Dr Birgita Hansen

PositionCollaborative Research Network Research FellowDr Birgita Hansen 
QualificationsDoctor of Philosophy, Monash University, 2009
OfficeY128
Phone5327 9952
Emailb.hansen@federation.edu.au

Biography

A commitment to improving the management of terrestrial-aquatic interfaces and the conservation of avifauna is the motivation behind research being conducted by Dr Birgita Hansen.

Since completing her PhD, Birgita, together with colleagues at Monash University and Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI), completed a comprehensive literature review to develop minimum width recommendations for riparian zones in Victoria. This work has proven valuable to Birgita's current research in the Collaborative Research Network (CRN), which focuses on the influence of riparian zone condition on woodland bird breeding and arthropod prey resources in northern Victoria.

Birgita is also collaborating with Prof. Peter Gell, Dr Tricia Wevill (Monash) and Sovereign Hill Museums Association to establish the pastoral property "Narmbool" as a demonstration farm for biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, viable agricultural production and environmental education. In addition to her ecological research, Birgita has a strong interest in shorebird conservation and is editor of Stilt – the journal of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Teaching areas

  • Wildlife Ecology (waterbirds)
  • Concepts in Outdoor Education (guest)

Professional affiliations

  • BirdLife Australia
  • Ecological Society of Australia
  • International Wader Study Group
  • Australasian Wader Studies Group

Publications

  • Clemens, R.S., Rogers, D., Hansen, B.D., Gosbell, K., Minton, C., Straw, P., Bamford, M., Woehler, E.J., Milton, D., Weston, M., Venables, W., Weller, D., Hassell, C., Rutherford, W., Onton, K., Herrod, A., Studds, C.E., Choi, C-Y., Dhanjal-Adams, K., Skilleter, G., Fuller, R.A. (in press). Continental-scale decreases in shorebird populations in Australia. Emu Austral Ornithology.
  • Szabo, J.K., Choi, C.-Y., Clemens R.S., Hansen, B. (in press). Conservation without borders – solutions to declines of migratory shorebird in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Emu Austral Ornithology.
  • Hansen, B.D., Menkhorst, P., Loyn, R.H., Moloney, P.  (2015). Long-term declines in multiple waterbird species in a tidal embayment, south-east Australia. Austral Ecology 40, 515-527.
  • Hansen, B.D., Reich, P., Lake, P.S., Cavagnaro, T. (2015). Challenges in applying scientific evidence to width recommendations for riparian management in agricultural Australia. Ecological Management & Restoration 16(1), 50-57.
  • Hale, R., Reich, P., Johnson, M., Hansen, B., Lake, P.S., Thomson, J.R., Mac Nally, R. (2015). Bird Responses to Riparian Management of Degraded Lowland Streams in Southeastern Australia. Restoration Ecology 23, 104-112.
  • Hansen, B.D., Minton, C.D.T., Harrison, A.E., Jessop, R. (2014). Conservation assessment of the Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus. International Wader Studies 20, 161-172.
  • Taylor, I.R., Newman, M.G., Park, P., Hansen, B.D., Minton, C.D.T., Harrison, A.E. and Jessop, R. (2014). Conservation assessment of the Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris. International Wader Studies 20, 116-128.
  • Sunnucks, P. Hansen, B. (2012). Guest Box 5. Null alleles and Bonferroni 'abuse': Treasure your exceptions (and so get it right for Leadbeater's possum). In: Allendorf FW, Luikart G, Aitken SN. Conservation and the Genetics of Populations. 2nd Edition, 2013. Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Hansen, B.D., Harley, D.K.P., Lindenmayer, D.B., Taylor, A.C. (2009). Population genetic analysis reveals a long-term decline of a threatened endemic Australian marsupial. Molecular Ecology 18, 3346-3362.
  • Hansen, B.D., Minton, C.D.T., Jessop, R., Collins, P. (2009). Biometrics, sexing criteria, age structure and moult of Sooty Oystercatchers in south-east Australia and north-west Australia. Emu 109, 25-33.
  • Hansen, B.D., Taylor, A.C. (2008). Isolated remnant or recent introduction? Estimating the provenance of Yellingbo Leadbeater's possums by genetic analysis and bottleneck simulation. Molecular Ecology 17, 4039-4052.

Further information

Read further information about Dr Hansen, including her research interests, current research projects, consulting and other activities, reports and conferences.