Dr Eric Nordberg

Senior Lecturer - Applied Ecology and Landscape Management - School of Environmental and Rural Science

Phone: +61 02 6773 3452

Building: Building – W077, Room – 205

Biography

Dr Eric Nordberg is a wildlife ecologist and leader of the Reptile Ecology and Environmental Disturbance (REED) lab, interested in the impacts of environmental disturbance and land-use change on wildlife communities.

Research in his lab focuses on the response of wildlife populations, particularly reptiles, to natural and human-mediated disturbances, and investigates the impacts of landscape change on community ecology, species interactions, and natural history.

Eric studies a range of topics, from spatial ecology of timber rattlesnakes in the USA, to impacts of feral pigs on turtles in Cape York, to identifying win-win strategies between industry (e.g., cattle grazing) and wildlife conservation.

Eric serves as the ERS Course Coordinator for BSc Honours, as the head of the Renewable Energy Hub at UNE, as the staff representative for the UNE Zoology Society, and as the wildlife representative for the UNE Animal Ethics Working group.

Qualifications

2010. BSc – Wildlife and Fisheries Science - Pennsylvania State University, USA

2013. MSc - Biology - Middle Tennessee State University, USA

2018. PhD - Ecology - James Cook University, Australia

Awards

2023. Dean’s Early/Mid-Career Research Excellence Award - University of New England

2023. 3 R's Animal Ethics Award - University of New England

2020. Mike Bull Award for Early Career Nature Scientists – Nature Foundation

2020. James Cook University Early Career Researcher Open Access Champion

Teaching Areas

Teaching Area/s:

ECOL100 - Ecology: Concepts and Applications (Unit Coordinator)

ECOL204 - Ecological Methods (Unit Coordinator)

ANPR360 - Beef Production (Lecturer)

EM351/551 - Ecosystem Rehabilitation (Lecturer)

ZOOL310 - Techniques in Zoology (Lecturer)

Primary Research Area/s

Ecology; Disturbance Ecology; Herpetology; Conservation; Animal Behaviour; Renewable Energy

Research Interests

Recent Grants and Projects

2023

$392,700 – Ecology and conservation of the Christmas Island giant gecko. NESP Landscape Hub

$249,203 – Linking flow and freshwater turtle movement to critical wetland habitats. QLD Dept. Environment and Science

$114,286 – Turtles Forever - Securing Australia's wild population of bell's turtle - artificial rearing of hatchling turtles to reinforce wild populations. Northern Tablelands Local Land Services

$20,000 – Assessing the importance of thermal refugia under threats of climate change and fire. UNE-DPE Environment and Heritage Small Grants Scheme

2022

$38,616 – Turtle trapping and tagging. Department of Environment and Water, South Australia Government

$20,000 – Great adventurers: examining the spatial ecology and movement patterns of forest-wandering turtles. Robine Enid Wilson Small Grants Scheme UNE

$111,500 - Linking flow and freshwater turtle dispersal in rivers and floodplains of the northern Murray-Darling Basin. NSW Dept. of Planning, Industry, and Environment

2021

$59,330 – On-farm water quality and cattle drinking preference. Northern Tablelands Local Land Services

$215,700 – Production of Bells Turtle Hatchlings for Release into the Wild. Northern Tablelands Local Land Services

2020

$10,000 – Efficacy of peppermint oil as gecko deterrent: a test of avoidance. Pestrol Australia

$3000 – Mike Bull Award for Early Career Nature Scientists - Nocturnal basking activity in freshwater turtles. Nature Foundation

2019

$65,513 – Gully restoration and biodiversity workshops. NQ Dry Tropics Ltd

Research Supervision Experience

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) internships, minor projects, Honours, MSc, and PhD students

Publications

*student author

41. Dowling, J.*, D.S. Bower, R. Boscarino-Gaetano, E.J. Nordberg. 2024. The influence of fence design on the movement patterns of eastern long-necked turtles. Journal of Wildlife Management. e22554. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22654

40. Dowling, J.*, D.S. Bower, E.J. Nordberg. 2024. Overwintering under ice: A novel observation for an Australian freshwater turtle. Ecology and Evolution. 14(7), e11578. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11578

39. Boscarino-Gaetano, R., K. Vernes, E.J. Nordberg. 2024. Creating wildlife habitat using artificial structures: a review of their efficacy and potential use in solar farms. Biological Reviews. 99:5, 1848-1867. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.13095

38. Kidman, R.*1, 1D.T. McKnight, L. Schwarzkopf, E.J. Nordberg. 2024. How turtles keep their cool: Seasonal and diel basking patterns in a tropical turtle. Journal of Thermal Biology. Volume 121, April 2024, 103834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103834

37. Hoefer, S.* D.T. McKnight, S. Allen-Ankins, E.J. Nordberg, and L. Schwarzkopf. 2023. Diverse Methods for Diverse Systems: A Large-Scale Comparison of Reptile Sampling Methods. Herpetologica. 80(1):40-50. https://doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-23-00022.1

36. McGregor, D., E. Nordberg, H.J. Yoon, K. Youngentob, L. Schwarzkopf, and A. Krockenberger. 2023. Comparison of home range size, habitat use and the influence of resource variations between two species of greater gliders (Petauroides minor and Petauroides volans). PLoS ONE 18 (10), e0286813. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286813

35. Bower, DS, DT McKnight, K Sullivan*, SL Macdonald, A Georges, S Clulow, R Mathwin, MJ Connell, HV Nelson, A Santoro, B Nordstrom, JU Van Dyke, RA Kidman*, LM Streeting, ML Dillon, R Spencer, MB Thompson, EJ Nordberg. 2023. Opportunities for research and conservation of freshwater turtles in Australia. Austral Ecology. 00:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13403

34. Kidman, R.A.*, D.T. McKnight, L. Schwarzkopf, E.J. Nordberg. Too cold is better than too hot: Preferred temperatures and basking behaviour in a tropical freshwater turtle. Austral Ecology. 00:1-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13335

33. Hoefer, S.*, D.T. McKnight, S. Allen-Ankins, E.J. Nordberg, L. Schwarzkopf. 2023. Passive acoustic monitoring in terrestrial vertebrates: a review. Bioacoustics 30:5 506-531. https://doi.org/10.1080/09524622.2023.2209052

32.Nordberg, E.J. and D. T. McKnight. 2023. Seasonal, environmental and anthropogenic influences on nocturnal basking in turtles and crocodiles from North‐Eastern Australia. Austral Ecology. 00:1–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13320

31. McKnight, D.T., K. Ard, R.J. Auguste, G. Barhadiya, M.F. Benard, P. Boban, M.L. Dillon, C.T. Downs, B.A. DeGregorio, B.M. Glorioso, R.M. Goodman, C. Hird, E.C. Hollender, M. Kennedy, R.A. Kidman*, A. Massey, P. McGovern, M. Mühlenhaupt, K. Ostovar, D. Podgorski, C. Price, B.A Reinke, L.M Streeting, J. Venezia, J. Young, E.J Nordberg. 2023. Nocturnal Basking in freshwater turtles: a global assessment. Global Ecology and Conservation. Volume 43, June 2023, e02444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02444

30. Nordberg, E.J. and L. Schwarzkopf. 2023. Developing conservoltaic systems to support biodiversity on solar farms. Austral Ecology. 00, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13289

29. Allen-Ankins, S., D.T. McKnight, E.J. Nordberg, S. Hoefer*, P. Roe, D.M. Watson, P.G. McDonald, R.A. Fuller, L. Schwarzkopf. 2023. Effectiveness of acoustic indices as indicators of vertebrate biodiversity. Ecological Indicators 147 (2023) 109937.

28. Nordberg, E.J. and L. Schwarzkopf. 2022. Are nocturnal geckos afraid of the dark? The influence of natural and artificial light at night on the behavioral activity of geckos. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 10:821335.

27. Waltham, N., J. Schaffer, J. Perry, S. Walker, E. Nordberg. 2022. Simple conservation fence modification enables movement of freshwater turtles across dynamic floodplains. Wildlife Biology. 10.1002/wlb3.01012

26. Nordberg, E.J., M.J. Caley, L. Schwarzkopf. 2021. Designing solar farms for synergistic commercial and conservation outcomes. Solar Energy 228(November):586–593.

25. McKnight, D.T., W. Wirth, L. Schwarzkopf, and E.J., Nordberg. 2021. Leech removal is not the primary driver of basking behavior in freshwater turtles. Ecology and Evolution 11(16): 10936–10946.

24. Nordberg, E.J. and V. Cobb. 2021. Small nature preserves do not adequately support large-ranging snakes: movement ecology and site fidelity in a fragmented rural landscape. Global Ecology and Conservation 28(August 2021) e01715.

23. Nordberg, E.J., R. Denny*, L. Schwarzkopf. 2021. Testing measures of boldness and exploratory activity in native versus invasive species: geckos as a model system. Animal Behaviour 177:215–222.

22. Pillai, R.*, E.J. Nordberg, J. Riedel, and L. Schwarzkopf. 2020. Geckos cling best to, and prefer to use, rough surfaces. Frontiers in Zoology 17(32) 1–12.

21. Nordberg, E.J. and D.T. McKnight. 2020. Nocturnal basking behavior in a freshwater turtle. Ecology 101(7): e03048.

20. Riedel, J.1, E.J. Nordberg1, and L. Schwarzkopf. 2020. Ecological niche and microhabitat use of Australian geckos. Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution 66(3-4) 209–222.

19. Pillai, R.*, E.J. Nordberg, J. Riedel, and L. Schwarzkopf. 2020. Non-linear variation in clinging performance with surface roughness in geckos. Ecology and Evolution 10:2597–2607.

18. Fushida, A.*, R. Pillai, J. Riedel, E.J. Nordberg, and L. Schwarzkopf. 2020. Can geckos increase shedding rate to remove fouling? Herpetologica 76(1):22–26.

17. Nordberg, E.J. 2019. Potential impacts of intraguild predation by invasive Asian house geckos. Austral Ecology 44: 1487–1489.

16. Nordberg, E.J., S. Macdonald, G. Zimny, A. Hoskins, A. Zimny, R. Somaweera, J. Ferguson, and J. Perry. 2019. An evaluation of nest predator impacts and the efficacy of plastic meshing on marine turtle nests on the western Cape York Peninsula, Australia. Biological Conservation 238: 108201

15. Nordberg, E.J. and L. Schwarzkopf. 2019c. Predation risk is a function of alternative prey availability rather than predator abundance in a tropical savanna woodland ecosystem. Scientific Reports 9:7718.

14. Nordberg, E.J., and L. Schwarzkopf. 2019b. Heat seekers: a tropical nocturnal lizard uses behavioral thermoregulation to exploit rare microclimates at night. Journal of Thermal Biology 82:107–114.

13. Nordberg, E.J. and L. Schwarzkopf. 2019a. Reduced competition may allow generalist species to benefit from habitat homogenization. Journal of Applied Ecology 56:305–318.

12. Cornelis, J.*, E.J. Nordberg, L. Schwarzkopf. 2019. Antipredator behaviour of invasive geckos in response to chemical cues from snakes. Ethology 125:57–63.

11. Grisnik, M., J.E. Leys, D. Bryan, R.H. Hardman, D.L. Miller, V.A. Cobb, C. Ogle, C. Simpson, J.R. Campbell, R.D. Applegate, M.C. Allender, E.J. Nordberg, A.A. Hoekstra, D.M. Walker. 2018. Host and geographic range of snake fungal disease in Tennessee, USA. Herpetological Review 49(4): 682–690.

10. Nordberg, E.J., L. Edwards, and L. Schwarzkopf. 2018. Terrestrial Invertebrates as Formidable Predators of Vertebrates: An Underestimated Guild. Food Webs 15: e00080.

9. Nordberg, E.J., P. Murray*, R. Alford, and L. Schwarzkopf. 2018. Abundance, diet, and prey selection of two species of arboreal lizards in a grazed tropical woodland. Austral Ecology 43: 328–338.

8. Neilly, H., E.J. Nordberg, J. VanDerWal, and L. Schwarzkopf. 2018. Arboreality increases reptile community resistance to disturbance from livestock grazing. Journal of Applied Ecology 55: 786–799.

7. Nordberg, E.J. and V.A. Cobb. 2017. Body temperatures and winter activity in overwintering Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) in Tennessee. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 12(3): 601–615.

6. Nordberg, E.J. and V.A. Cobb. 2016. Mid-winter emergence in hibernating Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus). Journal of Herpetology 50(2): 203–208.

5. Nordberg, E.J. and L. Schwarzkopf. 2015. Arboreal cover boards: using artificial bark to sample cryptic arboreal lizards. Herpetologica 71(4): 268–273.

4. Nordberg, E.J., T.A. Blanchard, V.A. Cobb, A.F. Scott, and R.S. Howard. 2013. Distribution of a Non-Native Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) in Tennessee. Journal of Tennessee Academy of Science 88(3-4): 64–66.

3. Nordberg, E.J. and B.A. DeGregorio. 2012. Coluber constrictor, Pantherophis allegheniensis, and Nerodia fasciata. Golf Cart Mortality. Herpetological Review 43(3): 492–493.

2. DeGregorio, B.A., E.J. Nordberg, K.E. Stepanoff, J.E. Hill. 2010. Patterns of Snake Road Mortality on an Isolated Barrier Island. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 5(3): 441–448.

1. DeGregorio, B.A. and E.J. Nordberg. 2009. Coluber constrictor priapus. Scavenging and diet. Herpetological Review 42(1): 97–98.

Memberships

Ecological Society of America

Ecological Society of Australia

Australian Society for Herpetologists