NSW Department of Primary Industries

FLEMING, Peter

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Peter Fleming

Research interests

  • Adaptive management of predators for agricultural, environmental and social benefit
  • Behavioural ecology and niche separation of dingoes and other wild dogs, foxes, feral cats and quolls
  • Predator/ prey interactions and ecological theory
  • Feral ungulate ecology and management
  • Rabbit behavioural ecology and management
  • Disease implications of interactions between livestock, wildlife and people

Background

Peter has been undertaking invasive animal research for the Vertebrate Pest Research Unit since 1983. His research is highly collaborative and focuses on the adaptive management of wildlife, including invasive mammalian carnivores and herbivores in Australia and globally, and the ecological, economic and social impacts of their presence and management. Peter’s research contributes to ecological theory and conservation outcomes. Much time is spent investigating population estimation methods (camera trapping and aerial surveys). His other activities are investigating contacts between feral goats and sheep, rabbit age cohorts and wild and domestic dogs for developing epidemiological models of diseases such as Rabbit Calicivirus Disease, Rabies, Foot-and-Mouth Disease and African Swine Fever.

Peter is the scientific representative on the National Wild Dog Action Plan and other advisory bodies. He holds adjunct positions in Ecosystem Management at the University of New England, in Agriculture and Food Sciences at the University of Queensland, and in Sustainable Agricultural Systems at the University of Southern Queensland where he co-supervises postgraduate student projects.

Qualifications

  • B Sc (hons in ecology) (1981): University of New England
  • M Res Sc (1996): University of New England
  • Ph D (2005): University of Canberra

Current projects

  • Wild dog geneflow: using DNA for management
  • Preparing for the National RESET (Reset, Rebuild, Restore) predator management project
  • Developing effective management strategies for feral cats
  • 4Ps: Relationships between predators, prey, plants and people in response to wild dog management

Some recent publications

Meek, P., Ballard, G., Milne, H., Williamson, J., Bishop, J., Falzon, G. and Fleming, P. (In Press) Camera trapping advances: into the new millennium. Australian Zoologist xxx, xxxx.

Hayward, M.W., Callen, A., Allen, B.L., Ballard, G., Broekhuis, F., Bugir, C., Clarke, R.H., Clulow, J., Clulow, S., Daltry, J.C., Davies-Mostert, H.T., Fleming, P.J.S., Griffin, A.S., Howell, L.G., Kerley, G.I.H., Klop-Toker, K., Legge, S., Major, T., Meyer, N., Montgomery, R.A., Moseby, K., Parker, D.M., Périquet, S., Read, J., Scanlon, R., Seeto, R., Shuttleworth, C., Somers, M.J., Tamessar, C.T., Tuft, K., Upton, R., Valenzuela-Molina, M., Wayne, A., Witt, R.R. and Wüster, W. (In Press) Should the compassionate tail wag the conservation dog? Conservation Biology xxx, xxxx (cobi.13366, Accepted 19th July).

Meek, P.D., Brown, S. C., Wishart, J., Milne, H., Aylett, P., Humphrys, S., Ballard, G. and Fleming, P. (2019) Efficacy of lethal-trap devices to improve the welfare of trapped wild dogs. Wildlife Research 46, 89-95.

Meek, P.D., Ballard, G-A., Sparkes, J., Robinson, M., Nesbitt, B. and Fleming, P.J.S. (2019) Camera trap theft and vandalism: occurrence, cost, prevention and implications for wildlife research and management. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation 5, 160-168.

Jackson, S.M., Fleming, P.J.S., Eldridge, M.D.B., Ingleby, S., Flannery, T., Johnson, R.N., Cooper, S.J.B., Mitchell, K.J., Souilmi, Y., Cooper, A., Wilson, D.E. and Helgen, K.M. (2019) The dogma of dingoes—taxonomic status of the dingo: A reply to Smith et al. Zootaxa 4564, 198-212.

Fleming, P. J. S. (2019) They might be right, but Beschta et al. (2018) give no strong evidence that “trophic cascades shape recovery of young aspen in Yellowstone National Park”: A fundamental critique of methods. Forest Ecology and Management. Early online.

Campbell, G., Coffey, A., Miller, H., Read, J.L., Brook, A., Fleming, P.J.S., Bird, P., Eldridge, S. and Allen, B.L. (2019) Dingo baiting did not reduce fetal/calf loss in beef cattle in northern South Australia. Animal Production Science 59, 319-330.

Allen, B.L., Allen, L.R., Ballard, G., Drouilly, M., Fleming, P.J.S., Hampton, J.O., Hayward, M.W., Kerley, G.I.H., Meek, P.D., Minnie, L., O'Riain, M.J., Parker, D.M. and Somers, M.J. (2019) Bringing objectivity to wildlife management: Welfare effects of guardian dogs. Biological Conservation Early online.

Ballard, G., Fleming, P.J.S., Meek, P.D. and Doak, S. (2019 in press) Aerial baiting and wild dog mortality in south eastern Australia. Wildlife Research xxx, xxxx. (WR18188, Accepted 02 June 2019).

Allen, B.L., Allen, L.R., Ballard, G., Drouilly, M., Fleming, P.J.S., Hampton, J.O., Hayward, M.W., Kerley, G.I.H., Meek, P.D., Minnie, L., O'Riain, M.J., Parker, D.M. and Somers, M.J. (2019) Animal welfare considerations for using large carnivores and guardian dogs as vertebrate biocontrol tools against other animals. Biological Conservation 232, 258-270.

Morgan, H.R., Ballard, G., Fleming, P.J.S., Reid, N., van der Ven, R. and Vernes, K. (2018) Estimating macropod grazing density and defining activity patterns using camera trap image analysis. Wildlife Research 45, 706-717.

Meek, P.D., Ballard, G-A. and Fleming, P.J.S. (2018) Techniques and practices of Australian pest animal trappers. Pacific Conservation Biology, early online.

Fleming, P.J.S., Ballard, G., Reid, N.C.H. and Tracey, J.P. (2018) Invasive species and their impacts on agri-ecosystems: issues and solutions for restoring ecosystem processes. The Rangeland Journal 39, 523-535.

Fleming, P.J.S. and Ballard, G. (2018) Yes, killing is sometimes essential for conservation. Australian Zoologist Early online, 8pp.

Ballard, G., Fleming, P.J.S. and Meek , P.D. (2018) How long is a dingo’s tale?: Impacts of sampling design on our understanding of dingo ecology. Australian Zoologist 39, 581-590.

Allen, B.L., Cox, T.E., Fleming, P.J.S., Meek, P.D. and Russell, J.C. (2018) Wildlife conservation management on inhabited islands: Introduction. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management 25, 1-4.

Sparkes, J., Ballard, G., Fleming, P. and Brown, W. (2017) Social, conservation and economic implications of rabies in Australia. Australian Zoologist 38, 457-463.

Newsome, T.M., Fleming, P.J.S., Dickman, C.R., Doherty, T.S., Ripple, W.J., Ritchie, E.G. and Wirsing, A.J. (2017) Making a new dog? BioScience 67, 374-381.

Morgan, H.R., Hunter, J.T., Ballard, G. and Fleming, P.J.S. (2017) The trophic cascades concept may constrain Australian dingo reintroduction experiments: A response to Newsome et al. (2017). Food Webs 22, 76-87.

Morgan, H.R., Hunter, J.T., Ballard, G. Reid, N.C.H. and Fleming, P.J.S. (2017) Trophic cascades and dingoes in Australia: Does the Yellowstone wolf–elk–willow model apply? Food Webs 13, 43-45.

Johnstone-Robertson, S.P., Fleming, P.J.S., Ward, M.P. and Davis, S.A. (2017) Predicted Spatial Spread of Canine Rabies in Australia. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 11, e0005312.

Jackson, S.M., Groves, C.P., Fleming, P.J.S., Aplin, K.P., Eldridge, M.D.B., Gonzalez, A. and Helgen, K.M. (2017) The Wayward Dog: Is the Australian native dog or Dingo a distinct species? Zootaxa 4317, 201-224.

Fleming, P.J.S., Nolan, H., Jackson, S.M., Ballard, G-A., Bengsen, A., Brown, W.Y., Meek, P.D., Mifsud, G., Pal, S.K. and Sparkes, J. (2017) Roles for the Canidae in food webs reviewed: Where do they fit? Food Webs 12, 14-34.

Fleming, P.J.S., Ballard, G., Reid, N.C.H. and Tracey, J.P. (2017) Invasive species and their impacts on agri-ecosystems: issues and solutions for restoring ecosystem processes. The Rangeland Journal 39, 523-535.

Fleming, P.J.S. and Ballard, G. (2017) Homo sapiens is the apex animal: anthropocentrism as a Dionysian sword. Australian Zoologist 38, 464-476.

Allen, B.L., Allen, L.R., Ballard, G., Jackson, S.M. and Fleming, P.J.S. (2017) A roadmap to meaningful dingo conservation. Canid Biology and Conservation 20, 45-56.

Allen, B.L., Allen, L.R., Andrén, H., Ballard, G., Boitani, L., Engeman, R.M., Fleming, P.J.S., Ford, A.T., Haswell, P.M., Kowalczyk, R., Linnell, J.D.C., Mech, L.D., and Parker, D.M. (2017) Large carnivore science: Non-experimental studies are useful, but experiments are better. Food Webs 12, 64-75.

Allen, B.L., Allen, L.R., Andrén, H., Ballard, G., Boitani, L., Engeman, R.M., Fleming, P.J.S., Ford, A.T., Haswell, P.M., Kowalczyk, R., Linnell, J.D.C., Mech, L.D. and Parker, D.M. (2017) Can we save large carnivores without losing large carnivore science? Food Webs 12, 64-75.

Research Gate Index: 34.24

h-Index: 27

Fields of research

  • 060208 Terrestrial Ecology
  • 060201 Behavioural Ecology
  • 060304 Ethology and Sociobiology
  • 050202 Conservation and Biodiversity
  • 070308 Plant Protection (Pests, Diseases and Weeds)
  • 070205 Animal Protection (Pests and Pathogens)
  • 050211 Wildlife and Habitat Management

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Keyword/phrase list of research interests

  • Wildlife management
  • Pest animal control
  • Animal disease epidemiology
  • Animal abundance estimation

Contact details

Email: peter.fleming@dpi.nsw.gov.au

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au