Category Archives: Science communication

Urban Ecology Stories: The Spotted Handfish

Posted on October 24, 2016 by kirstenparris

Earlier this year I published a book called Ecology of Urban Environments.  It’s a text book for university students, but it contains lots of great stories about urban nature that I’d like to share with everyone!  So I’m starting a … Continue reading →

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Frogs and roads don’t mix (Part 3)

Posted on August 30, 2015 by kirstenparris

At last – the final installment of this intriguing trilogy!  The third reason that frogs and roads don’t mix is that the noise of road traffic (cars, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles) can make it difficult for frogs to be … Continue reading →

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Frogs and roads don’t mix (Part 2)

Posted on July 29, 2014 by kirstenparris

In Part 1 of this series, I showed how difficult it was for frogs to cross busy roads without getting run over.  The second reason that frogs and roads don’t mix flows on from the first one – if frogs … Continue reading →

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Frogs and roads don’t mix (Part 1)

Posted on March 26, 2013 by kirstenparris

Frogs are small animals that hop or walk along the ground.  Roads are long stretches of gravel, concrete or bitumen that allow vehicles like cars, trucks and motorbikes to go from one place to another.  These vehicles are often large … Continue reading →

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It’s not easy being green… in the city

Posted on August 6, 2012 by kirstenparris

The city of Melbourne, Australia is home to about 14 species of frogs, depending on where you draw the boundaries.  And the boundaries of Melbourne are spreading outwards at a cracking pace, with new suburbs being built on its western, … Continue reading →

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Why do flying-foxes like to live in cities?

Posted on July 18, 2012 by kirstenparris

A grey-headed flying-fox; photo by Ian Kitchen Flying-foxes are big bats – the biggest in the world!  They belong to a group of mammals known as the Megachiroptera (pronounced “megga-kai-roptera”) or megabats.  Unlike their smaller cousins (the Microchiroptera or microbats), … Continue reading →

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Welcome!

Posted on December 31, 2011 by kirstenparris

Welcome to my blog!  I’m an ecologist at The University of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia.  An ecologist is a type of biologist who studies living things (like animals, plants and fungi) and their environment (the places where they live).  I … Continue reading →

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