844, 12844. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-13164-y
Dennison, S., Frankham, G. J., Neaves, L. E., Flanagan, C., FitzGibbon, S., Eldridge, M. D. B. and Johnson, R. N. (2017). Population genetics of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) in north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. Australian Journal of Zoology, 64 (6), 402-412. doi: 10.1071/ZO16081
Fitzgibbon, Sean I. , Gillett, Amber K. , Barth, Ben J. , Taylor, Brendan and Ellis, William A. (2017). Do koalas really get the blues? Critique of 'Aversive behaviour by koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) during the course of a music festival in northern New South Wales, Australia'. Australian Mammalogy, 39 (1), 108-112. doi: 10.1071/AM16016
Ellis, William A., FitzGibbon, Sean I., Barth, Benjamin J., Niehaus, Amanda C., David, Gwendolyn K., Taylor, Brendan D., Matsushige, Helena, Melzer, Alistair, Bercovitch, Fred B., Carrick, Frank, Jones, Darryl N., Dexter, Cathryn, Gillett, Amber, Predavec, Martin, Lunney, Dan and Wilson, Robbie S. (2016). Daylight saving time can decrease the frequency of wildlife-vehicle collisions. Biology Letters, 12 (11). doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0632
Neaves, Linda E., Frankham, Greta J., Dennison, Siobhan, FitzGibbon, Sean, Flannagan, Cheyne, Gillett, Amber, Hynes, Emily, Handasyde, Kathrine, Helgen, Kristofer M., Tsangaras, Kyriakos, Greenwood, Alex D., Eldridge, Mark D. B. and Johnson, Rebecca N. (2016). Phylogeography of the Koala, (Phascolarctos cinereus), and Harmonising Data to Inform Conservation. PLoS One, 11 (9) e0162207, e0162207. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162207
Kjeldsen, Shannon R., Zenger, Kyall R., Leigh, Kellie, Ellis, William, Tobey, Jenifer, Phalen, David, Melzer, Alistair, FitzGibbon, Sean and Raadsma, Herman W. (2015). Genome-wide SNP loci reveal novel insights into koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) population variability across its range. Conservation Genetics, 17 (2), 337-353. doi: 10.1007/s10592-015-0784-3
FitzGibbon, Sean I. (2015). Reproductive ecology of the northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus) in habitat fragments of urban Brisbane. Australian Mammalogy, 37 (2), 253-259. doi: 10.1071/AM14032
Ellis, William, FitzGibbon, Sean, Pye, Geoff, Whipple, Bill, Barth, Ben, Johnston, Stephen, Seddon, Jenny, Melzer, Alistair, Higgins, Damien and Bercovitch, Fred (2015). The role of bioacoustic signals in koala sexual selection: Insights from seasonal patterns of associations revealed with GPSProximity units. PLoS ONE, 10 (7) e0130657, e0130657. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130657
Barth, Benjamin James, FitzGibbon, Sean Ian and Wilson, Robbie Stuart (2015). New urban developments that retain more remnant trees have greater bird diversity. Landscape and Urban Planning, 136, 122-129. doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.11.003
Melzer, Alistair, Cristescu, Romane, Ellis, William, FitzGibbon, Sean and Manno, Gabriella (2014). The habitat and diet of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in Queensland. Australian Mammalogy, 36 (2), 189-199. doi: 10.1071/AM13032
Kollipara, Avinash, Polkinghorne, Adam, Wan, Charles, Kanyoka, Pride, Hanger, Jon, Loader, Joanne, Callaghan, John, Bell, Alicia, Ellis, William, Fitzgibbon, Sean, Melzer, Alistar, Beagley, Kenneth and Timms, Peter (2013). Genetic diversity of Chlamydia pecorum strains in wild koala locations across Australia and the implications for a recombinant C. pecorum major outer membrane protein based vaccine. Veterinary Microbiology, 167 (3-4), 513-522. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.08.009
Ellis, William, FitzGibbon, Sean, Melzer, Alistair, Wilson, Robbie, Johnston, Steve, Berkovitch, Fred, Dique, David and Carrick, Frank (2013). Koala habitat use and population density: using field data to test the assumptions of ecological models. Australian Mammalogy, 35 (2), 160-165. doi: 10.1071/AM12023
Matthews, Alison, Ruykys, Laura, Ellis, Bill, FitzGibbon, Sean, Lunney, Daniel, Crowther, Mathew S., Glen, Alistair S., Purcell, Brad, Moseby, Katherine, Stott, Jenny, Fletcher, Don, Wimpenny, Claire, Allen, Benjamin L., Van Bommel, Linda, Roberts, Michael, Davies, Nicole, Green, Ken, Newsome, Thomas, Ballard, Guy, Fleming, Peter, Dickman, Christopher R., Eberhart, Achim, Troy, Shannon, Mcmahon, Clive and Wiggins, Natasha (2013). The success of GPS collar deployments on mammals in Australia. Australian Mammalogy, 35 (1), 65-83. doi: 10.1071/AM12021
Pye, Geoffrey W., Ellis, William, FitzGibbon, Sean, Opitz, Brian, Keener, Laura and Hollis, Bruce W. (2013). Serum vitamin D levels in free-ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 44 (2), 480-483. doi: 10.1638/2012-0032R.1
Campbell, Hamish A., Dwyer, Ross G., Fitzgibbon, Sean, Klein, Carissa J., Lauridsen, Graham, McKeown, Adam, Olsson, Annebelle, Sullivan, Scott, Watts, Matthew E. and Westcott, David A. (2012). Prioritising the protection of habitat utilised by southern cassowaries Casuarius casuarius johnsonii. Endangered Species Research, 17 (1), 53-61. doi: 10.3354/esr00397
Pye, Geoffrey W., Ellis, William, FitzGibbon, Sean, Opitz, Brian, Keener, Laura, Arheart, Kristopher L. and Cray, Carolyn (2012). Serum protein electrophoresis values for free-ranging and zoo-based koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 43 (1), 177-180. doi: 10.1638/2011-0071.1
Lee, Kristen E., Seddon, Jennifer M., Johnston, Stephen, FitzGibbon, Sean I., Carrick, Frank, Melzer, Alistair, Bercovitch, Fred and Ellis, William (2012). Genetic diversity in natural and introduced island populations of koalas in Queensland. Australian Journal of Zoology, 60 (5), 303-310. doi: 10.1071/ZO12075
Fitzgibbon, Sean I., Wilson, Robbie S. and Goldizen, Anne W. (2011). The behavioural ecology and population dynamics of a cryptic ground-dwelling mammal in an urban Australian landscape. Austral Ecology, 36 (6), 722-732. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2010.02209.x
Ellis, W., Bercovitch, F., FitzGibbon, S. I., Roe, P., Wimmer, J., Melzer, A. and Wilson, R. (2011). Koala bellows and their association with the spatial dynamics of free-ranging koalas. Behavioral Ecology, 22 (2), 372-377. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arq216
Lowe, Katrin, FitzGibbon, Sean, Seebacher, Frank and Wilson, Robbie S. (2010). Physiological and behavioural responses to seasonal changes in environmental temperature in the Australian spiny crayfish Euastacus sulcatus. Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology, 180 (5), 653-660. doi: 10.1007/s00360-010-0445-2
FitzGibbon, Sean I. and Franklin, Craig E. (2010). The importance of the cloacal bursae as the primary site of aquatic respiration in the freshwater turtle, Elseya albagula. Australian Zoologist, 35 (2), 276-282. doi: 10.7882/AZ.2010.016
Ellis, William, Bercovitch, Fred, Fitzgibbon, Sean, Melzer, Alistair, De Villiers, Diedre and Dique, David (2010). Koala birth seasonality and sex ratios across multiple sites in Queensland, Australia. Journal of Mammalogy, 91 (1), 177-182. doi: 10.1644/08-MAMM-A-358R.1.
Ellis, William, Bercovitch, Fred, FitzGibbon, Sean, Melzer, Alistair, de Villiers, Diedre and Dique, David (2010). Koala birth seasonality and sex ratios across multiple sites in Queensland, Australia. Journal of Mammalogy, 91 (1), 177-182. doi: 10.1644/08-MAMM-A-358R.1
FitzGibbon, S. I., Putland, D. A. and Goldizen, A. W. (2007). The importance of functional connectivity in the conservation of a ground-dwelling mammal in an urban Australian landscape. Landscape Ecology, 22 (10), 1513-1525. doi: 10.1007/s10980-007-9139-x
Fitzgibbon, S. I. and Jones, D. N. (2006). A community-based wildlife survey: the knowledge and attitudes of residents of suburban Brisbane, with a focus on bandicoots. Wildlife Research, 33 (3), 233-241. doi: 10.1071/WR04029
Conference Papers
Edwards, Meg, Hoy, Julia, FitzGibbon, Sean and Murray, Peter (2020). Catch me if you can: using traps and predator scat to determine recognition of predators by Australian mammals. Australian Mammal Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Virtual, 16-18 November 2020.
Edwards, M. C., Hoy, J. M., FitzGibbon, S. and Murray, P. J. (2018). To eat or not to eat: a bandicoot's dilemma when facing predation. Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 12-14 July 2018.
Edwards, M. C., Hoy, J. M., FitzGibbon, S. and Murray, P. J. (2018). Could predator avoidance training increase the reintroduction success of bandicoots?. 17th International Behavioural Ecology Congress, Minneapolis, United States of America, 11-16 August 2018.
Edwards, M. C., Hoy, J. M., Martin, S., Fitzgibbon, S. and Murray, P. J. (2017). Knock knock, who’s there? Microchip-automation for individualised animal access. Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference: 30th Annual Conference Wildlife Management: Past, Present and Future, Katoomba, NSW, Australia, 5 - 7 December 2017. Katoomba, NSW, Australia: Australasian Wildlife Management Society.
Ellis, William, FitzGibbon, Sean and Melzer, Alistair (2013). Regional research: perspectives from the field in central Queensland. Conserving Central Queensland's Koalas: A Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland Workshop, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia, 1-3 February, 2012. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland.
FitzGibbon, Sean, Ellis, William and Carrick, Frank (2013). The Koala Venture Partnership: habitat clearing and restoration. Conserving Central Queensland's Koalas Workshop, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia, 1–3 February 2012. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland.
Melzer, Alistair, Ellis, William, FitzGibbon, Sean and Carrick, Frank (2013). Drought and the koala: two case studies from the central highlands. Conserving Central Queensland's Koalas Workshop, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia, 1–3 February 2012. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland.
FitzGibbon, Sean, Ellis, William and Carrick, Frank (2013). Koala reproduction and the effect of drought in central Queensland; lessons from the Koala Venture project. Conserving Central Queensland's Koalas Workshop, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia, 1–3 February 2012. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland.
Ellis, William, Johnston, Steve, Melzer, Alistair, Carrick, Frank, Pyne, Michael and Fitzgibbon, Sean (2013). Disease and ecology in Central Queensland. Conserving Central Queensland's Koalas Workshop, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia, 1–3 February 2012. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland.
Melzer, Alistair, Ellis, William, FitzGibbon, Sean and Carrick, Frank (2013). Managing Central Queensland’s koala islands. Conserving Central Queensland's Koalas Workshop, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia, 1–3 February 2012. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland.
Melzer, Alistair, Ellis, William, FitzGibbon, Sean and Carrick, Frank (2013). Overview of Koala Research Centre study sites. Conserving Central Queensland's Koalas Workshop, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia, 1–3 February 2012. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland.
FitzGibbon, Sean, Ellis, William and Carrick, Frank (2013). The Koala Venture research partnership: an overview of 24 years of regional koala research in central Queensland. Conserving Central Queensland's Koalas Workshop, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia, 1–3 February 2012. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Koala Research Centre of Central Queensland.
Barth, B. J., Fitzgibbon, S., Carter, A. J. and Wilson, R. S. (2010). Effects of resource availability on dung beetle abundance and male horn size in Australian urban forest fragments. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology, Seattle Wa, Jan 03-07, 2010. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.
Wilson, Robbie S., Condon, Catriona H., David, Gwendolyn, FitzGibbon, Sean, Niehaus, Amanda C. and Pratt, Kirstin (2010). Females prefer athletes, males fear the disadvantaged: Different signals used in female choice and male competition have varied consequences. London, United Kingdom: The Royal Society Publishing. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2009.2196
Ellis, WA, Fitzgibbon, SI, Roe, P, Bercovitch, FB and Wilson, R (2010). Unraveling the mystery of koala vocalisations: acoustic sensor network and GPS technology reveals males bellow to serenade females. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology, Seattle WA, JAN 03-07, 2010.
Carrick, F. N., Fitzgibbon, S. and Ellis, W. A. (2007). Long-term research on a long-lived species in a variable environment. Ecological Society of Australia 2007 Conference: Adapting to Change: Society - Environment - Science, Perth Convention Centre, Perth, Australia, 25-30 November, 2007. Ecological Society of Australia (ESA).
Carrick, F. N., Ellis, W. A. and Fitzgibbon, S. (2007). Seeing Forest (Fauna) instead of Trees - Lessons from the Long-term Study of an Arid Zone Koala Population. Fenner Conference on the Environment, Canberra, ACT, 2nd - 5th December 2007. Australasian Wildlife Management Society.
Carrick, Frank, Ellis, Bill, Fitzgibbon, Sean and Melzer, Alistair (2007). Planned Long-term Ecological Research Sites Preview Likely Effects of Climate Change on Tropical Koalas. Ecological Society of Australia Conference 2007: Adapting to Change (EAS 2007), Perth Convention Centre, Perth, Western Australia, 25-30 November 2007.
Ellis, Bill and Fitzgibbon, Sean (2006). Koala ecology: "Known knowns, known unknowns or unknown unknowns?". Ecology Across the Tasman - 3rd Joint Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia and the New Zealand Ecological Society, Wellington, New Zealand, 28 August - 1 September 2006.
Thesis
FitzGibbon, Sean (2005). Life in the suburbs : the survival of the northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus) in habitat fragments of urban Brisbane, with implications for the conservation of native ground-dwelling mammals. PhD Thesis, School of Integrative Biology, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/158804