AusFox Project
We aim to identify key population information about foxes in Australia to benefit management. This 3 year PhD project is run by Will Ashley from Macquarie University.
About the Project
What is the problem?
Who: Red fox (Vulpes vupes).
What: The red fox is an omnivorous mammal that preys upon small/medium mammals, lizards, amphibians and ground-nesting birds.
When: The red fox was first introduced to Australia in the 1850’s for sport shooting.
Where: Cover much of mainland Australia and live in a range of environments including urban parks, agricultural land, and native grasslands and forests.
Why: Cost the Australian economy an estimated $227.5 million annually. Pose a significant predation risk to native species and agricultural animals.
What is AusFox Project’s goal?
The AusFox Project aims to answer the following questions:
1) How are foxes related across Australia?
2) Do any landscape features (such as mountains, rivers, or roads) block dispersal of foxes?
3) How will disease spread through foxes in Australia?
4) Which management approaches will be most beneficial to fox control?
How will we achieve this?
Collect tissue samples from fox carcasses across Australia with the help of volunteers. Samples will be collected from the 7 bioregions found in mainland Australia (shown in map opposite).
Extract and sequence the DNA of the samples to create a genetic database.
Carry out population and landscape genetic analyses assessing relatedness, dispersal, and connectivity of foxes across Australia.
Perform modelling to predict potential disease spread in Australian foxes and the impact of future management approaches on fox numbers.
Why is this research important?
Scientific Value:
Establish valuable population genetic information on the red foxes in Australia.
Management Value:
Establish a reference to test the effectiveness of various management approaches.
Increased information on dispersal patterns can better target management to protect native species and agriculture.
About the Team:
Project Leader: Will Ashley
Will is a PhD student at Macquarie University in the Conservation Genetics Lab. He has previously worked on the population genetics of red foxes in the greater Sydney region, comparing urban and rural environments. He is passionate about using genetics as a tool to aid native species conservation and pest management.
Project Supervisor: Dr Alex Carthey
Dr Alex Carthey is an animal ecologist interested in the effects of introduced species on recipient ecosystems. She has worked extensively on native prey responses to cats and foxes in Australia. She is currently leading research into red fox behavioural ecology, landscape genetics, and pathogenic potential in urban and non-urban environments. To read the student-led papers arising from the project, please click here.
Project Supervisor: Associate Professor Adam Stow
Associate Professor Adam Stow is a conservation biologist and behavioural ecologist who uses genetic and field based techniques to evaluate animal dispersal and gene flow in natural and altered systems to assess the impacts of human activities. Work has been largely carried out by higher degree research students under my supervision with an overarching goal to provide information useful for conservation managers.