Dr David Westcott is an expert in tropical ecology.

Dr David Westcott: rainforest ecologist

Dr Westcott is currently studying patterns of seed and weed dispersal in tropical rainforests and the influence that landscape change has on this process.

• 19 September 2007 | Updated 14 October 2011

Overview

• Current activities 
• Background
• Academic qualifications 
• Achievements

Current activities

In his role as a Principal Research Scientist, Tropical Landscapes, at CSIRO's Atherton Laboratory in Queensland, Dr Westcott is responsible for:

• managing the Ecosystem Function and Prediction Stream in CSIRO's Healthy Terrestrial Ecosystems theme
• developing new research projects 
• leading a group of scientists and technical staff studying the ecology of tropical rainforests and landscapes.

His current projects include:

• identification and impact of invasive pests in the Wet Tropics rainforests
• Cassowary genetics and population monitoring
• biodiversity in Wet Tropics floodplains
• predicting and managing invasive spread in rainforest habitats
• Flying fox ecology and management.

Background

Dr Westcott joined CSIRO in 1995.

His expertise lies in:

• vertebrate ecology
• behaviour and evolution
• conservation biology
• landscape ecology
• movement ecology.

His research interests include:

• the evolution of communication systems
• the ecology and conservation management of endangered species such as the Southern cassowary and the Spectacled flying fox
• seed and weed dispersal in tropical rainforests and the influence of landscape change on this process
• the ecology and consequences of animal movement.

Academic qualifications

Dr Westcott has been awarded:

• a Bachelor of Science in Zoology with First Class Honours from The Australian National University, in 1986
• a Master of Science from The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, in 1991
• a Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology, also from The University of British Columbia, in 1995.

Achievements

Dr Westcott is a subject editor for the journal Biotropica and Biodiversity and Conservation and is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at James Cook University.

While at CSIRO, Dr Westcott has produced more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and books and more than 20 other scientific publications. 

In 2005, he was a visiting Fellow with the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Gardens.

Find out more about our work in Biodiversity & Ecology.