The Integrative Ecology Lab, lead by Dieter Hochuli, focuses on nature in cities, integrating human dimensions of ecology and natural history in urban environments. We’re also interested in looking at ecology through both fundamental and applied lenses, with a view to understanding the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms driving the patterns we observe.
Our questions are typically framed around how nature thrives, dies, and persists in seemingly hostile environments. We study the biology and ecology of iconic birds, insects and spiders in urban environments, and how they interact with the humans who share it with them.
Our projects ideally include an experimental component, feature arthropods as main the study taxa, and are situated in the terrestrial environment
Our Research
Natural History
Natural history is a key part of how we understand what is going on with animals and plants in cities.
Urban Birds
Much of our current research consists of how birds survive, thrive and adapt to city life. We have studied how brush turkeys move through Sydney, How cockatoos learn to use bubblers, and are currently looking at habitat preferences of superb fairy wrens.
Bioacoustics
There is a lot of noise in cities, and it’s not just the people. We are also looking at how bats communicate in cities. We can also use this data to determine which bat species are doing well (and which are doing less well) living among people.
Restoration
Restoration plays a key role in allowing a range of species to survive in fragmented areas like cities. We are looking into the effects of restoration on a range of species from bees to koalas in areas across New South Wales from Western Sydney to Gunnedah.
Nature and People
One of the most abundant species in our cities are people. The Integrative Ecology Lab takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how people use green space in cities, as well as how green space can bring people an array of wellbeing benefits.
Telling nature stories
We also see the value in sharing stories of nature. Whether it is spiders parasitising wasps, or brush turkeys travelling kilometres across cities, there are many amazing nature stories to tell. The Integrative Ecology lab collaborates with the Urban Field Naturalist to get these stories out there.
Key Collaborators
The Integrative Ecology Lab works with a lot of Different groups to conduct our research and outreach
Our People
Current students
Past students
Contact Us
Professor Dieter Hochuli
Heydon Laurence Building A08, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, 2006.
Phone+61 2 9351 399
Fax:+61 2 9351 4119
Email:dieter.hochuli@sydney.edu.au
Contact Us
Professor Dieter Hochuli
Heydon Laurence Building A08, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, 2006.
Phone:
+61 2 9351 399
Fax:
+61 2 9351 4119