CDU Researcher Profile

• Research interests
• Publications
• Current projects
• Recent completions supervised

Research Interests

Peter's research career has been uniformly directed at providing information to resolve pressing land and wildlife management problems. This focus is reflected in the divesity of areas in which he has published rather than particular emphasis on a narrow area of specialisation.

Peter's research interests include:

• Wildlife population management
• Land management
• Issues related to harvest and sustainable use
  

Recent Publications

Refereed publications

1. Gorman, J., Massarella, H., Wightman, G., Whitehead, P., Griffiths, A. (2003, 15/07/2003 - 17/07/2003). Feasibility of local, small scale harvests for indigenous communities. International Association of Landscape Ecology World Congress 2003, Darwin.
2. Zhang, Y., Pearson, D., Bowman, D., Whitehead, P. (2003, 13/07/2003 - 17/07/2003). Spatial analysis of the fire induced landscapes in the tropical savannas using remotely sensed data.. 6th world congress of the international Association for Landscape Ecology, Darwin.
3. Whitehead, P. (2003, 2/10/2002 - 4/10/2002). Fire in the Top End seasonal wetlands. Wise use of wetlands in northern Australia, CDU, Darwin.
4. Choquenot, D., Bayliss, P., Whitehead, P. (2003, 2/10/2002 - 4/10/2002). Managing Feral Animals in wetlands and riparian habitats. Wise use of wetlands in northern Australia, CDU, Darwin.
5. Myers, B., McKaige, M., Whitehead, P., Douglas, M. (2003, 2/10/2002 - 4/10/2002). Wise use of wetlands in northern Australia: Grazing management in wetlands and riparian habitats. , CDU, Darwin.
6. Gorman, J., Massarella, H., Wightman, G., Whitehead, P., Griffiths, A. (2003, 1/12/2003 - 5/12/2003). Feasibility of local small scale harvests for indigenous Australian community. 3rd International Wildlife Management Congress, Christchurch, New Zealand.
7. Ferdinands, K., Beggs, K., Whitehead, P. (2003, 13/07/2003 - 17/07/2003). Predicting the spatial distribution and impact of an invasive weed in wetlands of the wet-dry tropics of Northern Territory. 6th World Congress of the International Association of Lanscape Ecology, Darwin.
8. Ferdinands, K., Beggs, K., Whitehead, P., Devonport, C. (2003, 1/12/2003 - 5/12/2003). Using spatial technologies to develop an adaptive management framework for wildlife habitat conservation: A case study from the we-dry tropics of Northern Australia. 3rd International Wildlife Management Congress, Christchurch, NZ.
9. Whitehead, P. (2003, 6/03/2003 - 7/03/2003). Indigenous Products from Indigenous People: Linking Enterprise, Wildlife use and conservation. Seizing our Future, Alice Springs.
10. Altman, J., Whitehead, P. (2003, 28/04/2003 - 1/05/2003). Caring for Country and Sustainable Indigenous Development: Opportunities, Constraints and Innovation. National Landcare Conference, Darwin, Australia.
11. Russell-Smith, J., Whitehead, P.J., Williams, R.J. and Flannigan M. (2003). Fire and savanna landscapes in northern Australia: regional lessons and global challenges (published as issues 12(3) and 12(4) of the International Journal of Wildland Fire. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 12, 198-202.
12. Russell-Smith, J., Whitehead, P.J., Cook, G.D., Hoare, J.L. (2003). Response of Eucalyptus-dominated savanna to frequent fires: lessons from Munmarlary, 1973-1996. Ecological Monographs, 73, 349-375.
13. Whitehead, P.J., Bowman, D.M.J.S., Preece, N. Fraser, F. and Cooke, P (2003). Customary use of fire by indigenous peoples in northern Australia: its contemporary role in savanna. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 12(4), 415-425.
14. Altman, J., Griffiths, A. and Whitehead. P. (2003). Invasion of the Rubbish Frogs. Nature Australia, Spring, 44-51.
15. Whitehead, P. J., Woinarski, J., Franklin, D. and Price, O. (2002). Landscape Ecology, Wildlife Management, and Conservation in Northern Australia: Linking policy, practise, capability in regional planning. In: Bissonette, J. and Storch, I. (eds). Landscape Ecology and Resource Management: Linking theory with practice. Island Press. pp 227-259.
16. Fensham, R.J., Fairfax, Holman, J.E. and Whitehead, P. J. (accepted). Quantitative assessment of forest canopy cover and basal area from aerial photography. International Journal of Remote Sensing.
17. Bowman, D. M. J. S., Price,O., Whitehead, P. J. and Walsh, A. (2001). The "wilderness effect" and the decline of Callitris intratropica on the Arnhem Land Plateau, northern Australia. Australian Journal of Botany, 49, pp 665-672.
18. Yibarbuk, D. M., Whitehead, P. J., Russell-Smith, J., Jackson, D., Fisher, A., Cooke, P., Choquenot, D. and Bowman, D. J. M. S. (2001). Fire ecology and Aboriginal land management in central Arnhem Land, Northern Australia: a tradition of ecosystem management. Journal of Biogeography, 28, pp 325-344.
19. Dawson, T. J., Whitehead, P. J., Mclean, A., Fanning, F. D. and Dawson, W. R. (2000). Digestive Function in the Magpie Goose (Anseranas Semipalmata). Australian Journal of Zoology, 48, pp 265-279.
20. Whitehead, P. J. and Dawson T. J. (2000). Let Them Eat Grass! Nature Australia, Autumn 2000, pp 47-55.
21. Whitehead, P. J. and Saalfield, K. (2000). Nesting Phenology of Magpie Geese Anseranas Semipalmata in monsoonal Northern Australia: Responses to antecedent rainfall. Journal of Zoology (London), 251, pp 494-508.
22. Whitehead, P. J. (1999). Aspects of the nesting biology of the Magpie Geese Anseranas semipalmata: Incubation Period, Hatching Synchrony and Patterns of Nest Attendance and Defence. Emu, 99, pp 121-134.
23. Whitehead, P. J. (1998). Boofheads with Deep Voices: Sexual Dimorphism in the Magpie Goose Anseranas Semipalmata. Wilfowl, 49, pp 75-91.
24. Whitehead, P. J. (1999). Promoting conservation in landscapes subject to change: lessons from the Mary River. Australian Biologist, 12 (1), pp 50-62.
25. Whitehead, P. J. and Turner S. (1998). Using the presence and condition of eggshells to determine nest success in the magpie goose, Anseranas semipalmata. Wildlife Research, 25, pp 603-609.

Selected career best publications

1. Walsh, B. and Whitehead, P. J. (1993). Problem crocodiles (Crocodilus porosus) at Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Australia: An assessment of relocation as a management strategy. Wildlife Research, 20, pp 127-135.
2. Whitehead, P. J., Bowman, D. M. J. S. and Tidemann, S. C. (1992). Biogeographic patterns, environmental correlates and conservation of avifauna in the Northern Territory, Australia. Journal of Biogeography, 19, pp 151-161.
3. Whitehead, P. J., Seymore, R.S. and Webb, G.J.W. (1992). Energetics of embryonic devbelopment in Crocodylus johnstonii: relation to duration of incubation. Physiological Zoology, 65, pp 360-378.
4. Whitehead, P. J. and Tschirner, K. (1991). Lead shot ingestion and lead poisoning in magpie geese Anseranas semipalmata foraging in a Northern Australian hunting reserve. Biological Conservation, 58, pp 98-112.
5. Whitehead, P. J. and Tschirner, K. (1990). Magpie goose Anseranas semipalmata nesting on the Mary River Floodplain: extent and frequency of flooding losses. Australian Wildlife Research, 17, pp 147-157.
6. Whitehead, P. J. and Seymour, R.S. (1990). Patterns of metablic rate in embryonic crocodiles, Crocodylus johnstonii and Crocodilus porosus. Physiological Zoology, 63, pp 334-952.
7. Whitehead, P. J., Webb, G.J.W. and Seymour, R.S. (1990). Effects of incubation temperature on development of Crocodylus johnstonii embryos. Physiological Zoology, 63, pp 949-964.
8. Whitehead, P. J. (1987). Respiration of Crocodylus johnstonii eggs. In: Webb, G.J.W., Manolis, S.C. and Whitehead, P. J. (eds). Wildlife Management: Crocodiles and Alligators. Surrey Beatty and Sons, Sydney. pp 474-497.

Current Projects

Current projects include:

• Impact of cane toads on two large goanna species in Kakadu National Park 2002 - 2003. Parks Australia North $15000 01/09/2002 to 31/12/2003
• Applying macroecology to assist in the management of Kakadu National Park. Parks Australia North and Australian Research Council $294000
  01/01/2003 to 31/12/2005
• Laser Ablation System for Elemental Analysis and Tropical Environmental Research. ERISS $5000 01/01/2003 to 31/12/2003
• Feral and exotic animal management strategy. Parks Australia North $272789. 11-Nov-01 to 31-July-03
• Ecology and Sustainable Harvest of Bamboo Bambusa arnhemica. Parks & Wildlife Commission of the NT. $65010. 31-Aug-00 to 01-Sep-03
  

Recent Completions Supervised

PhD

• Penelope Wurm: Population ecology of Oryza meridionalis Ng on the South Alligator River floodplain. Lodged: 08/01/99

Masters

• Nina Kurucz: The nesting biology of the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii macrorhynchus) and its management implications in the Top End of Australia. Lodged: 26/10/00