Richard Major - Australian Museum

Staff profile:Dr Richard Major

Position title:: Senior Research Scientist
Section:: Terrestrial Ecology
Branch:: Research
Division:: Research & Collections
Phone:: +612 9320 6183
Email:: Contact Richard Major using the form below

Profile

Research interests:

Effects of urbanization on birds
Effects of habitat fragmentation on animals, particularly birds
Breeding ecology of birds
Threatened species conservation

Current projects:

Conservation ecology of the white-fronted chat
Birds in Backyards
Historical changes in the birds of Sydney
Ecology of urban ibis
Ecology of urban parrots

Committees

Chairperson, New South Wales Scientific Committee
Chair, Australian Museum Animal Care and Ethics Committee
Birds in Backyards Steering Committee

Publications

Keith, D.A., Orscheg, C., Simpson, C.C., Clarke, P.J., Hughes, L., Kennelly, S.J., Major, R.E., Soderquist, T.R. Wilson, A.L. and Bedward, M. (2009). A new approach and case study for estimating extent and rates of habitat loss for ecological communities. Biological Conservation 142: 1469-1479
Major, R.E. (2009). Using museum collections and community surveys to monitor change in the birds of Sydney. Australian Zoologist: In Press
Ashley, L.C., Major, R.E. and Taylor, C.E. (2009) Does the presence of grevilleas and eucalypts in urban gardens influence the distribution and foraging ecology of Noisy Miners? Emu 109: 135-142
Parsons, H., French, K. and Major, R.E. (2008). The vegetation requirements of Superb Fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus) in non-urban edge and urbanised habitats. Emu 108: 283-291
Martin, J.M., French, K., and Major, R.E. (2007). The pest status of Australian white ibis (Threskiornis molucca) in urban situations and the effectiveness of egg-oil in reproductive control. Wildlife Research 34: 319–324
Hodgson, P., French, K., and Major, R.E. (2007). Avian movement across abrupt ecological edges: differential responses to housing density in an urban matrix.Landscape and Urban Planning 79: 266-272
Hodgson, P., French, K., and Major, R.E. (2006). A comparison of foraging behaviour of small, urban-sensitive insectivores in continuous woodland and woodland remnants in a suburban landscape. Wildlife Research 33: 591-603
Major, R.E., Gowing, G., Christie, F.J., Gray, M and Colgan, D. (2006). Variation in wolf spider (Araneae: Lycosidae) distribution and abundance in response to the size and shape of woodland fragments. Biological Conservation 132: 98-108
Parsons, H., Major, R.E. and French, K. (2006). Species interactions and habitat associations of birds inhabiting urban areas of Sydney, Australia. Austral Ecology 31: 217-227
French, K., Major, R.E. and Hely, K. (2005). Use of native and exotic garden plants by suburban nectarivorous birds. Biological Conservation 121: 545-559
Parsons, H. and Major, R.E. (2004). Bird interactions in Sydney gardens: some initial findings of the Birds in Backyards program. pp 211-215 in Urban Wildlife: more than meets the eye. Lunney, D. and Burgin, S. (eds). Royal Zoological Society of NSW, Mosman, NSW.
Parsons, H., French, K and Major, R.E. (2003). The influence of remnant bushland on the composition of suburban bird assemblages in Australia. Landscape and Urban Planning 66: 43-56
Major, R. E. (2003). Urban currawongs. Nature Australia 27(9): 52-59
Major, R.E., Christie, F.J., Gowing, G., Cassis, G. and Reid, C.A.M. (2003). The effect of habitat configuration on arboreal insects in fragmented woodlands of south-eastern Australia. Biological Conservation 113: 35-48
Colgan, D.J., Brown, S., Major, R.E., Christie, F.J., Gray, M. and Cassis, G. (2002). Population genetics of wolf spiders of fragmented habitat in the wheat belt of New South Wales. Molecular Ecology 11: 2295-2305
Major, R. E. and Gowing, G. (2001). Survival of Red-capped Robins Petroica goodenovii in woodland remnants of central western New South Wales, Australia. Wildlife Research 28: 565-571
Major, R. E., Christie, F.J. and Gowing G. (2001). Influence of remnant and landscape attributes on Australian woodland bird communities. Biological Conservation 102: 47-66
French K., and Major, R.E. (2001). The effect of an alien Acacia on ant communities in South African fynbos. Austral Ecology 26: 303-311
Martin, T.J., and Major R.E. (2001). Changes in wolf spider assemblages across woodland/pasture boundaries in the central wheatbelt of New South Wales, Australia. Austral Ecology 26: 264-274.
Macaranas, J. M., Colgan, D.J., Major, R.E., Cassis, G. and Gray, M. (2000). Species discrimination and population differentiation in ants using microsatellites. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 29: 125-136
Major R.E., Smith D., Cassis G., Gray M.R. and Colgan D.J. (1999). Are roadside strips important reservoirs of invertebrate diversity? A comparison of the ant and beetle faunas of roadside strips and large remnant woodlands. Australian Journal of Zoology 47: 611-624
Major, R.E., Christie, F.J., Gowing, G., and Ivison, T.J. (1999). Age structure and density of red-capped robin populations vary with habitat size and shape. Journal of Applied Ecology 36: 901-908
Major, R.E., Christie, F.J., Gowing, G., and Ivison, T.J. (1999). Elevated rates of predation on artificial nests in linear strips of habitat. Journal of Field Ornithology 70: 351-364
Matthews, A., Dickman, C.R., and Major, R.E. (1999). The influence of fragment size and edge on nest predation in urban bushland. Ecography 22: 349-357
Pyke G.H., Christy M, and Major R.E. (1996) Territoriality in honeyeaters: review the concept and evaluating available information. Australian Journal of Zoology 44: 297-317
Major R.E., Gowing G., and Kendal C.E. (1996) Nest predation in Australian urban environments and the role of the Pied Currawong Strepera graculina. Australian Journal of Ecology 21: 399-409
Major R.E., and Kendal C.E. (1996) The contribution of artificial nest experiments to our understanding of avian reproductive success: a review of methods and conclusions. Ibis 138: 298-307.
Gowing G., and Major R.E. (1995) The Nest Test experiment: are community involvement and good science mutually exclusive? Museum Management and Curatorship 14: 169-180
Major R.E., and Gowing G. (1994) An inexpensive photographic technique for identifying nest predators at active nests of birds. Wildlife Research 21: 657-66
Major R.E., Pyke G.H., Christy M.T., Gowing G., and Hill R.S. (1994) Can nest predation explain the timing of the breeding season and the pattern of nest dispersion of New Holland Honeyeaters? Oikos 69: 364-372
Major R.E. (1992) Mate guarding in a population of White-fronted Chats Ephthianura albifrons Jardine & Selby (Passeriformes: Ephthianuridae): a response to group living and a male-skewed sex ratio? Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 401-409
Major R.E. (1991) Breeding biology of the white-fronted chat Ephthianura albifrons in a saltmarsh near Melbourne. Emu 91: 236-249
Major R.E. (1991) Flocking and feeding in the white-fronted chat Ephthianura albifrons: the relationship between diet, food availability and patch selection. Australian Journal of Ecology 16: 395-407
Major R.E. (1991) Identification of nest predators by photography, dummy eggs and adhesive tape. Auk 108: 190 195
Major R.E. (1990) Stomach flushing of an insectivorous bird: an assessment of differential digestion of prey and the risk to birds. Wildlife Research 17: 647-657
Major R.E. (1990) The effect of human observers on the intensity of nest predation. Ibis 132: 608-612