About

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)
  • BZ5755: Biodiversity and Climate Change: Impact, Mitigation and Adaptation (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)
Publications

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
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 32+ research outputs authored by Dr Ben Hirsch from 2002 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Australian Research Council - Linkage - Projects

Understanding population growth time lags in invasive species: Chital deer as a model system

Indicative Funding
$394,015 over 5 years, in partnership with QLD Department of Agriculture and Fisheries ($80,000)
Summary
Lags in population growth of introduced species are common, but poorly understood. Chital deer (Axis axis) are an invasive species introduced to Australia over 130 years ago, but their numbers have only increased dramatically in the past 30-40 years. We will use data collected from wild animals, landholder surveys, and computer simulation models to clarify causes of sudden population expansion in more detail. Understanding lags will allow us to understand their causes, and better control populations of invasive species. By predicting drivers of rapid population growth, we can better mitigate the associated economic and environmental costs of invasive species.
Investigators
Ben Hirsch, Lin Schwarzkopf and Jan Strugnell in collaboration with Tony Pople (College of Science & Engineering, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries & Forestry)
Keywords
chital (Axis axis); Invasive Species; landscape geneticfs; beef production demography; deer

Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grant

Communication and coordination of collective behaviour across spatial scales in animal societies

Indicative Funding
$324,302 over 5 years (administered by University of Konstanz)
Summary
We will test commonalities and differences in group coordination tasks using spatial movement and active communication in three species of social mammals.
Investigators
Ari Standburg-Peshkin, Ben Hirsch, Kay Holekamp, Marta Manser and Marie Roch (Universitat Konstanz, College of Science & Engineering, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Universitat Zurich and San Diego State University)
Keywords
Coati (Nasua narica); animal tracking; group coordination; computer models; Communication; animal vocalizations

Wet Tropics Management Authority - Student Research Grant Scheme

Feral cats in the North Queensland Wet Tropics region: understanding the behavioural and ecological interactions that affect conservation outcomes.

Indicative Funding
$3,945 over 2 years
Summary
The project aims to determine how feral cats, as an invasive pest species, are influencing native biodiversity and trophic interactions within the wet tropics landscape. This project will address the knowledge gap surrounding the ecosystem level impacts of feral cats and whether they pose a major threat to native species in the region. We will investigate how cats are distributed throughout the habitat and test if human development e.g. roads are facilitating access into protected areas. If significant cat populations are found within the region, we will identify their likely ecological effects, which will lead to evidenced based mitigation strategies.
Investigators
Thomas Bruce, Ben Hirsch and Stephen Williams (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords
Feral Cat; Camera-trapping; Occupancy; Habitat Preference; Population Ecology; Species Interactions
Supervision

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)
  • Interactions between bettongs, their environment and the net effect on grazing land (Masters , Secondary Advisor)
  • Feral cats in the North Queensland wet tropics region: Understanding the behavioural and ecological interactions that affect conservation outcomes. (PhD , Primary Advisor)
  • Ecology and management of Chital Deer in North Queensland (PhD , Primary Advisor)
  • Climate Change and Community Structure: Differential Species Resilience, Functional Diversity and Shifting Distributions in the Rainforest Vertebrates of the Australian Wet Tropics (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Collaboration

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.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

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