Dr Ben Hirsch ~ Lecturer in Zoology/Ecology

I am interested in the intersection of animal behavior and ecology: how does ecology affect the behavior of animals and how can the behavior of animals affect their ecosystems? To this end, I’ve studied a variety of mammal species such as: ring-tailed and white-nosed coatis, beach mice, agoutis, raccoons, and capuchin monkeys. My work has focused on social behavior, predator-prey interactions, seed dispersal, urban ecology, movement ecology, and disease ecology. My current research seeks to understand basic and applied behavioral ecology questions in the Queensland wet tropics region.

Teaching

• BS1001: Introduction to Biological Processes (Level 1; TSV)
• BS2460: Fundamentals of Ecology (Level 2; TSV)
• BS5460: Fundamentals of Ecology (Level 5; TSV)
• BZ2450: Biodiversity of Tropical Australia (Level 2; TSV)
• BZ2490: Toolkit for the Field Biologist (Level 2; TSV)
• BZ3061: Behavioural Ecology (Level 3; TSV)
• BZ3220: Population and Community Ecology (Level 3; TSV)
• BZ5061: Behavioural Ecology (Level 5; TSV)
• BZ5220: Population and Community Ecology (Level 5; TSV)
• BZ5990: Toolkit for the Field Biologist (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Behavioral ecology Seed dispersal Predator-prey interactions Social behavior Urban ecology Movement ecology Disease ecology

Experience

• 2014 to 2015 - Post-doctoral researcher, University of Florida (Pensacola, FL)
• 2011 to 2014 - Post-doctoral researcher, The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
• 2008 to 2011 - Post-doctoral researcher, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (Panama)
• 2007 to 2008 - Post-doctoral fellow, Smithsonian Institute (Washington DC)
• 2007 - Resident professor, Organization for Tropical Studies (Costa Rica)

Research Disciplines

• Environmental Science and Management (0502)
• Ecological Applications (0501)
• Ecology (0602)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species (9604)
• Ecosystem Assessment and Management (9605)
• Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity (9608)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Nigenda-Morales S, Gompper M, Valenzuela-Galván D, Lay A, Kapheim K, Hass C, Booth-Binczik S, Binczik G, Hirsch B, McColgin M, Koprowski J, McFadden K, Wayne R and Koepfli K (2019) Phylogeographic and diversification patterns of the white-nosed coati (Nasua narica): evidence for south-to-north colonization of North America. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 131. pp. 149-163
• Hirsch B, Reynolds J, Gehrt S and Craft M (2016) Which mechanisms drive seasonal rabies outbreaks in raccoons?: a test using dynamic social network models. Journal of Applied Ecology, 53. pp. 804-813
• Reynolds J, Hirsch B, Gehrt S and Craft M (2015) Raccoon contact networks predict seasonal susceptibility to rabies outbreaks and limitations of vaccination. Journal of Animal Ecology, 84 (6). pp. 1720-1731
• Emsens W, Hirsch B, Kays R and Jansen P (2014) Prey refuges as predator hotspots: ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) attraction to agouti (Dasyprocta punctata) dens. Acta Theriologica, 59. pp. 257-262
• Hirsch B, Martinez D, Kurten E, Brown D and Carson W (2014) Mammalian insectivores exert top-down effects on Azteca ants. Biotropica, 46 (4). pp. 489-494
• Hirsch B, Prange S, Hauver S and Gehrt S (2014) Patterns of latrine use by raccoons (Procyon lotor) and implication for Baylisascaris procyonis transmission. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 50 (2). pp. 243-249
• Suselbeek L, Emsens W, Hirsch B, Kays R, Rowcliffe J, Zamora-Gutierrez V and Jansen P (2014) Food acquisition and predator avoidance in a Neotropical rodent. Animal Behaviour, 88. pp. 41-48
• Emsens W, Suselbeek L, Hirsch B, Kays R, Winkelhagen A and Jansen P (2013) Effects of food availability on space and refuge use by a neotropical scatterhoarding rodent. Biotropica, 45 (1). pp. 88-93
• Hauver S, Hirsch B, Prange S, Dubach J and Gehrt D. S (2013) Age, but not sex or genetic relatedness, shapes raccoon dominance patterns. Ethology, 119 (9). pp. 769-778
• Hirsch B, Prange S, Hauver S and Gehrt S (2013) Genetic relatedness does not predict racoon social network structure. Animal Behaviour, 85 (2). pp. 463-470
• Hirsch B, Kays R and Jansen P (2013) Evidence for cache surveillance by a scatter-hoarding rodent. Animal Behaviour, 85 (6). pp. 1511-1516
• Hirsch B, Tujague M, Di Blanco Y, Di Bitetti M and Janson C (2013) Comparing capuchins and coatis: causes and consequences of differing movement ecology in two sympatric mammals. Animal Behaviour, 86 (2). pp. 331-338

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 30+ research outputs authored by Dr Ben Hirsch from 2002 onwards.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Climatic variability and resilience: spatio-temporal climate variability and vulnerability of ant species to climate change in an Australian tropical rainforest (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• The Ontogeny of Problem Solving in an Australian Rodent Melomys cervinipes (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Ecology and management of Chital Deer in North Queensland (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Ecology and Behaviour of Feral Cats in the Wet Tropics (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Evolution and ecological adaptations of skin morphology of geckos (squamata, Gekkota) (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.