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 Luke is currently undertaking his PhD, after having completed a Bachelor of Science in Zoology, Postgraduate Diploma in Wildlife Management, and a Masters on Hochstetter’s frog translocation feasibility at the University of Otago. His PhD focuses on the taxonomy and genetic management of Leiopelma populations.  Luke has worked with a range of threatened New Zealand flora (e.g. leafless mistletoe) and fauna (e.g. tuatara, robins, etc.), but also has been involved in palaeontology, in collaboration with his brother Clint, Trevor Worthy (Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia), and Alan Tennyson (Te Papa Museum, Wellington, New Zealand). Luke plans to continue his interest of New Zealand conservation and palaeontology as a future career.
Publications:
- Rawlence NJ, Scofield RP, Spencer HG, Lalas C, Easton LJ, Tennyson AJD, Adams M, Pasquet E, Fraser C, Waters JM, Kennedy M 2016. Genetic and morphological evidence for two species of Leucocarbo shag (Aves, Pelecaniformes, Phalacrocoracidae) from southern South Island of New Zealand. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12376.
- Reilly S, Essner R, Wren S, Easton L, Bishop P 2015. Movement patterns in leiopelmatid frogs: Insights into the locomotor repertoire of the earliest anurans. Behavioural Processes 121:43–53.
- Salis AT, Easton LJ, Robertson BC, Gemmell N, Smith IWG, Weisler MI, Waters JM, Rawlence NJ 2016. Myth or relict: Does ancient DNA detect the enigmatic Upland Seal? Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 97:101–106.
- Tennyson AJD, Easton LJ, Wood JR 2014. Kea (Nestor notabilis) – another North Island human-caused extinction. Notornis 61:174–176.
- Easton L, Dickinson K, Whigham P, Bishop P (accepted). Habitat suitability and requirements for a threatened New Zealand amphibian. Journal of Wildlife Management.
- Easton L, Whigham P, Dickinson K, Bishop P (in review). Physiology and thermal preferences of Leiopelma hochstetteri in simulated conditions of a potential translocation site. Journal of Herpetology.
- Knox C, Jarvie S, Easton L, Monks J (in prep). Soft-release, but not cool winter temperatures, reduces post-translocation dispersal of jewelled geckos.
- Lloyd K, Easton L, Fay V (in prep). Experimental translocation of the threatened New Zealand plants Carex inopinata Cook and Simplicia laxa (Kirk).
  
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