Please drop me a line if you’d like a reprint: geoff.heard@anu.edu.au or g.heard@uq.edu.au

My Google Scholar Profile can be found here.

Journal articles

43. Mathwin, R., Wassens, S., Turner, A., Heard, G.W., Hall, A., and Bradshaw, C.J.A. (2024). Modelling the sustainable harvest of wild populations for the conservation of a threatened amphibian. Austral Ecology 49, e13492.

42. Scheele, B.C., Heard, G.W., Cardillo, M., Duncan, R.P., Gillespie, G.R., Hoskin, C.J., Mahony, M., Newell, D., Rowley, J.J.L., Sopniewski, J. (2023). An invasive pathogen drives directional niche contractions in amphibians. Nature Ecology & Evolution 7, 1682–1692 (2023).

41. Grant, E.H., Amburgey, S.M., Gratwicke, B., Chaves, V.A., Belasen, A.M., Bickford, D., Brühl, C.A., Calatayud, N.E., Clemann, N., Culow, S., Crnobrnja-Isailovic, J., Dawson, J., De Angelis, D.A., Dodd, Jr., C.K., Evans, A., Ficetola, G.F., Falaschi, M., González-Mollinedo, S., Green, D.M., Gamlen-Greene, R., Griffiths, R.A., Halstead, B.J., Hassapakis, C., Heard, G.W., Karlsson, C., Kirschey, T., Klocke, B., Kosch, T.A., Kusterko, S.N., Linhoff, L., Maerz, J.C., Mosher, B.A., O’Donnell, K., Ochoa-Ochoa, L.M., Olson, D.H., Ovaska, K., Roberts, J.D., Tariq Stark, A.S., Tarrant, J., Upton, R., Vörös, J., and Muths, E. (2023). Priority research needs to inform amphibian conservation in the Anthropocene. Conservation Science and Practice 5, e12988.

40. Parris, K.M., Heard, G.W., and McKnight, D.T. (2023). Declaration of frogs’ recovery ignores key data: A response to Woinarski et al. 2023. Biological Conservation 283, 110127.

39. Heard, G.W., Bolitho, J.L., Newell, D., Hines, H.B., Willacy, R.J., and Scheele, B.C. (2023). Drought, fire and rainforest endemics: a case study of two threatened frogs impacted by Australia’s ‘Black Summer’. Ecology and Evolution 13, e10069.

38. Turner, A., Heard, G.W., Hall, A. and Wassens, S. (2022). Age structure of amphibian populations with endemic chytridiomycosis, across climatic regions with markedly different infection risk. Ecology and Evolution 12:e9123.

37. Geyle, H.M., Hoskin, C.J., Bower, D.S., Catullo, R., Clulow, S., Driessen, M., Daniels, K., Garnett, S.T., Gilbert, D., Heard, G.W., Hero, J-M., Hines, H.B., Hoffmann, E.P., Hollis, G., Hunter, D.A., Lemckert, F., Mahony, M., Marantelli, G., McDonald, K.R., Mitchell, N.J., Newell, D., Roberts, J.D., Scheele, B.C., Scroggie, M.P., Vanderduys, E., Wassens, S., West, M., Woinarski, J.C.Z and Gillespie, G.R. (2022). Red hot frogs: identifying the Australian frogs most at risk of extinction. Pacific Conservation Biology 28, 211-223.

36. Turner, A., Wassens, S. and Heard, G.W. (2021). Chytrid infection dynamics in frog populations from climatically disparate regions. Biological Conservation 264, 109391.

35. Turner, A., Wassens, S., Heard G.W. and Peters, A. (2021). Temperature as a driver of the pathogenicity and virulence of amphibian chytrid fungus: a systematic review. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 57, 477–494.

34. Bell, S.C, Heard, G.W., Berger, L. and Skerratt, L.F. (2020). Connectivity over a disease risk gradient enables recovery of rainforest frogs. Ecological Applications 30, e02152.

33. Gillespie, G.R, Roberts, D.J., Hunter, D., Hoskin, C.J., Alford, R.A., Heard, G.W., Hines, H., Lemckert, F., Newell, D. and Scheele, B.C. (2020). Status and priority conservation actions for Australian frog species. Biological Conservation 247, 108543.

32. Scroggie, M.P., Peterson, G.N.L, Rohr, D.H., Nicholson, E. and Heard, G.W. (2019). Disturbance has benefits as well as costs for fragmented populations of a cryptic grassland reptile. Landscape Ecology 34, 1949-1965.

31. Scheele, B.C., Foster, C.N., Hunter, D.A., Lindenmayer, D.B., Schmidt, B.R. and Heard, G.W. (2019). Living with the enemy: facilitating amphibian coexistence with endemic chytridiomycosis. Biological Conservation 236, 52-59. (Invited contribution to virtual special issue ‘Amphibian Conservation in the Anthropocene’).

30. Scroggie, M.P., Preece, K., Nicholson, E., McCarthy, M.A., Parris, K.M. and Heard, G.W. (2019). Optimizing habitat management for amphibians: from simple models to complex decisions. Biological Conservation 236, 60-69. (Invited contribution to virtual special issue ‘Amphibian Conservation in the Anthropocene’).

29. Heard, G.W., Scroggie, M.P., Ramsey, D.S.L, Clemann, N., Hodgson, J.A. and Thomas, C.D. (2018). Can habitat management mitigate disease impacts on threatened amphibians? Conservation Letters 11, e12375. [Blog post] **Featured as an ‘Editor’s Top Pick‘ for 2017**

28. Southwell, D.M., Heard, G.W., McCarthy, M.A. (2018). Optimal timing of biodiversity offsetting for metapopulations. Ecological Applications 28, 508-521.

27. Scheele, B.C., Skerratt, L.F., Grogan, L., Hunter, D.A., Clemann, N., McFadden, M., Newell, D., Hoskin, C.J., Gillespie, G.R., Heard, G.W., Brannelly, L., Roberts, A.A. and Berger, L. (2017). After the epidemic: ongoing declines, stabilizations and recoveries in chytridiomycosis-impacted amphibians. Biological Conservation 206, 37-46. [Blog post]

26. Hamer, A. J., Heard, G.W., Urlus, J., Ricciardello, J., Schmidt, B., Quin, D., and Steele, W.K. (2016). Manipulating wetland hydroperiod to improve occupancy rates by an endangered amphibian: modelling management scenarios. Journal of Applied Ecology 53, 1842–1851. [Blog post]

25. Rose, L., Heard, G.W., Chee, Y.N. and Wintle, B.A. (2016). Cost-effective conservation of an endangered frog under uncertainty. Conservation Biology 30, 350-361.  [Blog post]

24. Heard, G.W., Canessa, S. and Parris, K.M. (2015). Interspecific variation in the phenology of advertisement calling in a temperate Australian frog community. Ecology and Evolution 5, 3927-3938. [Blog post]

23. Keely, C.C., Hale, J.M., Heard, G.W., Parris, K.M., Sumner, J., Hamer, A.J. and Melville, J. (2015). Genetic structure and diversity of the endangered growling grass frog in a rapidly urbanising region. Royal Society Open Science 2, 140255. [Blog post]

22. Heard, G.W., Thomas, C.D., Hodgson, J.A., Scroggie, M.P., Ramsey, D.S.L and Clemann, N.(2015). Refugia and connectivity sustain amphibian metapopulations afflicted by disease. Ecology Letters 18, 853-863. [Blog post] [Code and data]

21. Canessa, S., Heard, G.W., Robertson, P. and Sluiter, I.R.K. (2015). Dealing with trade-offs in destructive sampling designs for occupancy surveys. PLoS ONE 10(3): e0120340. [Blog post] [Code and data]

20. Heard, G.W., Scroggie, M.P., Clemann, N. and Ramsey, D.S.L. (2014). Wetland characteristics influence disease risk for a threatened amphibian. Ecological Applications 24, 650–662. [Code and data]

19. Keith, D.A., Mahony, M., Hines, H., Elith, J., Regan, T.J., Baumgartner, J.B., Hunter, D., Heard, G.W., Mitchell, N.J., Penman, T., Parris, K.M., Tracey, C., Scheele, B., Simpson. C.C., Tingley, R., West, M. and Akçakaya , H.R. (2014). Detecting extinction risk from climate change by IUCN Red List criteria. Conservation Biology 28, 810-819 [Blog post]

18. Karavarsamis, N., Robinson, A.P., Hepworth, G., Hamilton, A.J., Heard, G.W. (2013). Comparison of four bootstrap-based interval estimators of species occupancy and detection probabilities. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Statistics 55, 235-252.

17. Heard, G.W., McCarthy, M.A., Scroggie, M.P., Baumgartner, J.B., and Parris, K.M. (2013). A Bayesian model of metapopulation viability, with application to an endangered amphibian. Diversity and Distributions 19, 555-566. [Blog post] [Code and data]

16. Hale, J.M., Heard, G.W., Smith, K.L., Parris, K.M., Austin, J.J., Kearney, M. and Melville, J.  (2013). Structure and fragmentation of growling grass frog metapopulations. Conservation Genetics 14, 313-322. [Blog post]

15. Wilson, J.N., Bekessy, S., Parris, K.M., Gordon, A., Heard, G.W.and Wintle, B.A. (2013). Impacts of climate change and urban development on the spotted marsh frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis). Austral Ecology 38, 11-22. [Media coverage 1, 2, 3]

14. Heard, G.W., Scroggie, M.P., and Malone, B.S. (2012). Classical metapopulation theory as a useful paradigm for the conservation of an endangered amphibian. Biological Conservation 148, 156–166

13. Heard, G.W., Scroggie, M.P., and Malone, B.S. (2012). The life history and decline of the threatened Australian frog, Litoria raniformis. Austral Ecology 37, 276-284. [Blog post] [Code and data]

12. Canessa, S., Heard, G.W., Parris, K.M., and McCarthy, M. (2012). Integrating variability in detection probabilities when designing wildlife surveys: a case study of amphibians from south-eastern Australia. Biodiversity and Conservation 21, 729-744. [Blog post]

11. Hale, J.M., Heard, G.W., Smith, K.L., Blacket, M.J., Austin, J.J., and Melville, J. (2011). Microsatellite loci for the endangered growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis), with cross amplification in other Australian frog species. Conservation Genetics Resources 3, 593-595.

10. Heard, G.W., Scroggie, M.P., and Malone, B.S. (2008). Visible Implant Alphanumeric tags as an alternative to toe-clipping for marking amphibians – a case study. Wildlife Research 35, 747-759. [Code and data]

9. Heard, G.W., Robertson, P., and Scroggie, M.P. (2008). Microhabitat preferences of the endangered Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis) in southern Victoria. Australian Zoologist 34, 414-425.

8. Clemann, N., Robertson, P., Gibbons, D., Heard, G.W., Steane, D., Coventry, A.J., and Chick, R. (2007). An addition to the snake fauna of Victoria: De Vis’ Banded Snake Denisonia devisi (Serpentes: Elapidae) Waite and Longman.  The Victorian Naturalist 124, 33-38.

7. Heard, G.W., Robertson, P., and Scroggie, M.P. (2006). Assessing detection probabilities for the endangered growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis) in southern Victoria. Wildlife Research 33, 557-564.

6. Heard, G.W., Robertson, P., Black, D., Barrow, G., Johnson, P., Allen, G., and Hurley, V. (2006). Canid predation: a potentially significant threat to relic populations of the Inland Carpet Python Morelia spilota metcalfei (Pythonidae) in Victoria. The Victorian Naturalist 123, 68-74.

5. Heard, G.W., Robertson, P., and Sluiter, I. (2004). On the occurrence of the Lined Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis lineata) in New South Wales. Herpetofauna 34, 107-112.

4. Heard, G.W., Black, D., and Robertson, P. (2004). Habitat use by the Inland Carpet Python (Morelia spilota metcalfei, Pythonidae): seasonal relationships with habitat structure and prey distribution in a rural landscape. Austral Ecology 29, 446-460.

3. Heard, G.W., and Black, D. (2003). A survey of the reptile fauna of the Mt Meg Flora and Fauna Reserve, north-east Victoria. The Victorian Naturalist 120, 84-91.

2. Heard G.W. (2003). Notes on the use of tail displays as an anti-predator tactic of the Red Bellied Black Snake, Pseudechis porphyriacus (Serpentes, Elapidae). Herpetofauna 33, 78-81.

1. Heard, G.W. (2002). Captive Reproduction of the Inland Carpet Python (Morelia spilota metcalfei). Herpetofauna 32, 85-92.

Book chapters

1. Waudby, H.P., Burns, P.A., Jensen, M.A., Hampton, J.O., Hunter, D., McKnight, D.T., Pestell, A.J.L., Bengsen, A.J., Bower, D., Coulson, G., Heard, G.W., de Laive, A., Jolly, C.J., Hale, S., Fancourt, B.A., Kelleher, S.R., Petit, S., Behrendorff, L., Lumsden, L.F. and McGregor, M. (2022). Wildlife marking methods. Pp. 150-177 in Wildlife Research in Australia: Practical and Applied Methods. Edited by B. Smith, H.P. Waudby, C. Alberthsen and J.O. Hampton. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.

Selected research reports

18. Heard, G.W. (2023). Metapopulation modelling to guide environmental watering for Southern Bell Frogs in the Lower Lachlan region, New South Wales. Report to Biodiversity and Conservation, NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

17. Heard, G.W. (2022). Metapopulation modelling to guide environmental watering for Southern Bell Frogs in the Lower Murray region, New South Wales. Report to Biodiversity and Conservation, NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

16. Heard, G.W. (2022). Metapopulation modelling to guide environmental watering for Southern Bell Frogs in the Coleambally region, New South Wales. Report to Biodiversity and Conservation, NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

15. Heard, G.W. and Robertson, P. (2022). Growling Grass Frog surveys across Melbourne’s Northern Growth Corridor: 2021/2022 Season. Report to the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Melbourne Water and the City of Whittlesea. Wildlife Profiles P/L, Melbourne.

14. Heard, G.W., Bolitho, J.L., Newell, D., Hines, H.B., McCall, H., Smith, J., and Scheele, B.C. (2021). Post-fire impact assessment for priority frogs: northern Philoria. NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Brisbane.

13. Heard, G.W. (2021). Modelling the impact of wind turbine collisions on key bird and bat species in Victoria. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Heidelberg, Victoria.

12. Heard, G.W. (2021). A metapopulation model to guide environmental watering for the Southern Bell Frog in New South Wales. Report to Biodiversity and Conservation, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. Fenner School for Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra.

11. Heard G.W. (2021). Modelling habitat management options for the Green and Golden Bell Frog and Growling Grass Frog in the Avon-Perry River area, East Gippsland. Report to Greening Australia. Fenner School for Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra.

10. Heard, G.W. and Ramsey, D.S.L. (2020). Modelling the abundance of the Common Wombat across Victoria. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Heidelberg, Victoria.

9. Heard, G.W. and Ramsey, D.S.L. (2020). Modelling Koala abundance across Victoria. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Heidelberg, Victoria.

8. Heard, G.W., and McCarthy, M.A. (2012). Metapopulation viability of the Growling Grass Frog in Melbourne’s urban growth areas. Report to the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment. School of Botany, University of Melbourne.

7. Heard, G.W., Scroggie, M.P. and Clemann, N. (2012).  Correlates and consequences of chytridiomycosis for populations of the Growling Grass Frog in peri-urban Melbourne. Report to the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Heidelberg.

6. Heard, G.W., Scroggie, M.P., and Clemann, N. (2010).  Guidelines for managing the endangered Growling Grass Frog in urbanising landscapes. Technical Report Series 208. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Heidelberg.

5. Heard, G.W., and Scroggie, M.P. (2009). Assessing the impacts of urbanisation on Growling Grass Frog metapopulations. Report to the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Heidelberg.

4. Robertson, P., and Heard, G.W. (2008). Report on field-surveys for the Pink-tailed Worm Lizard (Aprasia parapulchella) in the Bendigo region, central Victoria: distribution, habitat associations and population attributes. Report to the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment. Wildlife Profiles Pty. Ltd., Heidelberg.

3. Robertson, P., Coventry, A.J., Gibbons, D., Heard, G.W., Peterson, G., Sluiter, I. and Steane, D. (2007). Field studies of the threatened Heath Skink (Egernia multiscutata). Report to the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, and Mallee Catchment Management Authority. Wildlife Profiles Pty. Ltd., Hurstbridge.

2. Heard, G.W., Robertson, P. and Scroggie, M.P. (2004). The ecology and conservation status of the Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis) within the Merri Creek Corridor. Second report: additional field surveys and site monitoring. Report to the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment. Wildlife Profiles Pty. Ltd., Heidelberg.

1. Robertson, P., Heard G.W., and Scroggie, M.P. (2002). The ecology and conservation status of the Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis) within the Merri Creek Corridor. Interim report: distribution, abundance and habitat requirements. Report to the Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Wildlife Profiles Pty. Ltd., Heidelberg.