Dr Cassandra Arkinstall

Cass is an ecologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Cass undertakes research on wild and reintroduced greater bilbies (Macrotis lagotis), and community dynamics and interactions with predators, livestock and competitors. Cass uses large camera trap data sets, AI image detection models and statistical models to understand what level of introduced predators bilbies can withstand/persist and not become locally extinct. These types of ‘predator thresholds’ can help identify management priorities and focus conservation efforts where they are needed most.

Cass has a strong interest in spatial ecology and enjoys using novel approaches or new ways to use existing technology to track and collect data of managed and wild populations.

Cass completed her undergraduate degree and honours at UQ before working in the consulting industry for over a decade. Cass returned to UQ in 2018 to complete her PhD which centred around the reintroduction of bilbies to a predator exclosure on a National Park in south-western Queensland and the spatial ecology of bilbies across several reserves.

Cass’ research is funded by Save the Bilby Fund, who she collaborates with on several large-scale projects.