The Utility of the Koala Scat: A Scoping Review

Prof. Stephen Johnston is a Reader in Wildlife Reproduction at the School of Environment at the University of Queensland. Prof. Johnston is a zoologist specialising in the area of reproductive biology in a broad diversity of species ranging from prawns to tigers but with a major focus on Australian mammals. He was the first person in the world to produce a pouch young following artificial insemination in a marsupial, a task that he and his colleagues have now carried out successfully in the koala, a total of 34 times. He is also a specialist in the cryopreservation of marsupial spermatozoa and the assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation, including human and domestic animal spermatozoa. Prof. Johnston’s recent research interests and grant success include studies aimed at a better understanding of the effect of chlamydia on male koala reproduction, genetic and reproductive management of koalas, wombat captive reproduction, echidna captive breeding, and crocodile artificial insemination. He was recently elected a Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology (2019).

Dr. Lyndal S Hulse is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The University of Queensland with expertise in wildlife genomics and genetics. Lyndal completed her PhD in 2021 and examined the effect of Chlamydia on male koala fertility. Previous to being employed at The University of Queensland, Lyndal was employed as a senior scientist and project manager within the private sector veterinary pathology and biotechnology industries. She has undergraduate degrees from The University of Queensland and a postgraduate degree Master of Science in Agriculture from the University of New England specialising in molecular biology and quantitative genetics. Lyndal has extensive molecular and animal genetics experience and specializes in wildlife genomics and the development and implementation of molecular diagnostic assays within various animal industries.

Dr. Tamara Keeley received her Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Sydney. Now she is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland, School of Agriculture and Food Science, and a biologist, specializing in the areas of Endocrinology, Reproductive Biology, Physiology, Captive Management, Conservation Science, Behaviour, and Welfare. She has experience working with a large variety of species ranging from livestock to endangered species (both in situ and ex situ); including mammals, marsupials, amphibians, and reptiles. Over the last decade and a half, Dr. Keeley has been involved in a wide range of management and research-related collaborations and projects through which she has gained experience and knowledge in the areas of animal management and husbandry, reproductive management, and assisted reproductive technology, animal physiology, animal behavior and welfare, genetics, ecology and wildlife recovery and conservation programs. Dr. Keeley is known for her expert knowledge of non-invasive hormone analysis techniques and their validation and application to wildlife, companion, laboratory, and production animals for the study of reproduction, welfare, and health.

Professor Jenny Seddon is currently the Deputy Vice Chancellor Research at James Cook University, Australia. Before her current appointment, she held the role of Associate Dean Research and Deputy Executive Dean for the Faculty of Science at the University of Queensland. Prof Seddon's research is in animal genetics and genomics, with much of her work in the areas of phylogeography and population genomics to develop multidisciplinary, practical solutions for the conservation of wildlife.