Dr Cara Miller

Biography

I am a quantitative ecologist interested in exploring ways to effectively monitor, measure and manage all aspects of biodiversity including species diversity, population dynamics, movement patterns, habitat status and use, and community/ecosystem profiles.  I am particularly interested in survey design, biodiversity indicators and conservation status assessments for remote, migratory and cryptic species. In addition, I have a passion for teaching – particularly ecological statistics – and supporting students in their studies and research.

Qualifications

PhD, Oceanography and Coastal Sciences

MSc, Applied Statistics

BSc, Life Sciences

Primary Research Area/s

Research Interests

Ecological statistics, survey design, community analysis, population dynamics, marine science and ecosystem management, environmental policy

Research Supervision Experience

If you are interested in postgraduate studies in any aspect of applied ecological statistics please contact me.

Publications

S. Simpson and C. Miller. In Press. "Identification of key discriminating variables between spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) whistle types.  The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.

M. Pearson, M. Reid, C. Miller, and D. Ryder. 2020. Comparison of historical and modern river surveys reveals changes to waterhole characteristics in an Australian dryland river. Geomorphology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107089

M. B. McKemey, M. Patterson, Banbai Rangers, E. J. Ens, N. C. H. Reid, J. T. Hunter, O. Costello, M. Ridges, and C. Miller. 2019. Cross-cultural monitoring of a cultural keystone species informs revival of indigenous burning of country in South-Eastern Australia. Human Ecology https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-019-00120-9

N. R. Andrew, C. Miller, G. Hall, Z. Hemmings and I. Oliver. 2019. Aridity and land use negatively influence a dominant species’ upper critical thermal limits. PeerJ 6:e6252 DOI 10.7717/peerj.6252

L. Paeniu, E. Holland, C. Miller, and G. Anderson. 2017. Rainfall Trends, Drought Frequency and La Niña in Tuvalu: A Small Equatorial Island State in the Pacific Ocean. Journal of Environmental and Analytical Toxicology 7:5 DOI: 10.4172/2161-0525.1000501

A. D. Marie, C. Miller, C. Cawich, S. Piovano, and C. Rico. 2017. Fisheries-independent surveys identify critical habitats for young scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) in the Rewa Delta, Fiji.  Scientific reports 7:17273.

Brodie, G., C. Miller, H. Pippard, and T. Kami. 2016.  Species conservation in the Pacific Islands: taking effective steps forward. Pacific Conservation Biology 22(3) 201 - 202.

K. Brown, J. Seeto, M. Lal, and C. Miller.  2016.  Discovery of an important aggregation area for endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks. Pacific Conservation Biology 22(3) 242-248.

C. Miller, A. Batibasaga, P. Chand, S. Dulunaqio, M. Fox, S. Jupiter, W. Naisilisili, Y. Nand, S. Sharma-Gounder, and, B. Smith.  2016. Synthesis of disparate data sources to develop a baseline of cetacean diversity, common occurrence and community importance in Fijian waters.  Pacific Conservation Biology 22(3) 272-280.

C. Miller, A. Batibasaga, S. Sharma-Gounder, and P. Solomona. 2015. Low numbers of Oceania humpback whales moving through a historic migration route in the Fiji Islands.  South Pacific Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 33(1&2), 39-45.

N. Cribb, C. Miller, and L. Seuront.  2015. Towards a standardized approach of cetacean habitat: Past Achievements and Future Directions. Open Journal of Marine Science, 5, 335357.

C. Miller and M. Prideaux.  2013.  Proactive Cetacean Conservation in the Midst of ‘Data Deficiency’: Progress of the Convention on Migratory Species Cetacean Agreement in the Pacific Islands Region. Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy 16:1, 41-56.

N. Cribb, C. Miller, and L. Seuront.  2013. Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) habitat preference in a heterogeneous, urban, coastal environment.  Aquatic biosystems 9:3.

N. Cribb, C. Miller and L. Seuront.  2012. Site fidelity and behaviour of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) in Moon Reef, Fiji Islands: implications for conservation.  Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, doi:10.1017/S0025315412000033

R. Leaper and C. Miller.  2011.  Management of Antarctic baleen whales amid past exploitation, current threats and complex marine ecosystems.  Antarctic Science doi:10.1017/S0954102011000708.

C. Miller and D. Baltz.  2009.  Environmental characterization of seasonal trends and foraging habitat of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in northern Gulf of Mexico bays.  Fisheries Bulletin 108:79–86.

C. Miller.  2009.  Current state of knowledge of cetacean threats, diversity and habitat in the Pacific Islands Region (updated).  UNEP/CMS/PIC2/Inf.6-01.

Consultancy Interests

Ecological statistics

Community and Advocacy Organisation Collaborations

Dolphin Research Australia (https://www.dolphinresearchaustralia.org/)

Wild Migration (https://www.wildmigration.org/)

External Profiles

• ORCid Profile