Information & resources on frog conservation.
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Bastian Egeter This profile is no longer being updated. For Bastian’s current profile, and blog, please visit https://bastianegeter.wordpress.comClick here to view a video about Bastian’s Research. Click here and here to view a sample of Bastian’s outreach activities. Bas has completed his PhD which focused on predation of frogs in New Zealand. He has developed DNA-based techniques for identifying frog remains in predator stomach and faecal contents. Using these techniques he has identified pigs and hedgehogs as predators of introduced frogs and ship rats as predators of the endangered Archey’s frog. Confirming which pest species are impacting native frogs will enable conservation managers to make informed decisions regarding predator control strategies. Bas also hopes to extend the reach of his project to an international level by obtaining various mammal stomach and faecal samples from around the world and using the newly developed techniques to survey for evidence of frog predation. Bas has completed a postgraduate diploma in wildlife management which included an assessment of Orokonui Ecosanctuary, Dunedin as a potential target translocation site for Maud Island frogs (Leiopelma pakeka) and Hochstetter’s frogs (L. hochstetteri). Before coming to New Zealand he worked in Ireland as an ecological consultant, surveying for mammals and amphibians, and designing mitigation measures for the protection of native fauna affected by major national construction schemes. Curriculum Vitae
 Citizenship: German First language: English Education PhD Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand 2009 – 2013 • Thesis: Detecting Frogs as Prey in the Diets of Introduced Mammals • Supervisors: Professor Phil Bishop and Dr. Bruce Robertson PgDip Wildlife Management, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand 2008 – 2009 • Research project: Assessment of habitat suitability at Orokonui Ecosanctuary, for the translocation of Maud Island frogs (Leiopelma pakeka) and/or Hochstetter’s frogs (L. hochstetteri). Graduated with distinction BSc (Hons) Natural Science, (moderatorship in Botany) Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland 2000 – 2004 • Thesis: Colonisation of dead wood by lower plants under coniferous forest canopy and in adjacent areas. • Supervisor: Dr. Daniel Kelly Work experience  EducatorOrokonui Ecosanctuary, 2011 - present (casual) • Educating school and university groups about conservation issues Research Assistant University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2013 - present Phylogenetic investigation of species assemblages and population structure of Antarctic nematodes. Principal Investigators: Professor David Wharton and Dr. Craig Marshall. Guest Lecturer University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2014 Conservation Biology / Wildlife Management (ZOOL319/WILM406) lecture "Using diet analysis to assess predator impacts on endangered species" Demonstrator, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2009-2013 • Postgraduate wildlife management: Introduction to home range software and analyses
• First year undergraduate animal biology: Lab demonstrator
• First year undergraduate cell and molecular biology: Lab demonstrator • Third year undergraduate freshwater ecology: Project manager
• First year undergraduate animal biology: Senior demonstrator
University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2008 - 2012 • Freshwater ecology laboratory-based research • Amphibian sample collection field-based research • Reptile sampling field-based research Ecological consultant Self-employed, Wicklow, Ireland, 2000 - 2008 • Over 60 final reports prepared for private developers and government agencies • Conducted detailed wildlife surveys and habitat mapping • Prepared environmental impact assessments • Designed and implemented detailed mitigation measures for fauna affected by major construction schemes • Consultation with the public  Scholarships • University of Otago Postgraduate Scholarship (for MSc studies, tuition plus stipend of NZ$13,000), 2009 – 2010
• University of Otago Postgraduate Scholarship (for PhD studies, tuition plus stipend of NZ$20,000), 2010 – 2012
• Australian Academy of Science: Award for Research on the Conservation of Endangered Australian Vertebrate Species (AU $1300), 2009
• University of Otago, Department of Zoology: PhD Candidate research funds (NZ $8789), 2010 • Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand: Hutton Fund (NZ $400), 2010
• Society for Research on Amphibians & Reptiles in New Zealand: Herpetological Research Award, (NZ $500), 2011
• M.J. & B.J. Marples: The Ecology Fund (NZ $380), 2011
• EcoGecko: Conservation & Research Awards (NZ $600), 2011 • Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (US $2900), 2012 • Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund Small Grants Programme (NZ $4130), 2012 • Australian Academy of Science: Margaret Middleton Award (AU $3244), 2012 Travel grants • Society for the Study of Reptiles and Amphibians: Student Travel Award (US $400), 2010 • American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists: Graduate Student Travel Award (US $500), 2010 • University of Otago, Department of Zoology: Student Conference Grant (NZ $500), 2010 • Ecology Research Group: Student Conference Travel Grant (NZ $250), 2010 • University of Otago, Department of Zoology: Student Conference Grant (NZ $300 plus poster production), 2011 • University of Otago, Department of Zoology: Student Conference Grant (NZ $500), 2012 • University of Otago, Division of Sciences: Student Conference Grant (NZ $2000), 2012 Publications
Conference Presentations • B. Egeter, B. C. Robertson & P.J. Bishop. DNA Detects Frog Predation. University of Otago Zoology Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2012 (Poster presentation – Awarded 1st prize best poster)
• B. Egeter, P.J. Bishop & B. C. Robertson. DNA-Based Detection of Frog Predation by Introduced Mammals in New Zealand Forest Ecosystems. International Union of Forest Research Organizations: Second International Conference on Biodiversity in Forest Ecosystems and Landscapes, Cork, Ireland 2012 (Oral Presentation – Awarded 1st prize best student talk) • B. Egeter, P.J. Bishop & B. C. Robertson. DNA-Based Detection of Frog Predation by Small Mammals. 25th International Congress for Conservation Biology, Auckland, New Zealand, 2011 (Poster presentation) • B. Egeter, P.J. Bishop & B. C. Robertson. DNA-Based Identification of Litoria raniformis in Norway Rat and Hedgehog Stomach Contents. 14th Biennial Conference of the Society for Research on Amphibians & Reptiles in New Zealand, Catlins, New Zealand, 2011 (Oral Presentation – Award for best student talk on a conservation topic)
• B. Egeter, P.J. Bishop & B. C. Robertson. A DNA-Based Method to Identify Southern Bell Frog Prey Remains in Norway Rat and Hedgehog Stomach Contents. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Rhode Island, USA, 2010 (Oral presentation)
• B. Egeter, B. C. Robertson & P.J. Bishop. Can Forensics Find the Foes of Native Frogs? University of Otago Zoology Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2009 (Poster presentation)
• B. Egeter & D. Kelly. Colonisation of dead wood by lower plants under coniferous forest canopy and in adjacent areas. Trinity College Dublin Botany Department Symposium, Dublin, Ireland, 2004 (Oral presentation)
• Volunteer at Orokonui Ecosanctuary: Planting native flora • Volunteer for Forest and Bird wilding pine removal group • Volunteer for FutureIntech, communicating science at schools • Over 60 hours of science outreach logged during my PhD course Professional societies Member of the following societies: • Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand • Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles • American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists • Society for Conservation Biology Other interests
I love scuba diving and I hold the ‘Advanced Open Water’ PADI scuba diving certificate. Among many hobbies I enjoy brewing beer and wine, playing guitar and drums and collecting and eating wild food.
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