https://www.celinefrerelab.com/home1 daily 1.0 2025-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/942727de-c9ed-4346-a068-246309bfe1d3/1000008830.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521332469980-BO4VMTMTP75LNNSWEZJK/IMG_0022a.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521334505485-Y6WSPFX3Q81IBAQTAZLJ/Shark+Bay+Dolphins Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521332580233-60LV3IR6DM1JTSETU43W/IMG_4456.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521328586776-DEJ2HAWQY1GWUL74Y8PP/C1.JPG Home https://www.celinefrerelab.com/publications-and-reports daily 0.75 2025-03-16 https://www.celinefrerelab.com/dolphins daily 0.75 2025-11-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521761733437-EAWUIBWG4XOXILDQEVMV/bottlenose+dolphins+celinefrerelab Dr Celine Frere -Dolphins - Bottlenose dolphins Living up to 40 years, the bottlenose dolphins of Monkey Mia show an astonishing complexity of social relationships. Both males and females have preferred associates or "friends". Males form alliances to boost mating opportunities and females spend time with associates when foraging and caring for their young. The dolphins of Shark Bay are also well-known for their ingenious foraging techniques (see videos below). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521763744657-INRX1UIU6NPO5G1TBUAS/SB+aerial+2.PNG Dr Celine Frere -Dolphins - The study site Shark Bay is located on the most western point of the Australian coast, about 850km north of Perth, Western Australia. The bay is of international significance and has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1991. Our primary research site located at Monkey Mia, on the east coast of the peninsula. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521763457794-75ZZJXOOG8DW90B2GTC4/IMG_2603.JPG Dr Celine Frere -Dolphins - History Professor Mann has studied the dolphins of Shark Bay since 1988, and mentored Dr Frere during her PhD on the social evolution of female dolphins in this population. The study is now one of the largest longitudinal studies of any wild dolphin population worldwide. Research has contributed to our understanding of the species, and impacted local and international management policies pertaining to dolphin-focused tourism. Learn More... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521763867019-JBIZ8SUOBH5O8KSFSDXY/shark+bay+field+season+celine+frere+lab Dr Celine Frere -Dolphins - Our research Our group focuses on female social bonds and networks, long-term social avoidance, and genetic and non-genetic mechanisms of inheritance (including social plasticity and maternal effects). Funding from the National Science Foundation (IRES stream) supports undergraduate students to undertake fieldwork in Shark Bay and visit Dr Frere at the University of the Sunshine Coast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1520994588252-159PDI89OL4XZKHECCIH/DSC_0398.JPG Dr Celine Frere -Dolphins https://www.celinefrerelab.com/eastern-water-dragons daily 0.75 2025-11-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521760780887-9ADT3GVRJGPIRNYJ2ZBY/RSP.jpg Dr Celine Frere - eastern water dragons - Study Site Our main study site is Roma Street Parkland, which has a large population of 350+ dragons, each of which maintains a specific home range. Our study has shown that, like mammals, dragons have preferred associates or "friends", social dominance hierarchies, and even share avoidances. Our team is at the field site for 7 months of the year, when the dragons are out of hibernation. Each dragon in the Parkland is identified by a unique scale pattern around each eye. By studying the behaviour and social networks of these lizards over their lifespans and across generations, we are able to investigate questions about the importance of sociality to health, reproductive success and evolution. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521092043953-AIF3XERFRZSB8YZU7HQR/Fieldwork+lizard.jpg Dr Celine Frere - eastern water dragons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521415174382-ZXSDNYVICNMIDUEUEWIT/Figure+1+%281%29.JPG Dr Celine Frere - eastern water dragons - Image: Dan Nugent Image: Dan Nugent https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521093201306-C3CN4EO31UC2L4G6Q70H/Contact.jpg Dr Celine Frere - eastern water dragons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521415154848-71N6WUBLKW66BS20ZW8C/IMG_7903.JPG Dr Celine Frere - eastern water dragons - Image: Dan Nugent https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1522125786549-VPQBUZKKC7AF8FN7HBC3/female+fight.JPG Dr Celine Frere - eastern water dragons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521760218537-MNIYSZUFZP6P1JPJYBDL/Pink+dragon+Celinefrerelab Dr Celine Frere - eastern water dragons - History Dr Frere established her long-term study of eastern water dragons in sites around Brisbane's CBD in 2010. These dragons are bigger and bolder than their non-urban counterparts. They are also diversifying at rates that allows for the study of evolution in action. Dragons in Brisbane city show significant levels of genetic divergence despite the small geographic distances between parks (<5 km), and significant differences in morphology (body size, head and limb shape and forelimb and hindlimb length) depending on the park they reside in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1521094863438-AALB0P6ZKHNPRZJL5SYS/Picture+092.jpg Dr Celine Frere - eastern water dragons https://www.celinefrerelab.com/koalas daily 0.75 2025-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1522027181723-YDJKZ16VO34OLZBRB46M/IMG_0110a-compressor.jpg Dr Celine Frere - Koala Research - Environmental applications We apply next-generation sequencing for genetic analyses of Airborne eDNA and scats. This allows us to investigate koala landscape genomics and help develop evidence-based management strategies for the species. We have delivered 30 applied research projects about koala health and distribution for local and state government as well as NGOs. We welcome engagement with environmental consultants and others working in the sector. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1522026951501-E5I521WCGDLOND6BRV57/Anthony+Schultz+Wildlife+HQ.jpg Dr Celine Frere - Koala Research - Our research The reasons for koala population declines are well known. They include habitat loss and fragmentation (which reduces genetic diversity and connectivity), infectious disease caused by the bacterial pathogen, Chlamydia (which causes blindness and sterility), and risks associated with koala movement in human-altered landscapes (including dog attacks and car strikes). Our group undertakes research to collect and analyze fine-scale information about 1) where koala populations are, 2) how connected versus isolated they are, 3) how healthy they are, and 4) how they move in the landscape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa5a652ec4eb740e5f00548/1522026632424-0JOHD4N5TW9BI3KHJ5EC/IMG_3903.JPG Dr Celine Frere - Koala Research