Dr Sarah McGrath

Sarah is the Project Coordinator for the Threatened Species Index (TSX) at the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN). The TSX integrates long-term monitoring data for Australia’s threatened and near-threatened species to estimate abundance trends. A key focus of Sarah’s role is coordinating all phases of project delivery and leading project-specific research, analysis and reporting to support evidence-based conservation and decision making.

In addition to her TSX role, Sarah continues to pursue her interest in the conservation of primates and other wildlife. In 2023, she completed her PhD at the Australian National University, studying the impacts of illegal selective logging and hunting pressure on the Endangered northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon (Nomascus annamensis) in Veun Sai-Siem Pang National Park, Cambodia. For her master’s research, Sarah investigated the host plant preferences of the Critically Endangered Lord Howe Island stick insect (Dryococlus australis) to assist reintroduction to Lord Howe Island.

Publications

McGrath, S. J., & Behie, A. M. (2021). Hunting pressure on primates in Veun Sai-Siem Pang National Park, Cambodia. International Journal of Primatology, 42, 563-588. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-021-00219-1.

McGrath, S. J., Cleave, R. J., Elgar, M. A., Silcocks, S. C. & Magrath, M. J. L. (2017). Determining host plant preferences for the critically endangered Lord Howe Island stick insect (Dryococlus australis) to assist reintroduction. Journal of Insect Conservation, 21, 791-799. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-017-0002-3.

McGrath, S. J., Liu, J., Stevenson, B. C., & Behie, A. M. (2023). Density and population size estimates of the endangered northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon Nomascus annamensis in selectively logged Veun Sai-Siem Pang National Park in Cambodia using acoustic spatial capture-recapture methods. PLoS ONE, 18, e0292386. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0292386.

McGrath, S. J., Malone, N. and Behie, A. M. (2024), Effects of chainsaw noise on the activity budgets and calling behaviour of the northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon (Nomascus annamensis). Wildlife Biology, 2024, e01196. https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01196.