Professor Sarah Legge

Contacts

Honorary Professor

Research interests

  • Terrestrial Ecology060208
  • Behavioural Ecology060201
  • Environmental Science And Management0502
  • Conservation And Biodiversity050202
  • Shaw RE, James AI, Tuft K, Legge S, Cary GJ, Peakall R, Banks SC (2021) Unburnt habitat patches are critical for survival and in situ population recovery in a small mammal after fire, Journal of Applied Ecology 58, pp. 1325-1335.
  • Lindenmayer, D, Woinarski, J, Legge, S et al. 2020, 'A checklist of attributes for effective monitoring of threatened species and threatened ecosystems', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 262, 110312.
  • Ringma, J, Legge, S, Woinarski, J et al. 2019, 'Systematic planning can rapidly close the protection gap in Australian mammal havens', Conservation Letters, vol. 12, no. 1, p. 8.
  • Garnett, S, Butchart, S, Baker, G et al. 2019, 'Metrics of progress in the understanding and management of threats to Australian birds', Conservation Biology, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 456-468.
  • Woinarski, J, Braby, M, Burbidge, A et al. 2019, 'Reading the black book: The number, timing, distribution and causes of listed extinctions in Australia', Biological Conservation, vol. 239, pp. 14pp.
  • Wintle, B, Cadenhead, N, Morgain, R et al. 2019, 'Spending to save: What will it cost to halt Australia's extinction crisis?', Conservation Letters, vol. 12, no. 6, pp. 1-7.
  • Scheele, B, Legge, S, Blanchard, W et al. 2019, 'Continental-scale assessment reveals inadequate monitoring for threatened vertebrates in a megadiverse country', Biological Conservation, vol. 235, pp. 273-278.
  • Legge, S, Lindenmayer, D, Robinson, N et al., eds, 2018, Monitoring Threatened Species and Ecological Communities, CSIRO Publishing, Victoria.
  • Ringma, J, Legge, S, Woinarski, J et al. 2018, 'Australia's mammal fauna requires a strategic and enhanced network of predator-free havens', Nature Ecology & Evolution, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 410-411pp.
  • Lindenmayer, D, Wood, J, MacGregor, C et al 2018, 'Conservation conundrums and the challenges of managing unexplained declines of multiple species', Biological Conservation, vol. 221, pp. 279-292pp.
  • Scheele, B, Legge, S, Armstrong, D et al. 2018, 'How to improve threatened species management: An Australian perspective', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 223, pp. 668-675.
  • Robinson, N, Scheele, B, Legge, S et al. 2018, 'How to ensure threatened species monitoring leads to threatened species conservation', Ecological Management and Restoration, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 222-229pp.
  • Lindenmayer, D, Burns, E, Dickman, C et al. 2017, 'Save Australia's ecological research', Science, vol. 357, no. 6351, pp. 557-557.
  • Smith, J, Legge, S, James, A et al 2017, 'Optimising camera trap deployment design across multiple sites for species inventory surveys', Pacific Conservation Biology, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 43-51pp.
  • Doherty, T, Dickman, C, Johnson, C et al. 2017, 'Impacts and management of feral cats Felis catus in Australia', Mammal Review, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 83-97.
  • Legge, S, Murphy, B, McGregor, H et al. 2017, 'Enumerating a continental-scale threat: How many feral cats are in Australia?', Biological Conservation, vol. 206, pp. 293-303.
  • Lindenmayer, D, Woinarski, J, Legge, S et al. 2017, 'Staving off extinction - more than luck and fate', Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, vol. 15, no. 8, pp. 429-430pp.
  • Woinarski, J, Woolley, L, Garnett, S et al. 2017, 'Compilation and traits of Australian bird species killed by cats', Biological Conservation, vol. 216, pp. 1-9pp.
  • Kindel, J, Legge, S, Milenkaya, O et al 2017, 'Male-male pair bonding, nesting and egg incubation in a wild passerine', Journal of Ornithology, vol. 159, no. 1, pp. 307-309pp.
  • Woinarski, J, Murphy, B, Legge, S et al. 2017, 'How many birds are killed by cats in Australia?', Biological Conservation, vol. 214, pp. 76-87pp.
  • Franklin, D, Legge, S, Skroblin, A et al 2017, 'Wings of tropical finches: interspecific differences in shape are consistent with levels of mobility, but moult and feather fault patterns are more complex', Emu - Austral Ornithology, vol. 117, no. 4, pp. 370-381pp.
  • Woinarski, J, Garnett, S, Lindenmayer, D et al. 2017, Green probe: Learning from loss
    , pp. 22-24.
  • Woinarski, J, Murphy, B, Woolley, L et al. 2017, For whom the bell tolls: cats kill more than a million Australian birds every day, pp. online.
  • Woinarski, J, Murphy, B & Legge, S 2017, Australia Felix, pp. 34-37.
  • Woinarski, J, Garnett, S, Legge, S et al 2016, 'The contribution of policy, law, management, research, and advocacy failings to the recent extinctions of 3 Australian vertebrate species', Conservation Biology, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 13-23.
  • McGregor, H, Legge, S, Jones, M et al. 2016, 'GPS collars are more efficient when collecting high-frequency data', Australian Mammalogy, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 237-240pp.
  • McGregor, H, Legge, S, Jones, M et al. 2016, 'Extraterritorial hunting expeditions to intense fire scars by feral cats', Scientific Reports, vol. 6, pp. 22559-22559.
  • Hohnen, R, Tuft, K, Legge, S et al. 2016, 'Rainfall and topography predict gene flow among populations of the declining northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus)', Conservation Genetics, vol. 17, no. 5, pp. 1213-1228pp.
  • Woinarski, J, Lindenmayer, D, Garnett, S et al. 2016, 'A very preventable mammal extinction', Nature, vol. 535, no. 7613, pp. 493-493.
  • Bowman, D & Legge, S 2016, 'Pyrodiversity—why managing fire in food webs is relevant to restoration ecology', Restoration Ecology, vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 848-853.
  • Hohnen, R, Tuft, K, Legge, S et al. 2016, 'The significance of topographic complexity in habitat selection and persistence of a declining marsupial in the Kimberley region of Western Australia', Australian Journal of Zoology, vol. 64, no. 3, pp. 198-216.
  • Hohnen, R, Tuft, K, McGregor, H et al. 2016, 'Occupancy of the invasive feral cat varies with habitat complexity', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 11, no. 9, pp. -.
  • McGregor, H, Hampton, J, Lisle, D et al 2016, 'Live-capture of feral cats using tracking dogs and darting, with comparisons to leg-hold trapping', Wildlife Research, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 313-322.
  • McGregor, H, Legge, S, Jones, M et al. 2015, 'Feral Cats Are Better Killers in Open Habitats, Revealed by Animal-Borne Video', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 10, no. 8, pp. e0133915-e0133915.
  • Fisher, D, Johnson, C, Lawes, M et al. 2015, 'Response to commentary by Woinarski (Critical-weight-range marsupials in northern Australia are declining: a commentary on Fisher et al. (2014) 'The current decline of tropical marsupials in Australia: is history repeating?')', Global Ecology and Biogeography, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 123-125.
  • Lawes, M, Fisher, D, Johnson, C et al. 2015, 'Correlates of Recent Declines of Rodents in Northern and Southern Australia: Habitat Structure Is Critical', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 10, no. 6, pp. e0130626-e0130626.
  • Ziembicki, M, Woinarski, J, Webb, J et al. 2015, 'Stemming the tide: progress towards resolving the causes of decline and implementing management responses for the disappearing mammal fauna of northern Australia', THERYA, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 169-225.
  • Milenkaya, O, Catlin, D, Legge, S et al 2015, 'Body Condition Indices Predict Reproductive Success but Not Survival in a Sedentary, Tropical Bird', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 10, no. 8, pp. e0136582-e0136582.
  • Legge, S 2015, 'A plea for inserting evidence-based management into conservation practice', Animal Conservation, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 113-116.
  • Leahy, L, Legge, S, Tuft, K et al. 2015, 'Amplified predation after fire suppresses rodent populations in Australia's tropical savannas', Wildlife Research, vol. 42, no. 8, pp. 705-716.
  • Legge, S, Garnett, S, Maute, K et al. 2015, 'A Landscape-Scale, Applied Fire Management Experiment Promotes Recovery of a Population of the Threatened Gouldian Finch, Erythrura gouldiae, in Australia's Tropical Savannas', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 10, no. 10, pp. e0137997-e0137997.
  • Hayward, M, Poh, A, Cathcart, J et al 2015, 'Numbat nirvana: conservation ecology of the endangered numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) (Marsupialia : Myrmecobiidae) reintroduced to Scotia and Yookamurra Sanctuaries, Australia', Australian Journal of Zoology, vol. 63, no. 4, pp. 258-269.
  • McGregor, H, Legge, S, Potts, J et al. 2015, 'Density and home range of feral cats in north-western Australia', Wildlife Research, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 223-231.
  • Woinarski, J, Burbridge, A, Comer, S et al. 2015, 'Fire and biodiversity in Australia', in A. Stow, N. Maclean, G.I. Holwell (ed.), Austral Ark: The State of Wildlife in Australia and New Zealand, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom, pp. 537-559.
  • Maute, K, French, K, Legge, S et al 2015, 'Condition index monitoring supports conservation priorities for the protection of threatened grass-finch populations', Conservation Physiology, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. cov025-cov025.
  • Hohnen, R, Tuft, K, Legge, S et al. 2015, 'Post-fire habitat use of the golden-backed tree-rat (Mesembriomys macrurus) in the northwest Kimberley, Western Australia', Austral Ecology, vol. 40, no. 8, pp. 941-952.
  • Skroblin, A, Cockburn, A & Legge, S 2014, 'The population genetics of the western purple-crowned fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus coronatus), a declining riparian passerine', Australian Journal of Zoology, vol. 62, no. 3, pp. 251-259.
  • Frank, A, Johnson, C, Potts, J et al. 2014, 'Experimental evidence that feral cats cause local extirpation of small mammals in Australia's tropical savannas', Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 51, no. 6, pp. 1486-1493.
  • McGregor, H, Legge, S, Jones, M et al. 2014, 'Landscape Management of Fire and Grazing Regimes Alters the Fine-Scale Habitat Utilisation by Feral Cats', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 9, no. 10, pp. e109097-e109097.
  • Fisher, D, Johnson, C, Lawes, M et al. 2014, 'The current decline of tropical marsupials in Australia: is history repeating?', Global Ecology and Biogeography, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 181-190.
  • Skroblin, A, Legge, S, Webb, T et al 2014, 'EcoFire: regional-scale prescribed burning increases the annual carrying capacity of livestock on pastoral properties by reducing pasture loss from wildfire', The Rangeland Journal, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 133-142.
  • Milenkaya, O, Legge, S & Walters, J 2014, 'Body-Condition Indices Are Repeatable across Short, but Not Long, Time Periods in Crimson Finches Neochmia phaeton', Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, vol. 87, no. 4, pp. 550-558.
  • Skroblin, A & Legge, S 2013, 'Conservation of the Patchily Distributed and Declining Purple-Crowned Fairy-Wren (Malurus coronatus coronatus) across a Vast Landscape: The Need for a Collaborative Landscape-Scale Approach', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 8, no. 5, pp. e64942-e64942.
  • Page, M, Kuiper, J, Kabat, A et al 2013, 'A way to reduce interference with Elliott traps', Australian Mammalogy, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 128-130.
  • Milenkaya, O, Weinstein, N, Legge, S et al 2013, 'Variation in body condition indices of crimson finches by sex, breeding stage, age, time of day, and year', Conservation Physiology, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1-14.
  • Maute, K, French, K, Legge, S et al 2013, 'Seasonal stress physiology and body condition differ among co-occurring tropical finch species', Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology, vol. 183, no. 8, pp. 1023-1037.
  • Woinarski, J & Legge, S 2013, 'The impacts of fire on birds in Australia's tropical savannas', Emu - Austral Ornithology, vol. 113, no. 4, pp. 319-352.
  • Skroblin, A & Legge, S 2012, 'Influence of fine-scale habitat requirements and riparian degradation on the distribution of the purple-crowned fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus coronatus) in northern Australia', Austral Ecology, vol. 37, no. 8, pp. 874-884.
  • Skroblin, A, Lanfear, R, Cockburn, A et al 2012, 'Inferring population connectivity across the range of the purple-crowned fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus) from mitochondrial DNA and morphology: Implications for conservation management', Australian Journal of Zoology, vol. 60, no. 3, pp. 199-209.
  • Kennedy, M, Phillips, B, Legge, S et al. 2012, 'Do dingoes suppress the activity of feral cats in northern Australia?', Austral Ecology, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 134-139.
  • Carwardine, J, O'Connor, T, Legge, S et al 2012, 'Prioritizing threat management for biodiversity conservation', Conservation Letters, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 196-204.
  • Lindenmayer, D, Gibbons, P, Bourke, M et al. 2012, 'Improving biodiversity monitoring', Austral Ecology, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 285-294.
  • Hayward, M, L'Hotellier, F, O'Connor, T et al 2012, 'Reintroduction of Bridled Nailtail Wallabies beyond fences at Scotia Sanctuary - Phase 1', Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, vol. 134, pp. A27-A37.
  • Levin, N, Legge, S, Price, B et al 2012, 'MODIS time series as a tool for monitoring fires and their effects on savanna bird diversity', International Journal of Wildland Fire, vol. 21, no. 6, pp. 680-694.
  • Legge, S & Fleming, A 2012, 'Fire management in the central Kimberley (EcoFire): delivering measurable results by integrating science and land management in a cost-effective model', in P. Figgis, J. Fitzsimons and J. Irving (ed.), Innovation for 21st Century Conservation, Australian Committee for IUCN Inc, Australia, pp. 124-135.
  • Armstrong, G & Legge, S 2011, 'The post-fire response of an obligate seeding Triodia species (Poaceae) in the fire-prone Kimberley, north-west Australia', International Journal of Wildland Fire, vol. 20, no. 8, pp. 974-981.
  • Hayward, M, Bellchambers, K, Herman, K et al 2011, 'Spatial behaviour of yellow-footed rock-wallabies, Petrogale xanthopus, changes in response to active conservation management', Australian Journal of Zoology, vol. 59, no. 1, pp. 1-8.
  • Milenkaya, O, Legge, S & Walters, J 2011, 'Breeding biology and life-history traits of an Australasian tropical granivore, the Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton)', Emu - Austral Ornithology, vol. 111, no. 4, pp. 312-320.
  • Legge, S, Kennedy, M, Lloyd, R et al. 2011, 'Rapid recovery of mammal fauna in the central Kimberley, northern Australia, following the removal of introduced herbivores', Austral Ecology, vol. 36, no. 7, pp. 791-799.
  • Woinarski, J, Legge, S, Fitzsimons, J et al. 2011, 'The disappearing mammal fauna of northern Australia: Context, cause, and response', Conservation Letters, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 192-201.
  • Legge, S, Murphy, S, Kingswood, R et al 2011, 'ECOFIRE RESTORING THE BIODIVERSITY VALUES OF THE KIMBERLEY REGION BY MANAGING FIRE', Ecological Management and Restoration, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 84-92.
  • Murphy, S, Legge, S, Heathcote, J et al 2010, 'The effects of early and late-season fires on mortality, dispersal, physiology and breeding of red-backed fairy-wrens (Malurus melanocephalus)', Wildlife Research, vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 145-155.
  • Skroblin, A & Legge, S 2010, 'The distribution and status of the western subspecies of the Purple-crowned Fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus coronatus)', Emu - Austral Ornithology, vol. 110, no. 4, pp. 339-347.
  • Murphy, S, Heathcote, J, Garcia, S et al 2009, 'Time partitioning and substrate use of red-backed fairy-wrens malurus melanocephalus', Corella, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 39-42.
  • Heinsohn, R, Zeriga, T, Murphy, S et al 2009, 'Do Palm Cockatoos (Probosciger aterrimus) have long enough lifespans to support their low reproductive success?', Emu - Austral Ornithology, vol. 109, pp. 183-191.
  • Legge, S, Murphy, S, Heathcote, J et al 2008, 'The short-term effects of an extensive and high-intensity fire on vertebrates in the tropical savannas of the central Kimberley, northern Australia', Wildlife Research, vol. 35, pp. 33-43.
  • Murphy, S & Legge, S 2007, 'The gradual loss and episodic creation of Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) nest-trees in a fire- and cyclone-prone habitat', Emu - Austral Ornithology, vol. 107, pp. 1-6.
  • Murphy, S, Double, M & Legge, S 2007, 'The phylogeography of palm cockatoos, Probosciger aterrimus, in the dynamic Australo-Papuan region', Journal of Biogeography, vol. 34, pp. 1534-1545.
  • Heinsohn, R, Ebert, D, Legge, S et al. 2007, 'Genetic evidence for cooperative polyandry in reverse dichromatic Eclectus parrots', Animal Behaviour, vol. 74, pp. 1047-1054.
  • Wilson, D, Heinsohn, R & Legge, S 2006, 'Age- and sex-related differences in the spatial ecology of a dichromatic tropical python (Morelia viridis)', Austral Ecology, vol. 31, pp. 577-587.
  • Heinsohn, R, Legge, S & Endler, J 2005, 'Extreme Reversed Sexual Dichromatism in a Bird Without Sex Role Reversal', Science, vol. 309, pp. 617-619.
  • Legge, S, Heinsohn, R & Garnett, S 2004, 'Availability of nest hollows and breeding population size of eclectus parrots, Eclectus roratus on Cape York Peninsula, Australia', Wildlife Research, vol. 31, pp. 149-161.
  • Legge, S, Murphy, S, Igag, P et al 2004, 'Territoriality and density of an Australian migrant, the Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, in the New Guinean non-breeding grounds', Emu - Austral Ornithology, vol. 104, pp. 15-20.
  • Legge, S 2004, Kookaburra: king of the bush, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Australia.
  • Murphy, S & Legge, S 2003, 'A first record of a land-bird being trapped by Pisonia umbellifera', The Sunbird, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 111-112.
  • Murphy, S, Legge, S & Heinsohn, R 2003, 'The breeding biology of palm cockatoos (Probosciger aterrimus: a case of a slow life history', Journal of Zoology, vol. 261, pp. 327-339.
  • Legge, S, Heinsohn, R, Blackman, C et al 2003, 'Predation by Rufus Owls on Eclectus Parrots and other animals at Iron Range National Park, Cape York', Corella, vol. 27, pp. 45-46.
  • Heinsohn, R, Murphy, S & Legge, S 2003, 'Overlap and competition for nest holes among eclectus parrots, palm cockatoos and sulphur-crested cockatoos', Australian Journal of Zoology, vol. 51, pp. 81-94.
  • Heinsohn, R & Legge, S 2003, 'Breeding biology of the reverse-dichromatic, co-operative parrot Eclectus roratus', Journal of Zoology, vol. 259, pp. 197-208.
  • Legge, S 2002, 'Siblicide, starvation and nestling growth in the laughing kookaburra', Journal of Avian Biology, vol. 33, pp. 159-166.
  • Cockburn, A, Legge, S & Double, M 2002, 'Sex ratios in birds and mammals: can the hypotheses be disentangled?', in Ian C.W. Hardy (ed.), Sex Ratios: Concepts and Research Methods, Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom, pp. 266-286.
  • Legge, S 2002, 'To Kill a Kookaburra', Nature Australia, vol. 27, no. 5, pp. 26-35.
  • Heinsohn, R & Legge, S 2001, 'Seeing red: a parrot's perspective', Nature Australia, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 32-41.
  • Lindenmayer, D, McCarthy, M, Possingham, H et al 2001, 'A simple landscape-scale test of a spatially explicit population model: patch occupancy in fragmented south-eastern Australian forests', Oikos, vol. 92, pp. 445-458.
  • Nathan, A, Legge, S & Cockburn, A 2001, 'Nestling aggression in broods of a siblicidal kingfisher, the laughing kookaburra', Behavioral Ecology, vol. 12, no. 6, pp. 716-725.
  • Legge, S, Heinsohn, R, Double, M et al 2001, 'Complex sex allocation in the laughing kookaburra', Behavioral Ecology, vol. 12, no. 5, pp. 524-533.
  • Legge, S & Heinsohn, R 2001, 'Kingfishers in paradise: the breeding biology of Tanysiptera sylvia at the Iron Range National Park, Cape York', Australian Journal of Zoology, vol. 49, pp. 85-98.
  • Heinsohn, R, Dunn, P, Legge, S et al 2000, 'Coalitions of relatives and reproductive skew in cooperatively breeding white-winged choughs', Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences, vol. 267, pp. 243-249.
  • Legge, S 2000, 'The effect of helpers on reproductive success in the laughing kookaburra', Journal of Animal Ecology, vol. 69, pp. 714-724.
  • Legge, S 2000, 'Siblicide in the cooperatively breeding laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)', Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, vol. 48, no. 4, pp. 293-302.
  • Legge, S & Cockburn, A 2000, 'Social and mating system of cooperatively breeding laughing kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae)', Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, vol. 47, pp. 220-229.
  • Legge, S 2000, 'Helper contributions in the cooperatively breeding laughing kookaburra: feeding young is no laughing matter', Animal Behaviour, vol. 59, pp. 1009-1018.
  • Heinsohn, R & Legge, S 1999, 'The cost of helping', Trends in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 53-57.