Dr Rebecca Peisley teaches several subjects in Environmental Science.

She is subject coordinator of

Conservation Biology (BIO216). Conservation biology is the scientific study of the earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats and ecosystems. In this subject, students build on their understanding of ecology to learn about the origins and scope of conservation biology as a scientific discipline, patterns and values of biodiversity, threats to biodiversity (extinction rates and processes, habitat destruction, climate change, overexploitation and invasive species), conservation at the genetic, species and ecosystem level and national and international conservation policy and management.

Avian Population and Community Ecology (BIO432). This subject explores temporal and spatial variations in population size, population dynamics, population limitation, the structure and demography of populations and competition within populations. Presence and absence of species within communities, changes in populations and communities due to threatening processes and strategies for conservation are also examined. Students completing this subject will have an advanced understanding of the abundance and distribution of birds and how these interact with natural and anthropogenic factors.

Rebecca completed her PhD thesis ‘Costs and Benefits of Bird Activity in Agricultural Landscapes’ in 2017. Her research focuses on biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes (agroecosystems), and ecosystem services that birds can provide.

Rebecca’s other research projects include the influence of fuel reduction burns on box-ironbark forest ecosystems, including the presence of the Vulnerable brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa).