Researcher biography
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Biological Sciences, University of Alcalá (Spain)
Master’s Degree in Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid (Spain)
Project title:
Social Dynamics of Eastern Water Dragons: Broad to Fine-Scale Impacts of Yellow Fungus Disease
Project description:
Emerging Infectious Fungal Diseases (EIFDs) threaten global biodiversity and wildlife health, yet the mechanisms driving their transmission remain poorly understood. Yellow fungus caused by Nannizziopsis barbatae poses a particular risk to free-living reptile populations in Australia. This study examines how EIFDs influence social behaviour in Eastern Water Dragons within Brisbane’s Roma Street Parklands, focusing on how disease burden and local density affect social proximity, gregariousness, and social network structure. Understanding these behavioural responses will help inform conservation strategies aimed at reducing fungal disease spread in wildlife populations