Rosemary Hohnen

Research

My research examines mammal species persistence in the north Kimberley of Western Australia. The future of northern Australia’s mammals is currently uncertain, as recent studies have identified dramatic declines in species from a range of ecological backgrounds, and within well resourced national parks^. In Kakadu National Park, monitoring between 1996 and 2009 detected a 75% decline in the abundance of small and medium size mammals.  If current trends continue the region could suffer multiple extinctions within the next twenty years. The Artesian Range in the north Kimberley is one of the few remaining parts of northern Australia where diverse mammal populations still persist.

My research asks;

Why do mammal species persist in the Artesian Range?
How can we best manage the land for conservation?

In addition to examining the threats to mammal species in the region particularly with respect to fire, we will examine the genetic connectivity of populations across the landscape. By examining gene flow within the range, and between different regions of the Kimberly, we hope to give greater context to mechanisms contributing to species persistence in the region.

Education

• PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania, Australia (2012-present)

• Honours in Zoology (First Class) from the University of Tasmania, Australia (2009)

• BSc from the University of Tasmania, Australia (2007)

Publications

Hohnen R, Tuft K, Legge S, Hillyer M, Spencer P, Radford IJ, Johnson CN, Burridge CP (2016) Rainfall and topography predict gene flow among populations of the declining northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus). Conservation Genetics

Hohnen R, Tuft K, Legge S, Radford IJ, Carver S and Johnson CN (2015) Post-fire habitat use of the golden-backed tree-rat (Mesembriomys macrurus) in the northwest Kimberley,Western Australia. Austral Ecology.

Hohnen R, Ashby J, Tuft K, McGregor H (2012) Individual identification of northern quolls (Dasyurus Hallucatus) using remote cameras. Australian Mammalogy.

Hohnen R, Tuft K, McGregor H, Legge S, Radford IJ, Johnson CN (2016) Occupancy of the Invasive Feral Cat Varies with Habitat Complexity. PLOS one

Hohnen R, Tuft K, Legge S, Walters N, Johanson L, Carver S, Radford IJ, Johnson CN (2016) The significance of topographic complexity in habitat selection and persistence of a declining marsupial in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology

Field work

Rosemary Hohnen – The Kimberley, Western Australia